Staff

SARAH CALDERINI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sarah Calderini brings extensive and multifaceted experience from the corporate, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors to the Symphony. As a former Director and Board Chair of the University Musical Society (UMS) at the University of Michigan, Calderini’s leadership philosophy is inspired by the interplay between… Read more

LORI ZUPAN, BUSINESS MANAGER

Lori Zupan is responsible for budgeting, tracking and managing all of the A²SO’s finances, as well as coordinating subscription ticket sales and producing the programs distributed to patrons at concerts. Zupan also works on Hearts for the Arts, our primary educational fundraiser. Lori is the A²SO’s longest serving employee, and… Read more

JENNIFER BALCH HALE, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & DONOR SERVICES

Jennifer Balch Hale brings to the A²SO over 25 years of non-profit experience, and a specialization in donor relations, development, planned and endowment giving, and stewardship. Jennie is a true Ann Arbor townie and a graduate of… Read more…

YI-CHING CHEN, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Yi-Ching Chen is responsible for the implementation and development of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s educational programs and she oversees the A²SO’s volunteer force. Yi-Ching joined the A²SO as an intern in the summer of 2017. She received her doctoral degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Michigan, where…Read more…

BENJAMIN TISHERMAN, DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL & LIBRARIAN

Benjamin Tisherman has served as Director of Orchestra Personnel & Librarian since August 2021 after serving in previous roles as Personnel Manager & Librarian and Education & Community Engagement Coordinator. His role at the A2SO includes contracting all regular and substitute musicians as well as preparing music for each performance… Read more

KARA SUDHEIMER, PATRON SERVICES MANAGER

Kara Sudheimer is responsible for giving customers welcoming contact, handling ticket orders, and preparing for special events. Ms. Sudheimer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Management from the University of Evansville in 1996, combining her musical knowledge and skill on violin (as well as several other instruments)…Read more

KEMPER EDWARDS, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Raised in London and Pittsburgh, Kemper Edwards joins A2SO from the Academy of Ancient Music, the leading period instrument ensemble where he was Communications and Engagement Manager. Joining AAM after studying music at the University of Cambridge, he oversaw a revitalization of the orchestra’s digital presence, with AAM becoming the world’s most listened-to ensemble of its kind online and producing a number of critically acclaimed recordings…Read more

MIGUEL CISNEROS, PRODUCTION MANAGER

Miguel Cisneros has worked with the Ann Arbor Symphony for since 2015. Miguel has sung with the Ann Arbor Symphony 3 times at the annual Holiday Pops concert. Miguel is currently an undeclared undergrad but loves complexity, ethics, and mathematics. He enjoys keeping the arts an active part of his life through his work as Production Manager with the A²SO and oversees rehearsals and everything behind the scenes at performances.

january, 2022

Filter Events

Sort By:

date

Date

Title

Color

Post Date

Event Location:

All

No Events

Questions?

SARAH CALDERINI

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As a former Director and Board Chair of the University Music Society (UMS) at the University of Michigan, Sarah Calderini builds on a lengthy sales career at Procter & Gamble and a subsequent 16-year private business venture to bring a multifaceted perspective from the corporate, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors. She is a graduate of Union College (New York; BA, English), the National Arts Strategies (NAS)/University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Strategy in Arts and Culture program, and the EXCEL program in Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance. After many years on the East Coast, this Chicago-native-turned-Ann Arborite brings a leadership inspired by the interplay between strong local arts and the larger regional and national landscapes — how they work together to create moments that enrich and transform lives.

email

LORI ZUPAN

BUSINESS MANAGER

Lori Zupan is responsible for budgeting, tracking, and managing all of the A²SO’s finances, as well as coordinating subscription ticket sales and producing the programs distributed to patrons at concerts. Zupan also works on Hearts for the Arts, our primary educational fundraiser. Lori is the A²SO’s longest-serving employee and has been with the A²SO for over 30 years, having joined our administrative team in 1988. Zupan received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Oberlin College in 1980 and has been an active board member of various arts organizations since that time. An accomplished musician, Lori has provided professional piano accompaniments for church services and musical theater productions. You can hear Lori play piano during the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s Hearts for the Arts fundraiser, as she donates her talent annually.

email

JENNIFER BALCH HALE

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & DONOR SERVICES

Jennifer Balch Hale brings to the A²SO over 25 years of non-profit experience and specializes in donor relations, development, planned and endowment giving, and stewardship. Jennie is a true Ann Arbor townie and a graduate of Ann Arbor Public Schools (Bader Elementary, Tappan Middle School, and Huron High School). She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana and spent the next few years working in nonprofit development in Washington DC, Alexandria, VA, Honolulu, HI, and Silverdale, WA, none of which quite measured up to Ann Arbor. She jokes that Honolulu was pretty close, though! Jennie decided that Ann Arbor was the very best place to raise her daughter Julia and returned permanently several years ago to work at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation where she served in Development and Donor Relations for 15 years. Jennie’s love of live music began when Julia started singing before she could talk, and grew with the dozens of concerts and performances she attended over the years. In fact, Jennie’s first A²SO concert was Mahler 3, in which her daughter performed with the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale Concert Choir. Throughout her career, Jennie has volunteered with several organizations, including Neutral Zone, Friends of the Pioneer Choirs, Ann Arbor Youth Chorale, the YMCA Teen Programming Committee, and Strong Kids Campaigns and served on the Board of the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark. Jennie is currently the President of the Ann Arbor Delta Gamma Alumnae Chapter and on the House Corporation Board of the collegiate chapter at U of M. Jennie's daughter, Julia, attends DePaul University in Chicago and is majoring in journalism.

email

YI-CHING CHEN

EDUCATION & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Yi-Ching Chen is responsible for assisting in the implementation of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's educational programs and she oversees the A²SO's volunteer force. Yi-Ching joined the A²SO as an intern in the summer of 2017. She received her doctoral degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Michigan, where she studied with A²SO Principal Tubist Fritz Kaenzig. A native of Taipei, Taiwan, her administrative experience began with the Taipei Symphonic Band, where she served in various capacities ranging from youth programs to stage management. She is passionate about youth education and community outreach.

BENJAMIN TISHERMAN

PERSONNEL MANAGER & LIBRARIAN

Benjamin Tisherman has been working at the Ann Arbor Symphony as Personnel Manager & Librarian since January 2021 after previously serving as Education & Community Engagement Coordinator. His role at the A2SO includes contracting all regular and substitute musicians as well as preparing music for each performance.

Born into a family of woodwind players, Benjamin began clarinet studies at age 8 and graduated from the Juilliard School Pre-College Division. He holds a Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Ben’s versatile background as a teaching artist includes volunteer work at the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Fiddlesticks Family Concerts as well as a popular lecture series taught at the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning. No stranger to Michigan, Ben has performed at the Bay View Chamber Festival and has spent several summers teaching clarinet and chamber music at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

email

KARA SUDHEIMER

PATRON SERVICES MANAGER

Kara Sudheimer is responsible for giving customers welcoming contact, handling ticket orders, and preparing for special events. Ms. Sudheimer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Management from the University of Evansville in 1996, combining her musical knowledge and skill on violin (as well as several other instruments) with her expertise in business. Prior to joining the A²SO, Kara served as both an intern and production manager at the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, and also spent 10 years at a fine arts recording studio (where she worked closely with local talent, as well as Grammy Award-winning artists), accumulating over a decade of business experience. In her spare time, Kara is a bell ringer in a handbell choir and enjoys cycling and science fiction.

email

KEMPER EDWARDS

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Raised in London and Pittsburgh, Kemper Edwards joins A2SO from the Academy of Ancient Music, the leading period instrument ensemble where he was Communications and Engagement Manager. Joining AAM after studying music at the University of Cambridge, he oversaw a revitalization of the orchestra’s digital presence, with AAM becoming the world’s most listened-to ensemble of its kind online and producing a number of critically acclaimed recordings on its in-house label.

A keen musician, Kemper began studying violin and piano at a young age with Viktoria Grigoreva of the Royal College of Music and piano pedagogue Alexandra Andrievski of the Yehudi Menuhin School, before moving to Pittsburgh in 2003. While continuing his studies with Rufina Yefimova, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, Kemper was a 2012 Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artist Winner, receiving an Anna and Benjamin Perlow Scholarship and later a Blackwood Music Scholarship to further his musical studies in a university setting. In 2010, he was selected by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Leonard Slatkin as the winner of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra Conducting Competition.

email

Pioneer High School Choirs

The Ann Arbor Pioneer High School A Cappella Choir is one of four curricular and nine extra-curricular choral ensembles at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, the 2006 & 2011 National GRAMMY® Signature School. The A Cappella Choir has performed at the American Choral Directors Association Central Division Convention (2014), American Choral Directors Association Michigan State Convention (2014 & 2018), Michigan Music Conference (2013 & 2018), and Michigan Youth Arts Festival (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2017). In 2014 & 2015, they were selected as an Outstanding Choir and featured at the Gala Concert of the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. The Pioneer Choirs have collaborated with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings.