STAFF & Board

Grace Beebe

Patron Engagement Manager

Jennifer Berg

Orchestra Librarian

Jeff Beyersdorf

Production Advisor

Sarah Calderini

Executive Director

Yi-Ching Chen

Director of Artistic Operations

Alex Clark

Director of Development & Donor Services

Ariel Halpern

Box Office Assistant

Trianne Newbrey

Director of Marketing & Communications

Jennifer Pepper

Learning & Community Program Manager

Margaret Stevens

Finance Manager

Jim Westhoff

Orchestra Personnel Manager

Board of Directors

President Jon Beebe

First Vice President Jane Arvidson Panikkar

Secretary Sarah Bishara

Treasurer Daniel Merritt

Past President Lesa Doll Huget

VICE PRESIDENTS

Artistic Affairs Jane Arvidson Panikkar

Development Chris Conlin

Finance & Budget Daniel Merritt

Policy Diana Raimi

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sarah Calderini

DIRECTORS

Sassa Akervall

Rajani Bhat

Andre Dowell

Josh Dysart

Grant Gorman

Doug Hargett

Michael Kondziolka

David S. Malcolm

Paige Morrison

Elliot Ross

Versell Smith, Jr.

Peter VanBeck

Daniel Washington

Patrick Wells-O’Brien

Questions?

GRACE BEEBE

PATRON ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Brand new to Ann Arbor and to the A2SO, Grace Beebe is the A2SO Patron Engagement manager working in donor relations and wrangling CRM software. She is a recent alum of Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 2024 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Her time at EMU was spent studying saxophone, guitar, piano, and voice, serving on the Music Therapy Student Association Board, arguing with her classmates as to what Ravel interpretation was least wrong, and tutoring for the Holman Success Center among other extracurricular activities.

A native of Tustin, MI, Grace would like to thank the A2SO and all of Ann Arbor for welcoming her with open arms. She is incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities this beautiful city has to offer and is extremely excited to grow into this new chapter of life. Outside of work, you can find her knitting at Argus Cafe with a steaming mug of hot cider and Grey’s Anatomy playing on her laptop. email

JEFF BEYERSDORF

PRODUCTION ADVISER

With an extensive background in theatre music and dance, Jeff Beyersdorf began his career in the arts at the Royal Shakespeare Company where he started as a cleaner at The Other Place. After making enough of a nuisance of himself, he was eventually brought on as stage crew, leading to touring and extended residencies as Props Master as well as at home at the Swan Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. While there, Jeff was also the Head of Stage for the Summer House, and production manager/ technical director for the RSC Fringe Festival.

Through the RSC residencies, Jeff was introduced to the Ann Arbor-based University Musical Society, where he joined the production team and served for nearly twenty years, nine years of which as Production Director. During that time, the UMS Choral Union won four Grammy® Awards and UMS was awarded the 2014 National Medal of Arts, presenting national and international dance, theatre, early and contemporary music ensembles, and more than a few major orchestras. Jeff spent over a decade production managing the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, and fifteen years stage managing for the Detroit Jazz Festival. He's also stage managed for the Movement Festival, as well as operations managed the Original Ann Arbor Street Art Fair.

Most importantly Jeff's delighted to be a part of and work with the extraordinary team at the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. When not doing shows, he enjoys working on an old river cottage that should be ready to live in in about thirty years or so, keeping bees with occasional success, and raising chickens when the raccoons don't beat him to them. Proud member of IATSE Local 395.

SARAH CALDERINI

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A multifaceted business leader from across the corporate, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors, Sarah Calderini joined the A2SO in December 2021. After her prior role as Director / Board Chair of the University Music Society (UMS) at the University of Michigan, a lengthy sales career at Procter & Gamble, and a subsequent 16-year private business venture, she’s very pleased to be in this role in the arts. Sarah is a graduate of Union College (New York; BA, English), the National Arts Strategies/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. This Chicago native has called Ann Arbor home for over 3 decades by way of 10+ years in the Northeast; her passion and dedication are fueled by the belief that the arts belong to us all, regardless of geography. Sarah continues to be inspired every day by the Symphony’s work both on and off the stage– enriching and transforming the lives of individuals, expanding access to A2SO programs in rural parts of the region, boosting our local civic pride, and strengthening communities through meaningful touchpoints with our music.

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YI-CHING CHEN

DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC OPERATIONS

Yi-Ching works closely with A2SO partners to create memorable concert experiences for our audiences. As the primary contact for guest artists and venues, she coordinates logistical details and ensures effective communications both externally and internally. Prior to her role in artistic operations, Yi-Ching was part of the A2SO Learning & Community team for five years.

A native of Taipei, Taiwan, Yi-Ching first joined the Symphony as an administrative intern in 2017, shortly after receiving her doctoral degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Michigan where she studied with former A2SO Principal Tubist Fritz Kaenzig. Outside of the A2SO, Yi-Ching can be found working behind the scenes around town as a stagehand with IATSE Local 395.

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ALEX CLARK

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & DONOR SERVICES

Alex Clark comes to the A2SO with years of experience working in various fundraising settings. Most recently, Alex spent two years at the Wayne State University School of Medicine working as a Major Gift Officer where he secured gifts of $25k and above. Over that time, Alex earned the Discipline of Frontline Fundraising Certificate from Plus Delta Partners. Prior to Wayne State, Alex served as an ordained pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti from 2018-2024.

Alex earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology and African Studies from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 2012, and a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2018. Alex is currently working towards a Master of Business Administration from the Ilitch School of Business in Detroit.

Alex lives in Ypsilanti with his wife, Kelly, daughter, Margot, and puppy, Wilson. In his free time, Alex enjoys working outside in the yard and exploring the gravel and seasonal roads of Michigan from his bike.

ARIEL HALPERN

BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE

WILLIE CORNISH JR

MARKETING & BOX OFFICE COORDINATOR

South Carolina native and composer Willie Cornish Jr. joined the A2SO in Spring 2024 after years of managing social media for student organizations and collectives. Willie seeks to create art that inspires and broadens perspectives for himself and his listeners while being authentic to what he enjoys, experiences, and loves about life. Whether music, graphics, or text, the ability to share stories drives him daily.

When not working with the A2SO, Willie freelance composes and teaches composition classes for the Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra. He is passionate about creating works for concerts, films, video games, electronics, and education. His works have been recognized by The U.S. Air Force Band, the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Emerging Composers Competition, the Lightworks Film Festival, the George Shirley Vocal Competition, the Luna Nova Competition, One Found Sound Emerging Composer Award, and the New York Youth Symphony's First Music Competition. Willie holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, where he studied with composers Mark Kilstofte, Jay Bocook, Erik Santos, Evan Chambers, Michael Daugherty, Stephen Rush, and Roshanne Etezady.

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TRIANNE NEWBREY

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

An experience nonprofit communications professional, Trianne Newbrey joined the A2SO in June 2025. She oversees the marketing and communications strategy for the orchestra, including branding, public relations, advertising, and digital media management. She previously served as the Director of Communications for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra where she grew the orchestra's media placements, increased social media engagement, and contributed to a significant increase in ticket sales during her four-year tenure.

A native of Nashville, TN, Trianne graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Public Relations and emphasis in Music Business and Percussion Performance. She currently resides in Plymouth.

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JENNIFER PEPPER

LEARNING & COMMUNITY PROGRAM MANAGER

JIM WESTHOFF

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER

After experimenting as a clarinetist, bassoonist, pianist, percussionist, drum major, composer, conductor, and basketball center-forward before college, Jim Westhoff decided to focus on studying bassoon performance at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore where he received his bachelor's degree. Then, while performing with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, he earned masters' degrees in bassoon performance and music theory/composition at Wichita State University.

Currently, Jim performs with the Jackson and Adrian Symphony Orchestras in southeast Michigan. He is the bassoon instructor at Concordia University Ann Arbor and teaches in the Ann Arbor, Plymouth-Canton, and Saline school districts. His summers are spent teaching and playing side-by-side with the bright young musicians of the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin as an Associate Faculty member.

Before joining the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Jim’s other administrative roles included Personnel Manager of the Adrian and Jackson Symphony Orchestras and Assistant Program Director at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center. In his spare time, Jim enjoys watch-making/collecting and camping with his family… the thespian/bassoonist, the singer/book-devourer, and the Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center President/CEO.

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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.