Leading Note Foundation Board
Please select a member's name to view a brief biography below.
Executive Director - Tina Fedeski
Chair - Gary McMillen
Vice Chair - Syliva Gazsi-Gill
Treasurer - Gary McMillen (acting)
Secretary - Sheilah Craven
Board Members
Susan Carter
Cheryl Casey
Robin Higham
Craig MacDonald
Anne Taylor
Margaret Tobolowska
Fran Ward
Honourary Board Member
Barbara Clark
Biographies
Tina Fedeski - Co-Founder of The Leading Note Foundation; Vice-President of The Leading Note print music store. Freelance flute player and teacher.
Gary McMillen - Co-Founder of The Leading Note print music store. Electrical engineer in high-tech field for 15 years, amateur cellist with Ottawa Chamber Orchestra and former rock drummer.
Sylvia Gazsi-Gill - A former elementary school teacher and amateur percussionist, has served on the board of the Ottawa Symphony and was the founding Executive Director of the Nadasdy Foundation for Arts and the Environment. She has been involved with Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra from its first concert 32 years ago, until 2004, as Executive Director for the last eight years.
Sheilah Craven - Manager of The Leading Note print music store; music therapist by training, flute and piano player, choral singer and member of a rock band.
Susan Carter - Susan Carter is a practitioner and analyst in the Third Sector. Her work addresses the development and capacity of the non-profit and community sector, and the relationship between the sector and governments, both domestically and internationally.
Cheryl Casey - A former teacher who then took advantage of her years as a stay-at-home mom to devote much of her energy to volunteer activities at her sons' schools, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and other arts groups.
Robin Higham - Retired diplomat from Foreign Affairs; In October 1998 he joined the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa and expanded his policy research interests to include cultural pluralism, and cultural diplomacy and the governance of culturally diverse societies. He is an amateur flute player.
Craig MacDonald - Retired in 2001 as Ambassador to Finland after 36 years service in Foreign Affairs. Since then, consultancy work on management and trade policy matters and volunteer executive positions in the Federal Superannuates National Association and Canadian International Council. Enjoys playing the piano and remembers fondly his violin playing as a member of his high school orchestra.
Anne Taylor- Founder and, for over a decade, co-director of the Media Awareness Network, a media literacy NGO and website. Formerly National Education Coordinator for the National Film Board, Anne is currently an active volunteer and supporter of the arts in Ottawa.
Margaret Tobolowska - Co-founder and Director of Pedagogy of The Leading Note Foundation and cellist with National Arts Centre Orchestra. Composer, arranger and narrator of two CD’s for children.
Fran Ward - Accredited professional fundraiser. Seventeen years experience in the not-for-profit sector, culminating as the Director of Major and Planned Giving at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation.
Barbara Clark - Founded the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir in 1982 and retired as its conductor in 2007 after 25 years. She has been artistic director for UNISONG, the Niagara International Music Festival, and the Canterbury International Music Festival in England. Amongst many other awards, in May 2001 Ms. Clark was honoured to receive the Order of Canada, in recognition of her service to choral music in Canada.
