Michigan Philharmonic Board of Directors
OFFICERS
President – Christopher Belcher, Wealth Management & Trusts Advisor
Past President/Ex-Officio – Audrey Mistor, Executive V.P. & Manager of Wealth Mgmt., First Merchants Bank
Vice President – Narendra Sheth, retired, Ford Motor Company, President, Geetmala Foundation
Secretary – Steve Chrypinski, Director of Marketing, Michigan Radio
Treasurer – Susan Hoy, Amerisure Insurance
MEMBERS
Dr. Sam Barresi, Retired
Nick Brandon, Executive Director, Communications & Marketing, Plymouth Canton Schools
Marlene Donoghue. President Creative Health Products, Inc.
Kim Fisher, Managing Partner, New York Life
Pamela Hall
Dr. Michele Kelly, Dean, Schoolcraft College
Hayley Koetje, Arts Advocate
Sue Noetzel, Arts Advocate
Aaron Reeder, Bank of Ann Arbor
Donald M. Soenen , President, Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex
Sue Voyles, Word and Vision Consulting
Alyssa Wells, PhD, Historical Musicology
EX-Officio Ronald H. Frechen, Treasurer
Michigan Philharmonic Artistic & Administrative Staff
Nan Washburn, Music Director and Conductor
Beth Stewart, Executive Director
Chris Wheeler, Orchestra Personnel Manager
Nancy Davidson, Education Programs Coordinator
Jillian Mikolaizyk, Logos Communications, Marketing Support
Julie Nyhus, Graphic Designer
Mary Tavana, Patron Services Manager
Nancy Vermillion, Volunteer
Michael Grabowski, Production Manager
Lisa Kaberna, Volunteer and Ushers Coordinator
Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra:
Nan Washburn, Advisor
Hektor Qyteti, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
Kevin Naeve, Wind Ensemble Conductor
Nancy Davidson, MPYO Manager
Meet Our Staff
Nan Washburn
Winner of The American Prize in Conducting, Professional Orchestra Division in 2013, The American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music, professional division, 2016, and of 19 ASCAP awards for Adventurous Programming from the League of American Orchestras, Nan Washburn is one of the most innovative and dynamic conductors working in the U.S. today. For her engaging performances and fresh approach to…read more
Beth Stewart, Executive Director
Beth has been the Executive Director of the Michigan Philharmonic since 2008. She holds a B.A. in History and an M.S. in Historic Preservation with an emphasis in Educational programming and management. Beth was the Executive Director of the Plymouth Museum for 17 years prior to joining the Philharmonic staff.
Faith Demorest, Personnel Manager
Faith began her musical career at age seven. At ten she performed as the youngest musician with the Redford Civic Symphony under founder and conductor John Gajec. During high school, she studied with Minota Pollock and Gordon Staples, and served as concertmaster of the Livonia Youth Symphony. Faith went on to study at Taylor University, Jackson College, U of M, and Mount Wachussett College, studying violin performance and theatre production as well as costume design. Show performances include Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Cats, Chicago, Annie, Joseph, Peter Pan, Hairspray, Sweet Charity, King and I, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Hello Dolly, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Titanic, and The Singing Christmas Tree.
Faith has toured internationally with chamber groups and choral groups. Performances include Michigan Philharmonic, Dearborn Symphony, Warren Symphony, Adrian Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Livonia Symphony, Southern Great Lakes Symphony, Venice Symphony, Florida West Coast Symphony, Ann Arbor Chorale, The Comic Opera Guild and Redford Civic Symphony. As well as teaching violin and viola she manages and performs with “The Paris Project”, an international string quartet. In addition to her work with Michigan Philharmonic. she is the music librarian at Northridge Church, Production Coordinator with The Comic Opera Guild, and music librarian with the Dearborn Symphony. When she is not performing, Faith loves gardening, working at her historical farm, doll making and spending time with her six grandchildren.
Hektor Qyteti, MPYO Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
An accomplished professional violinist, Hektor Qyteti is the Principal Second Violin in the Michigan Philharmonic. He is also the Assistant Concertmaster of the Grosse Pointe Symphony and plays in the violin sections of numerous other Detroit Metro area orchestras, including symphonies in Dearborn, Warren, Rochester, and Pontiac. Prior to his moving with his family to the U.S., he had a five-year tenure as Concertmaster of Korce Philharmonia Orchestra in Albania, during which time he performed as a soloist in the Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and other major concertos.
A dedicated teacher, Hektor maintains a busy schedule teaching violin and chamber music privately, and as an instructor at Jerry Luck Studios and Evola Music Center. He has also served on the faculty of Steppingstone School for the Gifted in Farmington. For 10 years in Albania, he was the Music Director of the Board of Education at the prestigious Korce Tefta Tashko K-12 and High School, essentially the equivalent of magnet/pre-conservatory schools in the U.S.
He received a Performance and Teaching degree from the Academy of Arts in Albania and later continued with advanced studies in teaching at Oakland University.
