Board of Directors

Pegi Ard joined the board in 2010.  She currently chairs the Finance Committee.

Myrna Britton was born in Minnesota and worked as teacher and counselor. She practiced employment law for 25 years and is now retired. Myrna served on the boards of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, California Women Lawyers and Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County, and served on county and city commissions and the Equal Opportunity Employment commission. Myrna learned to fly at 18, and worked as a crewmember on a sailboat in Europe and now owns a sailboat with her husband, Roger Anderson.

Owen Brown has been a Symphony subscriber ever since he moved to Santa Cruz eleven years ago. He joined the board in 2005. Owen has been Board President since the 2008/09 Season and prior to that he headed the Finance Committee for two years. He recently retired as CTO at Plantronics, allowing him to spend more time with volunteer work.

Dr. Arthur Cooley retired from 45 years medical practice in gynecology in Saratoga and teaching at Stanford. Art joined the board in 2007 and currently serves as the chair of the Artistic Committee and studies music composition at Cabrillo College.

A long-term subscriber, Lee Duffus is a former UC Santa Cruz student affairs administrator and small business owner. In addition to his involvement with the Symphony, Lee serves on the Santa Cruz City Arts Commission and is the chair-elect of the statewide Council of UC Retiree Associations. He chairs the Marketing Committee and serves on the Youth & Family and Directors & Officers committees. 

Beatrice Easter is the Office Manager for E.T.Easter, Inc, Civil and Structural Engineers. Beatrice grew up with a pipe organ and a grand piano at home, serenaded by musical parents. Her grandfather had 2 pianos factories in France, invented the electronic organ in 1929. Beatrice joined the board in 2009 to spread her love for great music in the community.

Dr. Noel Fishman is the retired chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Dominican Hospital. Noel and his wife, Miriam sponsor the principal trumpet, Warren Bartold, whose late father, Gabriel, was Noel’s trumpet teacher as a high school and college student in San Diego. Working towards increased participation of the UCSC Life Long Learner's group with the Symphony League.

Catharine Gill is the chair of the Youth and Family Committee and member of the Directors & Officers Committee. She is a retired high school English teacher who was instrumental in the founding of Pacific Collegiate School. Catharine worked for several years on the board of the S.C. Youth Symphony, where her daughters played violin for a number of years. Catharine grew up in Japan where she was exposed to classical music from an early age and studied piano many years. 

Edyth Henderson joined the board in 2011. Edy is a retired computer software development professional. She played violin with the San Jose Symphony Orchestra for many years.

Russell Hobbs is a fourth generation Santa Cruz County resident. He holds degrees from Cabrillo College and CSC Chico. He served as an officer in the US Army prior to his forty year career with Allstate Insurance. In addition to his involvement with the Symphony he is a member of the Santa Cruz Rotary Club and Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Cynthia Kilian first joined the Symphony board of directors in the 2001/02 season and currently serves as the chair of the South County Committee. Cynthia is a real estate agent with Bailey Properties, a choral singer and an international volunteer.

Frank Miller is a retired architect from New Jersey. He is a past president of the Symphony League of Santa Cruz County and currently serves as the vice president of the Symphony’s directors and officers committee. Frank also serves on the board of advisors for the Santa Cruz Salvation Army Corps and on the Santa Cruz Historical Preservation Commission.

Theresa Rouse joined the board in 2010. She is the Associate Superintendent of Education Services for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. She has ten years of classroom teaching experience and is in her thirteenth year as an educational administrator. Theresa is originally from Indiana.

Clyde Vaughn serves the board as a member of the Symphony League of Santa Cruz County. He is a long-time resident of Santa Cruz County and a retired United Methodist Minister, currently serving part time at Boulder Creek UMC. Clyde studied and performed music since he was six years old, and minored in music at University of the Pacific.

Patrick Williams joined the Symphony board in 2010. Patrick is an engineering manager at Google focusing on internal and external educational initiatives. He and his wife, Elise, and two sons, Shane and Quinn, look forward to the next 50 years of Symphony music and learning.

Gene Wright first attended symphony performance in Santa Cruz in 1964, have been a fan ever since. Gene joined the Symphony League in 1999, Served as President from 2005 to 2007, and again in 2010-11.