Christian Van Deven - President
A musician and educator based out of Norfolk, Christian has been involved in clinics, adjudicating, performing, and educating across the commonwealth for the past decade. He has been a member of the ensemble since 2017 and has served as a Board Member since 2018, as well as being involved with the Advocates for a Live Performance Venue Group in Williamsburg since 2023. Christian regularly performs with Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, the Virginia Wind Symphony, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, Symphonicity, the Tidewater Winds, and is a co-founder of the woodwind quintet, Reed Between the Lines. He also serves as the interim Music Director & Conductor of Symphonic Artistry, as well maintaining a lesson studio and playing chamber music with friends. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, International Horn Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
A musician and educator based out of Norfolk, Christian has been involved in clinics, adjudicating, performing, and educating across the commonwealth for the past decade. He has been a member of the ensemble since 2017 and has served as a Board Member since 2018, as well as being involved with the Advocates for a Live Performance Venue Group in Williamsburg since 2023. Christian regularly performs with Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, the Virginia Wind Symphony, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, Symphonicity, the Tidewater Winds, and is a co-founder of the woodwind quintet, Reed Between the Lines. He also serves as the interim Music Director & Conductor of Symphonic Artistry, as well maintaining a lesson studio and playing chamber music with friends. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, International Horn Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Jordan DiCaprio - Vice President
Jordan has been a member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble in the horn section since 2022 and a Board Member since 2023. Professionally, he is an entrepreneur in the real estate marketing field but his real passion is music. Jordan also plays horn with the Virginia Wind Symphony and the Old Dominion University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.
Jordan has been a member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble in the horn section since 2022 and a Board Member since 2023. Professionally, he is an entrepreneur in the real estate marketing field but his real passion is music. Jordan also plays horn with the Virginia Wind Symphony and the Old Dominion University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.
Sue Wills - Secretary
Sue is a founding member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble and has performed with the group of over twenty years. She retired from the Newport News Police Department in 2020, holding the positions of Permits Examiner, Community Programs Coordinator, and Police Planning Manager. She and her husband live in York County. She served as the Operations Manager for CBWE from 2016-2019, serving concurrently as the Secretary since 2019.
Sue is a founding member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble and has performed with the group of over twenty years. She retired from the Newport News Police Department in 2020, holding the positions of Permits Examiner, Community Programs Coordinator, and Police Planning Manager. She and her husband live in York County. She served as the Operations Manager for CBWE from 2016-2019, serving concurrently as the Secretary since 2019.
Bonnie Baffer - Treasurer
Bonnie is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a registered architect in VA, who works at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown. She enjoys playing the horn with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble and the York River Symphony Orchestra. In addition to serving as the CBWE Treasurer, she is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and Virginia Master Naturalists.
Bonnie is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a registered architect in VA, who works at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown. She enjoys playing the horn with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble and the York River Symphony Orchestra. In addition to serving as the CBWE Treasurer, she is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and Virginia Master Naturalists.
Cathy Francis - Member at Large
Cathy has been a K-12 music educator for more than twenty years. She holds a Bachelors Degree in music from East Carolina University in Flute Performance, and a Masters Degree from Old Dominion University in Music Education and Wind Band conducting. She regularly performs with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, Virginia Wind Symphony, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, and is a co-founder of the woodwind quintet, Reed Between the Lines. She maintains an active lessons studio, and in her free time keeps a thriving koi pond where she loves to feed the fish. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, and the National Flute Association.
Cathy has been a K-12 music educator for more than twenty years. She holds a Bachelors Degree in music from East Carolina University in Flute Performance, and a Masters Degree from Old Dominion University in Music Education and Wind Band conducting. She regularly performs with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, Virginia Wind Symphony, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, and is a co-founder of the woodwind quintet, Reed Between the Lines. She maintains an active lessons studio, and in her free time keeps a thriving koi pond where she loves to feed the fish. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, and the National Flute Association.
Jeff Lilliston - Member at Large
Jeff has been playing saxophone with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble since 2018, became a Board Member in 2023, and is currently the operations manger. He is graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in 2017 and his Master of Arts and Teaching degree in 2018. During his time at school he served in leadership positions in the University Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Captains, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Currently he is the Director of Bands at Homer L. Hines Middle School in Newport News, VA where he has taught for six years. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the National Music Educators Association.
Jeff has been playing saxophone with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble since 2018, became a Board Member in 2023, and is currently the operations manger. He is graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in 2017 and his Master of Arts and Teaching degree in 2018. During his time at school he served in leadership positions in the University Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Captains, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Currently he is the Director of Bands at Homer L. Hines Middle School in Newport News, VA where he has taught for six years. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the National Music Educators Association.
Peter Owen - Member at Large
Peter has been a member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble tuba section since moving to the area in 2018 and joined the board in 2023. He was a member 0f multiple ensembles at Virginia Tech, including the Marching Virginians. Peter is the section leader for Low Brass in CBWE. In 2022 he joined the Virginia Choral Society to expand his talents to choral music. Though an engineer by dat, he enjoys playing and listening to a wide variety of music.
Peter has been a member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble tuba section since moving to the area in 2018 and joined the board in 2023. He was a member 0f multiple ensembles at Virginia Tech, including the Marching Virginians. Peter is the section leader for Low Brass in CBWE. In 2022 he joined the Virginia Choral Society to expand his talents to choral music. Though an engineer by dat, he enjoys playing and listening to a wide variety of music.
Laura Parker - Member at Large
Laura serves as the Personnel Manager and a bassoonist for the organization. She is currently in her 37th year of teaching - 35 years in Virginia Beach City Public Schools as an orchestra teacher. Presently she works with string orchestra students in 5th - 8th grade. Additionally, she performs with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, Symphonicity, Virginia Wind Symphony, and the Tidewater Winds. She is also the Music Director at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, and serves at the Adult Choir and Handbell Choir Director. She is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well.
Laura serves as the Personnel Manager and a bassoonist for the organization. She is currently in her 37th year of teaching - 35 years in Virginia Beach City Public Schools as an orchestra teacher. Presently she works with string orchestra students in 5th - 8th grade. Additionally, she performs with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, Symphonicity, Virginia Wind Symphony, and the Tidewater Winds. She is also the Music Director at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, and serves at the Adult Choir and Handbell Choir Director. She is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well.
Rhonda Taylor - Member at Large
Rhonda is a gifted resource teacher, currently in her 27th year of teaching with Gloucester County Public Schools. She earned a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the College of William & Mary and minored in music at James Madion University. She is active in her church and is an advocate for her students, particularly those twice-exceptional students with disabilities. Rhonda has been a member of CBWE for 13 years, and began serving on the Board in 2023. She and her husband live in Gloucester
Rhonda is a gifted resource teacher, currently in her 27th year of teaching with Gloucester County Public Schools. She earned a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the College of William & Mary and minored in music at James Madion University. She is active in her church and is an advocate for her students, particularly those twice-exceptional students with disabilities. Rhonda has been a member of CBWE for 13 years, and began serving on the Board in 2023. She and her husband live in Gloucester
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