Meet the Music For Minors Staff
Sonja Palmer, Executive Director
Sonja received her Bachelor of Music degree from Bethany College and Masters degree from Wichita State University. Prior to joining MFM, Sonja served eight years as Executive Director at Cantabile Youth Singers and the Cantabile Choral Guild. She was also a Professional Singer at San Francisco Symphony.
Chris Burke, Training Director
Chris holds a Masters Degree in Music and a Secondary Teaching Credential. She joined MFM in 1985 as a docent at her children's school in Redwood City and subsequently taught K-6 music for twelve years. After being a workshop presenter and a member of the training team, she became the Training Director 1997. She has served on the MFM Board several times and was also Program Director of the Music For Learning Program and, taught in that program for four years. On sabbatical, Fall 2010
Donna Weiher, Interim Training Director
Donna took MFM training in 1988, and has been affiliated with the organization in various capacities ever since. Her employment experiences are diverse, many allowing her to work from home and volunteer at school while her four children were growing up. In addition to docenting and serving as a trainer with MFM, she was Executive Director from 1990-1996. In more recent years, Donna has taught the MFM multi-session Recorder Workshop many times. She has been teaching music part-time in grades K-8 for over 20 years, and continues to do so.
Debbie Fowler, Music For Learning Program Manager
Debbie has a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She taught classroom music and served as an MFM docent in San Carlos. She currently teaches private piano lessons. Debbie has headed fundraising efforts for both public and private schools, and has served on the Board of Directors for San Carlos Children’s Theater for seven years.
Ceci Ogden, Communications
Ceci has a BA from Tufts University, and an MPH from the University of Hawaii. Her background is in nonprofit administration, and she has worked in program development and health education throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands, as well as the Bay Area. Ceci has been active with the local schools, chairing major events, working with teachers and administrators, and coordinating volunteer efforts. For over three years she served as MFM’s In-School Program Director.
Joanna Read, Docent Program Manager
Joanna has a Bachelor of Education with Music from Oxford Brookes University, UK. She is an experienced elementary school teacher. Whilst working on an MA in Arts Administration in San Francisco, she interned with the Stern Grove Festival and Young Audiences. Following her return to England, Joanna worked as Education Manager with the London Symphony Orchestra organizing family concerts and school composition projects. She has lived in California since 2000, becoming an MFM docent in 2004 at her children’s school in Cupertino. Joanna enjoys singing and is a member of Schola Cantorum.
Jean Tyan, Program Director
Jean has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota and a Masters in International Business Management from Thunderbird – The American Graduate School of International Management. She has extensive experience in business and market development, project management and advertising. Jean is a former Music For Minors docent and has served on PTA boards, chaired numerous fundraising events, and worked closely with teachers to support classroom goals.
Ingrid Voss, Office Manager
Ingrid grew up in Germany and earned her BS in Computer Science at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences in Munich. She worked as a Software Engineer in R&D for almost 20 years, most recently at Apple. When her daughters started elementary school Ingrid became involved in volunteering first at school and then with Girl Scouts. Her favorite volunteer position was as a mentor for high school girls working on their Gold Award.
