Executive Members
Dr. Julie Skadsem (conductor)
Dr. Julie Skadsem is an Associate Professor of Choral Music Education and Conducting at the University of Michigan where she teaches courses in conducting, choral techniques, and vocal methods. She has earned degrees in choral music education from St. Olaf College (B.A.), Florida State University (M.M.E.), and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (Ph.D.). Before coming to Michigan in fall 2006, Dr. Skadsem was Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Alabama and was Founding Director of the Birmingham Children's Choir. She is a member of the VoiceCare Network and is certified in Dalcroze eurhythmics, Orff-Schulwerk, and Kodaly. Dr. Skadsem's research on choral conducting and rehearsal techniques has been presented at MENC, ACDA, and the Southeastern Music Education Symposium.
Arian Khaefi (Graduate Student Instructor)
Arian Khaefi is a first year doctoral student studying with Dr. Jerry O Blackstone at the University of Michigan. He received his Masters degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied choral conducting with Donald Neuen.
Samantha Biniker (Pianist)
Samantha Biniker is a student in the Artist and Scholars Honors Program. In this program, she studies collaborative piano with Martin Katz and solo piano with Logan Skelton. Samantha has attended summer festivals the past few years which include: The Eastern Music Festival in 2005 and The MasterWorks Festival in 2006, 2007, and 2008. She has performed piano concertos with the Toledo Youth Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and The MasterWorks Festival Orchestra. Samantha loves working with instrumentalists and singers in solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings.
Melisa Gilbey (President)
Melisa is a Senior in the School of Kinesiology studying Movement Science with the goal of attending dental school. She is from Rochester Hills, where she attended high school but is actually Canadian! Melisa has been a member of WGC since fall of her freshman year and has previously served as a fund raising co-chair, Treasurer, and Business Manager. Aside from the lovely Glee Club Melisa is involved in the Pre-Dental Association and is a participant of UMDM. She is very excited for the upcoming year and cannot wait for our performances in Stamps and Hill.
Molly Netter (Vice President)
Molly is from Monroe, Michigan but attended high school in the state of Ohio. (Don't hurt her for it!) Here at the university, she is currently a junior double majoring in Classical Civilization and Psychology. She hopes to attend some form of graduate school, though her future career goals seem to change daily, so nothing can be set in stone yet. She loves traveling to foreign sites, being outside, and spending time with her friends.
Kristin Lewis (Treasurer)
Kristin is a physics graduate student originally from Neenah, Wisconsin. After completing undergrad at the University of Wisconsin, she moved here with her husband and her dog to join the ranks of the wolverines. While she can often be found singing in her lab, glee club has been a great place to sing with a wonderful group of girls. This will be her third year singing with the group, and she's excited to see what this year will bring.
Allison Richards (Secretary)
Allison is a sophomore here at U of M. She hopes to double major in Spanish and something else (to be determined). She has been in glee club since the fall semester of her freshman year and loves it! She plans on continuing to sing with the glee club and enjoy college while figuring out what she wants major in.
Shelly Fauver (Business Manager)
Shelley Fauver is a junior in the School of Nursing. She is from Saginaw, and has participated in musical activities at all levels of school. Shelley also enjoys all forms of dancing, any excuse to spend time with family, living in Ann Arbor, baking chocolate chip cookies (or just eating the dough...), and roller coasters. She is especially excited to coordinate Women's Vocal Arts Day this year, as this is what attracted her to become a Glee Club member when she arrived as a freshman at U of M.
Heather Jones (Concert Manager)
Heather is a junior from Rockford, Michigan. She has been part of WGC since her freshman year, and feels blessed to be part of such a fun and talented group of girls. Heather is majoring in Neuroscience and hopes to attend med school after graduation.
Rennie Jones (Publicity Manager)
Rennie Jones is a third year member of what has long been the best voice part; second soprano. Though she originally hails from Farmington Hills, Michigan, the recent addition to the College of Architecture has taken up residence at a desk in the third-floor studio of the Art and Architecture building. Rennie loves singing with the Glee Club and is giddy about the escapades sure to take place this year.
Chair Positions
Historian: Melissa Golliday
Glee Club Liaison: Hiab Debessai
Alumni Relations Chair: Caitlin Huston
Webmaster: Yu "Lucy" Han
Merchandise Chair: Allison Holmes
Ticketmaster: Yu "Lucy" Han
Social Chair: Katy Potocki
Librarian: Nicole Garcia
Fundraising Chair: Yeha Youm