Board of Directors

GARMON ASHBY is Director of Music at St. Philip’s-in-the-Hills Church in Tucson, Arizona, where he heads a comprehensive music program for one of the largest congregations in the Episcopal Church. Originally from South Africa, he has worked since youth for the RSCM in numerous capacities including being Chair of the Cape Town branch. Moving to the United States in the 1990’s to attend graduate school at Yale University, he has brought international experience and insight to the American Board, as well as passionate dedication to all aspects of RSCM work in North America. Garmon.ashby@stphilipstucson.org

FRANK BOLES is Organist and Director of Music at St. Paul’s Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Director of the Indianapolis Pro Musica. One of the most highly regarded church musicians in the United States, Mr. Boles not only oversees a comprehensive RSCM program for girls, boys, teens and adults at St. Paul’s but also has taken his choirs on numerous tours throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Mr. Boles’s area of responsibility to RSCM America is the development of regional events, activities and centers, where his considerable professional experience and personal skills will be particularly helpful to the membership. FBoles@StPaulsIndy.org

CYNTHIA DEDAKIS, President, Director of the Chorister Academy at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, in Washington, DC, has served as the North American consultant for the VOICE for LIFE curriculum. Ms. DeDakis has been active with RSCM America for many years as a course manager and music director. She helped develop the Training Courses Customary, and the new Handbook for RSCM members in the United States. A native of upstate New York, Ms. DeDakis has conducted choirs in schools, universities and churches there and in Wisconsin, Virginia and Georgia. She was awarded the ARSCM (Associate of the Royal School of Church Music) in 2004.cdedakis@aol.com

CHARLES HOGAN is the Chair of the Training Courses Committee and also the manager of the Carolina Course for Girls & Adults and Organ Institute. He is the music director at the Church of the Holy Comforter in Burlington, North Carolina, directs the Alamance Girls' Choir, and teaches piano at Elon University, in addition to being an active recitalist. He also enjoys writing and arranging and receives occasional commissions. chogan@cccath.org

KAREN KNOWLES, Development, is an interior designer in Denver, Colorado, and a skilled amateur singer. As the mother of two teenage sons, she brings to the Board a passionate interest in the RSCM as an organization for musical and spiritual formation of young persons. Her work for the Board concentrates on the Annual Fund, advertising, and other means to support our work in the United States. In addition, she manages the Rocky Mountain Course for Girls and is former manager of the Tulsa Course for Boys. knowkaren@aol.com

ENID OBERHOLTZER was appointed to the Board by the RSCM Council. She has served previously as the elected chair of the Training Courses Committee and in that capacity she pioneered efforts in mentoring for Course Managers, produced an updated and expanded Customary for course managers, and served as a tireless advocate for the improving and expanding of courses for girls, boys, and adults. Ms. Oberholtzer has been devoted to the work of the RSCM for twenty years and has been music director, housemaster, and adult coordinator for numerous courses. An accomplished organist and choir director, she has served a number of churches in New England including Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, Connecticut. tomenidjas@aol.com

THE REV. EDMUND PICKUP, JR., Secretary, is Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Franklin, Virginia. Before his ordination, he was a practicing attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina, and thus he brings both pastoral and legal expertise to the deliberations of the Board and organization. Fr. Pickup served for many years as Chaplain for the Carolina Course for Boys, Teen Boys and Adults and still serves as Chaplain to the Montreal Course. His background and training have been invaluable in advising RSCM America on matters relating to safe and supportive environments for children and adults at RSCM events and summer courses. edmundpickup@yahoo.com

ERNEST PLUNKETT, Treasurer, joined the Board in January 2006. Organist-Choirmaster at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Roswell, Georgia, in metropolitan Atlanta, he is also a professional accountant. He brings many years of experience in financial management and fiscal expertise to the work of the Board as well as many years of affiliation with the RSCM and the Association of Anglican Musicians. Ernest@StDavidChurch.org

KEVIN RADTKE is the Coordinator of RSCM America and the Coordinator of Sacred Music at Westminster Choir College. He maintains all records of membership for RSCM America, oversees the daily operations of the office, and acts as a liaison between Westminster and Princeton-area churches. Mr. Radtke is also a lyric tenor who enjoys an active opera and concert career, specializing in character tenor roles and in Baroque music. He earned a Master of Music degree in voice performance and pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from Drake University. office@rscmamerica.org

SONYA SUTTON is Director of Music at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., where she directs five choirs and draws upon 25 years of experience as an organist/choirmaster and her two master’s degrees (piano performance and arts administration). She has taught at the college level and performed as well as led music for programs at Washington National Cathedral, the Library of Congress and the Chautauqua Institution. She is a past board member of the Association of Anglican Musicians and currently serves on the board of the Royal School of Church Music. sonyas@st-albans-parish.org

RICHARD WEBSTER, Associate Director of Music at Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston, is known to many throughout the RSCM world as a choral director, organist, arranger and composer. For many years associated with St. Luke’s Church, Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Webster has conducted many RSCM courses and events throughout the United States and in South Africa. A former President of the Association of Anglican Musicians, he has his own publishing firm, Advent Press, which specializes in Mr. Webster’s choral compositions and celebrated hymn arrangements for brass ensembles. Mr. Webster’s is responsible for the selection and training of VOICE for LIFE examiners.adventpress@aol.com