Festival Mozaic
is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its board of directors. Joining the diverse group of civic leaders who form the board of this nonprofit arts organization are Lauren Bandari, Susan Branche Poteet and Dennis Schneider.
Lauren Bandari is the executive director of the Jewish Community Center of SLO and passionate about advancing cultural diversity in the area. She serves on the Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity Committee and on the Anti-Defamation League Committee. Bandari has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has a background in arts, as a Fine Arts Administrator for Sotheby’s, and as a Site/Publicity Manager for IN:SITE. She also worked for the Harley Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee. Bandari lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband Armin and twin boys Arie and Isaac.
Susan Branche Poteet came to the area from New Orleans where she worked with the Army Corps of Engineers building the Hurricane Protection System. Her background also includes less interesting engineering projects, such as installing the sewer system in the Florida Keys and other water/wastewater projects. Branche Poteet earned a BSBA-Finance degree from the University of Central Florida where she subsequently taught while managing her private tax and accounting practice. Currently, as the Corporate Sparkle Goddess for CheriArt, LLC, Branche Poteet is responsible for training distributors. Susan serves on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo County Public Library Foundation and for RISE, the organization created from the merger of North County Women’s Shelter & SARP.
Dennis Schneider is the president of Biokinetic Engineering, Inc., a forensic engineering consulting firm based in San Luis Obispo. His interest in human impact trauma and its relationship to automotive safety began in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan at Wayne State University and was expanded with his research investigations at General Motors Research Laboratories. Following MS and PhD degrees in bioengineering at the University of California at San Diego, Schneider’s research and teaching career focusing on trauma and its causes continued as a faculty member at the UCSD medical school Department of Surgery. Schneider and his wife Sharon Harris, an accomplished oil painter and fiber artist moved to the Central Coast to make it their permanent home in 2000, thus completing a long courtship with the area’s beauty, art, and music that began in 1970.
Other directors are Steve Bland, president; Diane Moroski, realtor, past president; John Doyle, The Spice Hunter, treasurer; Mike Ritter, retired cable television executive; Secretary; Jacqueline Frederick, attorney at law; John Gilbert, medical industry consultant; Warren Jensen, retired county counsel; Jaime Lewis, freelance writer; Kathleen Schroeder, realtor; and Bern Singsen, retired physician.
Tickets are on sale now for Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo November Series. This popular summer music festival’s chamber music series will take place November 1-3, 2013, and will feature exceptional artists from across the country under the direction of the Festival’s music director, Scott Yoo. Featured guest artists include pianist John Novacek and cellist Bion Tsang.
“Trios” (November 1, 2 &3): This program celebrates the Piano Trio by presenting three different trios, performed by Mr. Yoo, Mr. Tsang and Mr. Novacek.
Haydn – Piano Trio in E-flat major, Hob. XV:29
Beethoven – Piano Trio in D major, op. 70/1 Ghost
Dvořák– Piano Trio in E minor Dumky
Each concert cycle has three ways to experience the music — a Notable Encounter Insight, a Friday evening one-hour presentation where the performers informally discuss the featured works; a Saturday evening Notable Encounter Salon, where guest artists present lively commentary, musical excerpts and insider observations in beautiful private homes accompanied by food and award-winning Central Coast wine; and then the full concert program on Sunday afternoon.
For more information, visit www.FestivalMozaic.com. Photos and interviews available upon request.