About Calliope

Board of Directors

Julia O’Toole — Founder, Music Director, and Board Member

As founder and Music Director of Calliope, Julia delights in an opportunity to lead musicians from a variety of Boston area choruses and orchestras. Having worked with several of these organizations previously in the capacity

of vocal and performance coach, familiarity with the passion of their members inspired the dawn of Calliope. Since graduating from Boston University with a BFA in vocal performance, she has studied conducting with Scott Allen Jarrett, and voice with Brett Johnson, Daniel Wyneken, Sharon Daniels and Jonathan Barnhart. Julia is a voice teacher who instructs singers of all ages. Her studio includes adults and students at several private area high schools. She also substitutes as conductor for local organizations. She is currently enrolled as a graduate student in Musicology at Brandeis University.

Nathaniel Adams — Board Member

Nathaniel is a freelance writing tutor and editor, and is currently in law school at Columbia University. He is an alumnus of the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School, where he studied voice, piano, recorder, and saxophone, and he studied piano, music theory and composition as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia.

Robert C. Adams — Board Member

Robert Adams has spent his career in non-profit management, including positions in project management, marketing, and strategic and business planning. He now works as a consultant to non-profit organizations. Bob sang as a chorus member and soloist with the Dedham Choral Society for 13 years, serving also as Vice President and President. He currently sings with Boston's Back Bay Chorale as a chorus member and soloist. Bob sang in Calliope's pilot concert in 2006 and is Treasurer of the Board.

Alex Dippold - Board Member

Robert W. Green - Board Member

MFS Investment Management, Boston

John Kalish - Operations Committe Liaison

Carol Louik - Operations Committee Liaison

David McSweeney — Advisor

David is president and founder of Tenor Technologies (www.tenortech.com), a consulting company that provides new-media solutions for arts organizations. Before forming Tenor Technologies, he held numerous executive positions in Massachusetts high-tech companies, and he has 20 years’ experience in the technology sector. As a freelance singer, David appears regularly with several local ensembles, including Boston Baroque, Emmanuel Music, Blue Heron Renaissance Choir, and the Handel & Haydn Society. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Arlington Philharmonic Society, Boston Cecilia, Monadnock Music, and the Wellesley Choral Society.

Rick Mulhaupt - Board Member

Twenty years Research Foundation President of The Fire Protection Research Foundation, fifteen as president. MPA, Kennedy School of Government.

Aurelien Ngonga - Board Member

Lawyer and CFO for Boston and international organizations.

Margaret Sullivan - Board Member

Margaret is someone for whom, as a result of the sound, the beauty, and the emotion, music creates an elemental “feel” that is appreciated on a number of levels. Her background in German studies, history, and education inspired her while in Europe to explore music first as a listener, and then as a participant in choirs sacred and secular. She shares her interest in all aspects of instruments and singing with her sons Daniel and William, who are also very musical. She has worked at Milton Academy directing Understanding Differences, a program that teaches fourth graders about individuals with learning and living challenges. In addition to her participation on the Board of Calliope, she sits on the Board of the Maria Droste Center, which supports recovering individuals who capitalize on their talents such as music, ultimately playing a significant role in redirecting their lives. She was a vibrant part of Calliope’s pilot season and currently sings alto with the group.

Ara Stepanyan - Board Member

Ara Stepanyan is a Senior Manager in the Economic and Valuation Services practice of KPMG LLP. Ara has over ten years of experience in economic research and consulting. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Rice University and is graduate of a music school where he studied violin and classical piano.