Melissa-Kay Grey
CEO, Executive and Artistic Director
Melissa-Kay Grey, MM is an avid performer and teaching artist located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and of Jamaican heritage. An advocate of contemporary music, she has commissioned, recorded and performed works for solo flute, and chamber ensembles. She has collaborated notable composers such as Grammy Award Winner Michael Daugherty, Peter Ashbourne, Frederick Isaac, and Carmen Marulanda. In addition to contemporary music, Melissa enjoys expanding her classical background by working with artists in jazz, latin, and reggae genres. Earlier this year, she recorded two songs with Grammy Nominated Producer, Mario Lawrence in Kingston Jamaica.
Melissa enjoys expanding her classical background to entrepreneurship and nonprofits including serving as CEO for Seven Pillars and Artistic Director for the Interactive Flute Retreat, an annual event in South Haven, Michigan.
Susan Whitener
President
Sue has been an active soloist, orchestral musician and flute teacher for over 30 years. Orchestral experience throughout her career have included the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra (Acting Principle Flute), Orchestra Canton, as well as Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Mrs. Whitener performs with Michigan Flute Orchestra and Saline Flute Song. She is Treasurer for Ann Arbor Society for Musical Arts, and the Ann Arbor Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, an international professional music fraternity, from 1994 to the present..
Sarah Rau
SARAH J. RAU, Is currently the Director of Engagement & Outreach at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Prior to her current role, Sarah spent 8 years as a non-profit arts administrator in New York City, including roles at ICM Artists, (now Opus III), City Lights Youth Theatre, Opera Company of Brooklyn, and most recently as the Director of Programs for The Midori Foundation. Sarah began her career as a tenured jr. and sr. high school vocal music teacher in Midland, MI. She has worked as an adjunct music faculty member at Alma College, and currently serves as the Music Director for The Arbor Consort, a Renaissance vocal ensemble in Ann Arbor, Mi. Sarah holds a M.M. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University.
Dr. Aleksandra Vojcic
Aleksandra Vojčić (B.M., M.M. piano, The Juilliard School; Ph.D. in Music theory, The Graduate Center, CUNY)is a former faculty member at Juilliard (1996-2007) and currentlyAssociate Professor at The University of Michigan where she is also teaches the doctoral seminar for pianists and is on the Chamber Music Faculty. Her primary research interests are rhythm and meter, focusing on the music of the long 20thcentury.
As a champion of 20th-century music she has premiered numerous works. Ms. Vojčić has been a piano soloist with the Belgrade Philharmonic, the National Repertory Orchestra, New Juilliard Ensemble, Colby Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard Chamber Orchestra, and the Josip Slavenski String Orchestra. New York performance venues have included Steinway Hall, Kosciuszko Foundation, Alice Tully Hall, and MoMa Summergarden. She has presented lectures and papers in the UK, Lithuania, Austria, Serbia, and the United States and published in Perspectives of New Music, with Cambridge University Press, Oxford University press, and others. Her recordings include Heavenly Lullabiesand D'Divaz. She was featured in an award-winning Swiss documentary Yugodivasand appeared in broadcasts on WNYC, KAJX, PGP RTB.
Jodi-Ann McFarlane
jmcfarlane@seven-pillars.org
Jodi-Ann McFarlane has a masters in psychology and currently a Management and Operations Analyst for the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, ensuring the Public Service and government agencies have the most appropriate organizational structure, systems and processes in place to operate at their optimum. Prior to her tenure at the Ministry of Finance, Jodi-Ann was a principal and school manager of Fundaciones: El Centroids, a private, bilingual early childhood institution.
Jodi-Ann is the current president of the Rotaract Club of Kingston and the first to serve as District Disaster Relief Chair for the Rotaract District 7020, a natural disaster relief program.
Driven by her desire to create opportunities, engage with people and have those around her be the best version of themselves, Jodi-Ann also enjoys the visual and performing arts, and great food.
Robert Johnson
rjohnson@seven-pillars.org
As owner of Flute Specialists, Robert Johnston has remained an avid supporter of the flute community. Earning a degree in fine art with a focus in painting, sculpting, and metal smithing, he developed and pursed an interest in the technical aspects of flute making and repair. Mr. Johnston was invited to study with flute engineers in Tokorozawa and Tokyo, Japan. He served as chief technician for Muramatsu USA for ten years. He is committed to ensuring all flutists receive the services of a highly skilled and experienced repair facility for all repairs from minor adjustments to complete overhauls.