Kim Lazarus, Board President

Kim became involved with the PGC in 2003 when her daughter Rachel joined Allegra. In 2011, Rachel was a member of Ensemble's graduating seniors. Her younger daughter Hannah currently sings in Brava.

In addition to the PGC, Kim has been an active volunteer at her children's schools and within the larger community. She has served on the boards of Sholom Women at Peninsula Temple Sholom and the Community Service League, a group which fundraises for local mental health agencies. She has been on the board of the PGC since 2008.

Kim was raised in suburban Philadelphia, and attended Tufts University. She and her family have lived in the Bay Area since 2001.

Martha Phillips, Vice President

Martha was born and raised on the Peninsula. She went to San Francisco State University, and after graduation she started working at her own business, "Terminal Brass & Aluminum Foundry" in South San Francisco. After her marriage to Walter and the birth of her son Christopher she served on the Boards and volunteered in various positions at the Carey School, Ragazzi and the PGC.

Martha began her association with the PGC when her son joined the Peninsula Youth Chorus in 1995 - then a group in the PGC. Since it was so new, she volunteered to do various jobs as needed which she contines to do today, sixteen years later! Martha runs the rehearsal office desk for both Tuesday and Wednesday night rehearsals.

Melinda (Mindy) Slatt-Friedeberg, Board Secretary

Being a member of the Board of Directors of the Peninsula Girls Chorus has afforded Mindy the opportunity to combine her skills developed from work experience and education with her heartfelt interest in helping children find success. Over the past couple of years that Mindy has been affiliated with the Board, she has seen the Chorus grow and change, with the constancy of girls’ singing and growing as people as an overlying theme. Having been raised in the area, and having sung in a choir as a child, Mindy recognizes the significance of the choral experience and the role it can play in a girl’s life.

Mindy comes to the Board of Directors with a B.A. in English & American Literature from UC San Diego, and an MBA from California State University, Hayward, with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. She is the founder of an Interior Decorating firm, and together with her husband, they own the Barry Slatt Mortgage Company. She has also served on multiple non-profits’ Boards including: The Childcare Coordinating Council of San Mateo County, the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, the Parent Group Boards of West Hillsborough School and Crocker Middle School, and the Hillsborough Schools Foundation. Mindy is the mother of three children, and her daughter has enjoyed singing with the Peninsula Girls Chorus since joining five years ago.

Neal Tandowsky, Immediate Past-President

Neal joined the PGC Board in 2006. During that time, Neal has served as VP of Fundraising, Treasurer, President, and now Immediate Past President.

Neal Tandowsky is self-employed as a financial consultant for Tandowsky Financial Group. Prior to starting his own company, Neal enjoyed a 23-year career in private, commercial, and mortgage banking in the San Francisco Bay Area, working with Wells Fargo Private Bank, City National Bank, The Boston Company, Imperial Bank, and Union Bank. In addition to Neal's work with the PGC, for the past 7 years, Neal has served as Advisory Council Chair for the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. Neal obtained a BA in Economics from University of California at Berkeley in 1985 and an MBA from University of San Francisco in 1997. Neal is a native of Burlingame and he and his wife, Ilana, live in San Mateo with their 3 children; Blake, Olivia, and Meredith.

Cappie Fay, Board Member

Cappie has 3 children ( 2 girls in the chorus). Sara is in Concerta and Carter is in Allegra. Sara has been in the chorus since Allegra and Carter started in Repertoire. They have been in the Bay area for 10 years and live down the street from the church.

Cappie grew up in Tennessee. She went to Vanderbilt University. After graduation she worked in public relations in Washington, DC. She attended Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia. After graduation with her MBA she worked in New York City in marketing and public relations where she met her husband, Tim.

Since their marriage, Cappie has done volunteer work with many sports teams for their children. She served on the Boards of First Presbyterian Church pre-school and The International School of the Peninsula where her children go to school. She has also volunteered for the Junior League of San Francisco, Parca and for Rebuild It Together.

She currently substitutes at the International School and does marketing research projects for individual clients.

Karyn Silva, Artistic Director, Concerta and Ensemble Director

Karyn has a passion and infectious enthusiasm for the art of choral music. With over twenty years of conducting and teaching experience, she is sought after as a master teacher, clinician, and mentor in her field. She is a graduate of Holy Names University, where she earned her Master of Music Education degree with a Kodaly emphasis. Ms. Silva also received her graduate certification in the Orff-Schulwerk approach from Mills College.

Ms. Silva was awarded the distinction of “Teacher of the Year” for the Lincoln Unified School District in 1996 and in 2007 was honored by the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) as “Classroom Music Teacher of the Year.” With the exception of Repertoire, she has conducted every choir level at the PGC.

Ms. Silva is actively involved in music education and choral conducting organizations. She was the Youth Choir chairperson for the Organization of American Kodaly Educators (OAKE) National Conference in 2004, she served on the board of the California Music Educators National Conference from 2005-2006, and recently she has presented sessions at the American Choral Directors (ACDA) and CMEA annual conferences. She is an active member of Chorus America, American Choral Directors Association, and the Organization of American Kodaly Educators.