Our Team

Great Lakes Performance Artist Associates

Amanda Stanger-Read, Executive Director

Originally from the East Coast, Amanda earned a degree in English and Dance at Columbia University. She moved to Ann Arbor in 1992 to pursue an MFA in Dance at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance. After graduating, to support her performance career, she taught dance all around Washtenaw County, at the University of Michigan, Flint and wrote dance and music previews for the Ann Arbor Observer. To further supplement her income Amanda wound up working at GLPAA as an Administrative Assistant to Elizabeth Humes, the Executive Director at the time. Amanda left in early 1998 to start a family and a few years later opened her own dance and music studio, Arts in Motion, with her husband Scott Read. In the Spring of 2021, Amanda decided to close Arts in Motion mostly due to the pressures of Covid. Amanda brought her career full circle by joining GLPAA in March of 2022 as Executive Director.

Margaret Guire, Board President

40 years teaching English and music in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, collaborative pianist for students. B. M. and M. M. University of Michigan.

Linda Grekin, Board Secretary

Linda Grekin is a writer and an educator with a special interest in using the arts to teach core curriculum. She has a BA in Journalism, a Teaching Certificate and an MA in Educational Curriculum Development, all from The University of Michigan. Linda has written five books of poetry and a non-fiction book, I’ll never Get Lost Again, about people who are directionally challenged. She lives in Ann Arbor near her three children and six granddaughters.

John Floyd, Board Treasurer

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, John Floyd is a financial professional with 30 years of budgeting, accounting, and financial control for government, not-for-profit and private industry. Presently he works in fossil fuel-reducing technologies.

John taught Economics, Political Economy and Business in the Chicago area at Moraine Valley Community College, Prairie State College, and DePaul University. He is married, and has three children. BA Oberlin College, Master of Public Policy University of Michigan, Master of Science in Accounting DePaul University.

Ed Goldman, Board Member

Ed, a native of Detroit, attended University of Michigan for undergrad and law school. He ran the University of Michigan Health Law office for over 30 years providing legal support for the health system. Since 2009 he has been on faculty at the Medical School Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology focusing on issues of reproductive justice. He also plays classical guitar at an amateur level.

Deborah Katz, Board Member

Deborah Scott Katz is a retired music Educator with over 40 years of experience in public schools in Southern Michigan. In addition to her years in kindergarten through high school music classrooms, Deborah served as the Coordinator of Music Education in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and, later, as the district’s Coordinator of the Educational Computing & Technology Center. She was awarded the Kennedy Center’s Teacher of the Arts fellowship and participated in a Kennedy Center arts education mission to Australia, performing in a recital at the Sydney Opera House. Deborah has also served as a lay leader of her synagogue, sings in the synagogue choir Kol Halev and enjoys spending time with her husband and her new granddaughter. 

Richard Kennell, Board Member

Richard Kennell is Dean emeritus of the College of Musical Arts, Bowling Green State University. In Chicago, he attended Northwestern University and performed with various professional ensembles including the Chicago Saxophone Quartet, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Symphony, and the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra. He completed his doctorate in music education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has published research on the interactions of studio instruction in music. Joined the Board May 2022.

E. Daniel Long, Board Member

Music Educator, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Guest conductor/clinician throughout the U.S. M.M., University of Colorado.

Kay Otto, Board Member

A long time resident of Ann Arbor, Kay recently retired after  37 years as a Speech Pathologist at St Joseph Mercy Hospital. She and her husband Mike raised 4 children who have always had music in their lives, including many a band rehearsal in the basement.  She has developed a strong appreciation for the importance of supporting live music.

Robert F. Whitman, Board Member Emeritus

Professor of English Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh. Author of numerous books and articles. Ann Arbor civic leader serving on the Boards of the Michigan Theater Foundation, the Stearns Collection at the Univ. of Michigan School of Music, and the Salzburg Seminar. PhD Harvard University.

Fred Smith, Advisory Board Member

Facilitated a Summer Music Scholarship program for disadvantaged students to Interlochen Arts and Music Camp’s U of M Allstate Program and Blue Lake Arts and Music Camp Program. Administered the AAPS Summer Music Program, facilitated the district’s Cooperative Outreach Music Program. Served as assistant director of three church choirs at Bethel A.M.E. Church and as a USPTR certified teaching professional at Huron Valley Tennis Club in Ann Arbor, both over 25 years! Frederick is married with four beautiful children. He is honored to be a proud member of the Ann Arbor community.

Ara Topouzian, Advisory Board Member

Recently voted to serve on the GLPAA board, Ara serves as Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association. Ara is also an Armenian musician that plays the kanun, a Middle Eastern laptop harp with over seventy-six strings. Ara has performed (private and public) concerts throughout Michigan and around the country. In 2012, he received a Kresge Artist Fellow and in 2015 he received Artist in Residence from the City of Farmington Hills, MI.

LaTonya Woods, Advisory Board Member

A passionate music educator and administrator, she has served as an instructor in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and on the faculty of the Sphinx Preparatory Program and Michigan State University Community Music School; and in administrative capacities with the Sphinx Organization as well as Our Own Thing–a nonprofit organization for which she has recently developed a string music program and serves as the administrative director.

From Fairbanks, Alaska, Ms. Woods continues to perform throughout the metro Detroit area and is a member of the Dexter Community Orchestra. She currently serves on the boards of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance Alumni Society and the Community Music School of Ann Arbor. In her free time, she loves spending time with her daughter and her dog.

Join Our Team

We are always looking for new board members. If you would like to become an active paritcipant in our work to support the performing arts in the Great Lakes region, please let us know by filling out the contact form below. For information about Board commitment specifications see our Board Recruitment One Sheet