Friends of the Arts
About FOA
The general purposes and objectives of Friends of the Arts are to support and promote the Fine and Performing Arts curriculum, activities and programs of the students attending Detroit Country Day School, and to encourage the continued development and growth of nationally recognized programs. The Friends of the Arts Association encourages support of endeavors and programs through active annual membership by parents, friends, alumni, employees and students, and additional contributions.
Events
FOA fully underwrites & sponsors the following events...
Celebrate the Arts
Celebrate the Arts is the largest all-school event at Detroit Country Day School, showcasing more than 1,000 pieces of artwork and the instrumental, vocal, and performing talents of our PK3 through 12th-grade students.
Senior Conservatory Recognition
Senior Conservatory Recognition celebrates seniors graduating from the Conservatory of Visual, Performing, and Communications Arts. This program focuses on building artistic skills under faculty mentorship in a chosen discipline.
Art From the Heart
Every year at Celebrate the Arts, two pieces of student artwork from each grade (PK3-12) are selected by a hospital representative from Children’s Hospital of Michigan. The art is then professionally framed by FOA and donated by the student in a ceremony in the fall, organized by FOA, to the hospital as a part of their Healing Art Program. Over 465 pieces of student artwork now decorate the walls in the hospital.
Art After Hours
Art After Hours is FOA’s signature event, featuring an evening of art in an atmosphere that highlights the collaborative relationship between DCDS and the local arts community.
FOA Membership
Life Members
($5000 giving level)
Dr. and Mrs. Todd Aho
Mr. Leslie Alexander, II
Ms. Taylor M. Alexander
Mr. Jay A. Alix
Mr. Craig Beyrand
and Dr. Marie Delewsky
Drs. Devindergil Bhangu
and Raminder Rai
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Boos
Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Bourget
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brodie
Mrs. Joanne Cherney
Dr. and Mrs. Subir Chowdhury
Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Coakley
Mr. Heath and Mrs. Mindy Doerr
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Eisenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Erjavac
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Farber
Ms. Teri L. Fenner
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Fisher, IV
Drs. Mark and Lynn Frikker
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gallette
Major and Mrs. Alex Garn
Mr. Carl D. Gilmer-Hill, Esq.
Dr. Clayton Hill Gordon
Mr. Radhakrishnan Gurusamy
and Ms. Genga Ramamoorthy
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Henderson
Ms. Jennifer Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Karmanos, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kasprzyk
Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Pierre Kemper
Ms. Elizabeth J. Kuhn
Mr. John W. Kuhn
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Kuhn
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mascarenas
Mr. and Mrs. Rakesh Mehta
Mr. and Mrs. Sean A. Metrose
Mr. George E. Murphy
and Ms. Susan M. Murphy
Mr. Jeffrey M. Nahan
and Ms. Annette DePetris
Mr. and Mrs. Kent Niederhofer
Mr. and Mrs. James Ninowski, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. David Ohryn
Dr. and Mrs. L. R. Patil
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Penkala
Ms. Mindy Richards
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Rinke
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond E. Scott, Jr.
Mrs. Judy Schwarzer
Mr. and Mrs. Glen P. Shilling
Mr. Seth Shilling
and Dr. Christa Shilling
Mr. Randall Shoemaker
and Dr. Anne M. Guyot
Mr. and Mrs. David Skolnik
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Stanton
Mrs. Patricia Stempel
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce S. Wagner
Mr. William B. Williams
and Ms. Jacqueline A. DeCosmo
Mr. and Mrs. David R. Worpell
Dr. and Mrs. Dennis M. Zikowski
Life Builders
(five annual $1000 installments)
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Alexander
Dr. Abeer Berry and Mr. Amir I. Makled
Mr. and Mrs. Jared Hopkins
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Kiriluk
Mr. and Mrs. Huel A. Perkins
Ms. Anne Sandoval
Ovation
($500 giving level)
Drs. John V. and Ami S. Antonucci
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Dwan
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene N. O'Callaghan
Dr. and Mrs. Ross Mayerhoff
Dr. and Mrs. Vasilios Moutzouros
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Singer
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Penkala
Benefactor
($250 giving level)
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Aaron
Ms. Wadette Bradford
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Cornwell
Mrs. Ronda Ferber
Dr. Roxana and Mr. Dragos Galusca
Mr. Sean Giaier and Ms. Jaclyn Adray-Giaier
Mr. and Mrs. Quinn R. Kiriluk
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Palazzolo
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Parambo
Ms. Jennifer M. Raymond
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Spencer
Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Taliaferro
Drs. Jeremy Wolfe and Maria Woodward
Patron
($100 giving level)
Ms. Elizabeth Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Dirk A. Erickson
Drs. Jared Galle and Carolyn Kidney
Mr. Zahoorul Hassan and Ms. Hafza Tayab
Mr. and Mrs. Seth Helfman
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel T. Hennessy
Ms. Sarah Howey
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jenkins
Mr. and Ms. Richard J. Keil
Drs. Manish Kesliker and Supak Sookkasikon
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan P. Krempel
Mr. Yasser M. Mirza and Ms. Natasha Husain
Dr. and Mrs. Partha Nandi
Mr. and Mrs. Hans B. Pusch
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Sadler
Dr. and Mrs. James A. Shirley
Dr. and Mrs. Julio Sosa
Artisan
($50 giving level)
Dr. Felise May G. Barte-Parent
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick D. Binno
Mr. and Mrs. Brady J. Blain
Ms. Amy Bono
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Cook
Mrs. Jennifer L. Curis
Mr. and Mrs. Nikolas Endrud
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Haratsaris
Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Little
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Mittman
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Spizizen
Dr. Alan C. Parent
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Pitcher
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Trautman
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory D. Upton
Dr. and Mrs. Jamal Zarghami
Employee and Student
($25 giving level)
Patrick O'Callaghan
Empress Robinson
Daniel Upton
Elizabeth Upton
Honorary
Mrs. Marcia Bearden
Mr. and Mrs. Alton C. Coleman
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Suomela
Mr. and Mrs. Reese C. Zantop
Arts Faculty
Jim Davis, Executive Director of Visual & Communications Arts
| Upper School | ||
| Visual Arts | Susan Lucas | Photography, Computer Graphics, Mixed Media |
| Jiro Masuda | Department Chair of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts; Jewelry/Metals | |
| Kathleen Robinson | Painting, Drawing, Textiles, Fashion Design, AP Art History | |
| John Schwartz | Ceramics, Sculpture | |
| Performing and Communication Arts | Stacey Bowen | Orchestra, Honors Chamber Music Ensemble |
| Jim Davis | Theatre | |
| Phill Harmer | Theatre, Production Manager | |
| Lesley Kay | Dance | |
| Ruth Kay | Public Speaking, Debate, and Forensics | |
| Jonathan Napper | Jacket Big Band | |
| Alan Oliphant | Band, Jacket Big Band, Music Theory, Orchestra, Woodwind Ensemble | |
| Brett Salamin | Film | |
| Justin Velic | Band, Jacket Big Band, Music Theory, Percussion Ensemble | |
| Vocal Music | ||
| Middle School | ||
| Visual Arts | Sarah Kitchen | Co-Department Chair, Visual Art |
| Aaron Kuehne | Visual Art | |
| Amanda Serafano | 4/5 Visual Art | |
| Performing and Communications | ||
| Roxanna Han | General Music, 4th and 5th Grade Choir | |
| Chelsey Larsen | Speech, Theatre, Forensics | |
| Kelly Munsell | Dance | |
| Jonathan Napper | Band | |
| Elise Sparre | Orchestra | |
| Justin Velic | Percussion Specialist | |
| Ronald Weiler II | Vocal Music | |
| Lower School | ||
| Visual Arts | Melissa Parks | Visual Art |
| Performing Arts | Elise Sparre | 3rd Grade Strings |
| Laura Branham | General Music | |
| Bonnie Mirbach | Keyboard | |
| Nyssa Rabinowitz | K-2nd Grade Strings |
Grants
FOA grants from 2020-2022 to the school:
Lower School
Matching funds for individual music packets
Visiting artist and student workshop
Art display boards
Wendy Popko mural
Middle School
Art display boards
Professional cutting boards
Digital video camera for Sting Media Club
Renard 51 bassoon
Upper School
Psarianos viola and a pair of tubas
Ceramics 3D printer and two pottery wheels
Film studio video and lighting equipment
3D glass showcases
All Schools
Maestro conductors podium in Seligman Family Performing Arts Center
VIVID campaign support
FOA Board Members
2023-2024
Executive Board
President
Ami Antonucci
Vice President
Stephanie Kiriluk
Secretary
Mary Sadler
Treasurer
Lara Palazzolo
Other Members
Art from the Heart
Angela Spencer
Dorothy Hennessey
Art After Hours/Conservatory Dinner
Brooke Fisher
Lisette Keil
Celebrate the Arts
Catherine Dwan
Emily Moutzouros
Marketing
Jennifer Erickson
Membership
Natasha Husain
Special Events
Liz Taliaferro
Carlyn Roth
Carlyn Roth
Members-at-Large
Chrissy Krempel
Nicole Mittman
LS Liaison
MS Liaison
Lindsay Bellware
US Liaison
Sue O'Callaghan
Past President
