Music for Minors: Our Board Members

Chris McKinney (Co-President) is a former Music for Minors Docent (1979–1986 at Santa Rita Elementary in Los Altos). She has extensive teaching experience, including elementary schools in both Los Altos and Mountain View, as well as eighth grade English. Currently she is retired and spends her time volunteering in a literacy program for at-risk middle and high school students, as well as with MFM. Chris joined the Board in 2010.

W. Earl Hall (Co-President) holds a BSME from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a MSME from Southern Methodist University and a PhD in Control Systems Engineering from Stanford University. He currently serves as a consultant to Global 500 companies. Since 2001, he has served on the Board of the Hosei University Research Institute of California and has also been a special education consultant for children (K-12) for a Michigan-based research project. Earl joined the Board in 2007.

Jeanne von Gunten (Vice President) is a former Music for Minors Docent who served for 12 years at Almond School in Los Altos and later joined their staff for an additional six years developing their K through 3rd grade music program. Jeanne sings with Peninsula Women’s Chorus and serves on their Board. She also volunteers for Los Altos Girl Scouts. Jeanne has a BA in Music Performance and a Masters Degree in Philosophy. Jeanne joined the MFM Board in 2011.

Kirby Miller (Secretary) is a former Music for Minors Docent and a current MFM Roving Docent. He has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, specializing in acoustics. He is an active participant and former President of Schola Cantorum, and currently plays trombone with The Rythmaires, a Senior Dixieland Band based in Cupertino. Kirby joined the Board in 2007.

Jack Tuttle (Treasurer) has a BS in Business from Salem College and an MBA from American University, Kogod School of Business. He has over 30 years experience in the health care and information technology industries and is currently VP of Business Development for Galen Technologies, a drug development and testing start-up company. Jack joined the Board in 2010.

Sharon Barkoff is currently a teacher in the Los Altos School District. She has a BA in Anthropology and a Lifetime Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. She directs children's musicals and choruses, volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House, and sings with a local choir. Sharon is a former Music for Minors Docent, and joined the Board in 2004.

Cathy Combs is a former Music for Minors Docent (1988-1996 at West Valley, Montclaire, and Bullis Elementary Schools) who also served on the Board from 1990-2000, including two years as President. In addition, Cathy has been a member the MFM Advisory Board, as well as People of Note. She holds a BA in Spanish and an MA in Education from Stanford, and taught high school Spanish in local schools for many years. She has been a first soprano with Schola Cantorum since 1977. Cathy re-joined the Board in 2011.

Gunilla Follett was educated at the Southern Methodist University in Texas and is an event planner by occupation. She was a founding member of Music for Minors. She also sits on the boards of the Vintage Affaire and the YMCA and is a sustaining member of Junior League of Palo Alto. Gunilla joined the Board in 2005.

Grace Johnston has a BA in Psychology and a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Music from the University of Missouri. As a founder of MFM, she was Executive Director for 4 years. She was also founder of People of Note and served as its first president. She taught music in the Mountain View School District for 14 years. She has been a core Kodaly method instructor for MFM docents for over 16 years. Grace joined the Board in 1995.

Liz Rome earned a BS in Zoology at University of Massachusetts and a masters in Biology from Harvard University (Extension School). Originally employed in the biotech field before raising two boys, Liz has been a volunteer with the Los Altos Art Docents for the past 15 years, serving many board positions, including chair, and currently on its curriculum committee. In addition, Liz has volunteered for many non-profits including MVLA Scholars (Program Council and Selection Committee), the Cantor Museum of Art and the Friends of Westwind Barn. Liz joined the MFM Board in 2011.

Elizabeth Susskind, a native Briton, moved to the US in 1986, having completed her music training at the Guildhall School of Music and Trinity College of Music in London, majoring in vocal studies.  She joined the St. Louis Symphony Chorus as a professional member and enjoyed one season with the Opera Theatre St. Louis Chorus, before moving to California in 1989.  Elizabeth is an active member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus (19 years and counting), former board member of Cantabile Youth Singers, and a passionate supporter of a broad-based, arts-directed education in our grade schools.  Elizabeth joined the Board in 2011.

John Sylvester has a BA from the University of the Pacific. He is the president of SST Insurance Brokers, Inc. in Los Altos. He is a member of the Rotary Club and has been a board member of Bus Barn Stage Company for many years. He is a jazz musician by avocation, and plays regularly in the area with The Jazz ConneXion. John joined the Board in 2007.

Jeffry Walker is a Trustee of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and sits on the Policy Council of the California Alliance for Arts Education. He is a former executive director of the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View, CA and also served for 16 years as director of the Austin Arts Center at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. An accomplished theater writer, designer and performer, Jeffry earned an MFA from Ohio University and has taught at Bucknell, Drew, Drexel, and West Virginia Universities. Jeffry joined the Board in 2011.