Presented by Adrienne Tindall, chair of the nominating committee.
A big thank you to Adrienne for her tenacity and professionalism during the process of preparing this slate of candidates.
Judy Kohl – Dean
Term 2020-2022 (serving a second term)
Judy Kohl spent her early childhood in the Belgian Congo and Kenya, which greatly influenced her love of not only Western, but also African music. She received a BMus from Wheaton College Conservatory (Organ) and a MMus from Northwestern University (Church Music). There she studied with Dick Enright and Wolfgan Rubsam, two teachers who greatly influenced the musical direction of her life. Having held many music positions over the last forty years of living on the North Shore, she currently serves as Organist/Choir Director at the Union Church of Lake Bluff. She owns the Mustard Seed, a fair trade store in Lake Forest, which exists to give back to those less fortunate. She considers it a privilege to continue to serve on the North Shore AGO board as Dean.
Richard Clemmitt – Sub-Dean
Term 2020-2022 (serving a second term)
Richard is the Organist and Choirmaster of Christ Church, Winnetka, where he manages an RSCM program that includes participation by children, teenagers, and adults. Working together with Organ Associate Jay Peterson, he and the Christ Church Choir not only provide music for services at home but also tour yearly, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Richard currently serves as Subdean of our chapter. He earned his BMus in organ performance from New England Conservatory as a pupil of Yuko Hayashi and his MMus in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College as a pupil of Joseph Flummerfelt. In addition to playing and conducting, Richard enjoys composing and has music published by Augsburg Fortress, GIA, Hope, and H.T. FitzSimons. He and his wife, Elizabeth (a musician and spiritual director), live in Wilmette and have two sons, Ethan (23) and Adam (20).
Robert Woodworth – Secretary
Term 2020-2022
While pursuing a degree in architectural engineering at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, Mr. Woodworth studied organ with Paul Pettinga (a student of Marcel Dupre in Paris). Continued study of the organ later was with Gladys Christensen AAGO at Wheaton College. For many years he combined musical and architectural careers as organist and choirmaster for Lutheran churches in Chicago while working with the Department of Public Works and the Department of Aviation for the City of Chicago. Most recently he served as the Chief Architect for the then three airports within the Chicago Airport System. A musical highlight of his career was playing the organ and directing the musical program and liturgy in the presence of His Majesty King Karl XVI Gustave of Sweden for Easter Sunday during the American Bicentennial year. Mr. Woodworth has performed numerous recitals in the Chicago metropolitan area, Central Illinois and Iowa. Having served as President of the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the Organ Historical Society, Dean of the Chicago Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and President of the ChicAGO 2006 Foundation, he is currently on the Board of the North Shore Chapter AGO and serves as a freelance organist in the Chicago metropolitan area.
David Hiett – Treasurer
Term 2020-2022
David Hiett is currently a tuner/technician for Berghaus Pipe Organ Builders. His previous experience with organ building has been working as an extra hand for the Bradford Organ Company and building and maintaining the organ at Church of the Covenants until the 2009 installation of a 1922 E.M. Skinner, by Bradford Organ Company. David recently retired from 24 years of teaching music in north suburban schools. He has been organist at Church of the Covenants in Lake Forest since 1971. He is a member of North Shore Chapter of AGO for which he has served as treasurer for eight years and as a board member for several terms. He has earned a B.A. from Trinity International University, (formerly Trinity College, Deerfield), and a M. M. Ed. From Northern Illinois University. He is enjoying a new career direction at Berghaus Pipe Organ Company while enjoying his ten grandchildren. He is currently rebuilding a Wicks practice organ in his backyard workshop.
Linda Cerabona – Board Member
Term 2020-2023
Linda Cerabona serves as Director of Music at St. Mary’s of the Lake University in Mundelein, IL. She has a Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts with a Professional Concentration in Roman Catholic Music; De Paul University, Chicago. Organist, pianist, and choir director since 1967 serving in various parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet. Producer of two compact discs for Mundelein Seminary as well as co-authoring “Remembering Father Richard J. Wojcik.” Founding member and advisor for the Joliet Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Coordinator of the Acquisition, installation, Blessing and Dedication of E. M. Skinner Organ, Opus 621 for the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, and the Cardinal Mundelein Wurlitzer Theater Organ console restoration and Rededication. Founder of the Richard J. Wojcik Lunchtime Concert Series featuring seminarians and faculty.
Paul Cochran – Board Member
Term 2020-2023
Paul Cochran serves organist at St. John United Church of Christ in Arlington Heights. He received piano and organ training from Jack Ruhl in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and holds a Master’s degree in Piano from the University of Redlands and a Doctor of Music in composition from Northwestern University. Paul remains active accompanying and arranging church music for orchestra. He is now retired from a career as actuary for Old Republic Insurance Company. Paul has been a member of AGO for many years and looks forward to serving on the Board.
Sharon Peterson – Board Member
Term 2020-2023
Sharon Peterson serves as pianist for the Chicago Symphony Chorus and as Rehearsal Pianist for the CSC as well as the North Shore Choral Society. She is Staff Accompanist at Northwestern University, North Park University, and DePaul University. Sharon served as Accompanist for several years for Chicago Symphony Singers and CSC’s ensembles. During the seven years spent living in Sweden and Norway, Sharon developed a specialty in Scandinavian Piano and Organ Repertoire and worked as Staff Accompanist at The Royal Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway. She also is the principal pianist for The Frederick L. Hemke Saxophone Insttitue at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sydney,ME. Sharon studied with Elizabeth Buccheri at North Park College, BM degree, and Robert Weirich at Northwestern University, MM degree. She coaches voice privately as well, specializing in Swedish and Norwegian languages and repertoire. .Sharon is Organist at Southminster Presbyterian Church, (Arlington Heights), and North Park Theological Seminary. She remains on the Board of the NorthShore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.