Meet the Board of Directors & Staff
Dr. Carl SchaferBoard President
Dr. Carl Schafer recently retired as Visiting Professor and Coordinator of Music Education in the School of Music at California Baptist University. He is currently a Visual and Performing Arts Consultant to the Superintendent of Schools, San Bernardino County and a member of the Policy Council of the California Alliance for Arts Education. He is also a student teacher supervisor for the California State University, Fullerton Music Department and a jazz musician, leader of the Carl Schafer Quartet.
William J. HuffBoard Treasurer
Huff Properties
Bill Huff is president of Huff Properties, a family-owned real investment company, and has been on the CCSM Board of Directors since 2005. Bill also performs management consulting work, is part owner of James & James Sound Recorders in Upland, and plays jazz saxophone with the group Polyhedra.
Michael ValentineBoard Secretary
Michael Valentine currently teaches Independent Study in the Glendora Unified School District. As a freelance writer, his articles have appeared in a number of national publications including TEACHING TODAY and CAT FANCY magazine. In recent years his writing has also appeared in the Claremont COURIER. As part of his musical experience, Mr. Valentine served as first trombonist in the United States Army's 84th Division Band headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Veronica FinnBoard Member
Veronica Finn, M.A. International Studies, Politics and Policy, Claremont Graduate University, 2002. Independent Risk Analyst, member of the board of the Claremont Community School of Music, member of the Claremont Chorale, International Place of the Claremont Colleges, member of American Political Science Association, and El Roble Parent Teachers association. Interests are music, cross-cultural relationships, international affairs and business, reading, writing, gardening and baking.
Stuart DavisBoard Member
Stuart M. Davis is the husband of one wife, and the father of four children, (1= Army / Iraq veteran, 1 = Marine enlisted, 1 = Junior at CHS, 1 = 6th grader at El Roble), living in Claremont, CA. Stuart and Robin teach Christian values and the Bible to 3-6th graders at Calvary Chapel Chino Valley (www.cccv.org). Stuart is the Angel Flight West (www.ASFW.org) area leader for San Bernardino and Riverside counties, flying those in need to where they need to go, at no cost to them. 27 years in the industrial hydraulic business, Stuart and Robin have owned their own company for almost ten (10) years, specializing in upgrading industrial machines (www.StuartMDavisInc.com), and has recently become President of Walco Machines Company (www.WalcoMachine.com), builders of robust laminating, coating and application systems. Stuart has a B.A. in technical theater from Cal-Poly Pomona, 1980 and continues to work with various non-profit theater organizations. Stuart and Robin thoroughly enjoy music and the ability it has to touch people's hearts.
Ralph ComitoBoard Member
Ralph Comito began his music career in Miami Florida . He attended the University of Miami on a music scholarship graduating in 1962 with a Bachelors Degree in Music. Following six years service in the US Army he moved with his family to Upland, California and began his career as a music educator and coordinator of music in the Upland Unified School District. He earned a MA in Education from Azusa Pacific University in 1976 and an administrative credential in 1976. During his 33 years in music education Mr. Comito has taught music from kindergarten through the college level and adult education. He is also a retired army reserve bandmaster, composer and arranger and performs professionally with a number of jazz groups.
J. Winthrop AldrichBoard Member
J. Winthrop Aldrich, PhD recently retired from teaching engineering at Cal Poly Pomona following many years in industrial research and development at Polaroid Corp. and American Optical in Massachusetts. He is currently on the Board of The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Volunteer Group, Orange County Recorder Society and The Southern California Recorder Society and plays in the CCSM Village Pipers recorder ensemble.
Lisa JorgensenBusiness Manager
Lisa Jorgensen has been Business Manager at Claremont Community School of Music since October 2004. Lisa holds a BS in Accounting from California State University, San Bernardino and, prior to joining to CCSM, was an accountant with a local CPA firm. She is responsible for the financial management of CCSM.
Rachel La BradaRegistrar
Rachel La Brada joined our staff in March of 2009 as our Registrar. Prior to joining CCSM, Rachel was an Administrative Assistant with the Xerox Corporation. She enjoys bowling and is a member of a Senior Community Choir. Rachel is responsible for providing customer service support at CCSM.
Terri BaumbachReceptionist
Terri Baumbach grew up in Claremont and enjoyed riding horses with her neighborhood friends in the lemon groves and canyons north of Baseline. Besides her love of horses was her love of music. Under the tutelage of Shirley Robbins, she learned recorder and played with her group at renaissance fairs and different venues in the colleges. Currently she is slowly renovating her family homestead which she shares with her two standard poodles Charlie and Chance.
