Board Election Candidates

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The election of next year’s board of directors happens on October 16 before or after rehearsal. There are ten members running this year for seven board member positions.

Mike Reeves

BIO
 
I’ve played trumpet since 8th grade, through high school and at the University of Kentucky, then in two different bands in the Navy (collateral activity, not my primary duty). I’m a retired aerospace engineer and Navy officer. I’m a founding member of the Lynchburg Pops, was a board member for three years, and I was the band’s first vice president. I’m bugler for the American Legion Post 16 Honor Guard, rendering honors for 2-3 veteran funerals each week.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
The opportunity to be in “the band” has always been a joy in my life.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

That I had good ideas, contributed to productive, civil discourse, worked hard, and followed through on commitments. That I was reliable and of impeccable integrity.

Matt Shinsky

BIO
 
Hey y’all! I’m Matt, and I’ve been playing with Pops for over 2 years now. I’ve had the opportunity to play Bb, Eb, and bass clarinet in this group and it’s been enjoyable to have a variety of opportunities. I’ve also been blessed to guest conduct a few pieces for our group in previous concerts as I’m learning to hone my conducting skills. I have both my bachelors and masters degrees in music from Liberty and I’m currently working on my doctorate with LU as well. I want to see this group continue to grow and provide opportunities for musicians to have an outlet that they may otherwise not have, while also being a fun and uplifting environment for our members!
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
Pops is an opportunity to meet members of the community, make connections, practice my musicality, and challenge myself to become better. It’s a creative outlet and a place to make friends and has become a great place for me to meet new people, gain practice in my conducting to help me in the future as I pursue a career in music higher education.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

I’d like to leave a legacy of being open, understanding, flexible, and a model example of leading by example. I’d like to be a ‘person of the people’ and make every member of our band feel seen, heard, and understood so they are welcomed and have a chance for new ideas to be heard.

Eddie Lovelace

BIO
 
I was a music major many, many years ago who dropped out of college to join the Air Force, where I learned to be a software developer. Music, then, has not been my day job, but a hobby and passion. It is funny that now, as I am approaching retirement, that music has become such a prominent part of my life. Pops has played a big part in that, which is a part of why I want to see it prosper.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
When I joined Lynchburg Pops, I had not picked up a clarinet for 40 years. I was hooked after the first rehearsal: the smells, the sounds, the people… all connected to the memories of being in the band throughout junior high school, high school, and college.

 

As an introvert, I connect to people best through activity, and making music together is about the best group activity I can imagine. It’s fun to see the twenty somethings sitting next to the sixty or seventy somethings and having such a good time together. The opportunity to know the people of Lynchburg Pops has been such a pleasant surprise. It’s wild to think that I would never even have known of these people if Pops was not a thing.

To me, the music of Pops is the means through which the people of Pops enjoy each other. Through the music, the people of Pops have become my friends. 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

My hope is that my legacy will be felt in the way our members interact with one another.  I hope to have played a part in influencing our culture towards one in which every musician knows their presence makes a real difference—not just because we play well, but because we enjoy each other as we play well.

Steve Williams

BIO
 
I am in my 37th year of teaching band, and have taught music courses from elementary general music, to 6-12 band and chorus, university band, and HS and college jazz bands. For 5 years I was the Supervisor of Fine Arts for the Missouri Department of Education where I worked with fine arts teachers from across the state in teaching strategies and curriculum development.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 

The people in the Pops mean the most to me. Many of my best friends I met in the pops. It was my pleasure to serve as the associate conductor for a number of years where I got to know everyone in the band. During this time I tried to get to know our musicians as people, and help them develop as musicians. I came here from Missouri 8 years ago, and through the pops and my work in the local school system I have been able to contribute in some small way to my community. The tattoo on my left arm, in Latin, means “not for ourselves were we born,” and that motto, to me, means our higher calling is to serve others, and I have been able to do that through my work with the Pops.

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

I’m not in this for a legacy, but I do hope that I am remembered as someone who listened, who cared, and did my best to ensure everyone enjoyed making music together. I also feel strongly that the Pops should stay true to our mission as a band for the community, performing music that our musicians enjoy and our audiences relate to.

Ed McCann

BIO
 
I was born and raised in Lynchburg. I started on piano at 5, then trumpet in 6th grade. I played at EC Glass under David Enloe, Lafe Cook, and David Webb. At UVA I was very happy playing in the Jazz Ensemble, then after college in the community group McLean Symphony Orchestra. I live in Altavista and have 2 young kids, and until earlier this year was employed as a Linguistic Engineer for Meta, working on language systems for AI smartglasses. I’ve lived in Spain, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Seattle, but Central Virginia is my home.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
I had been waiting for so long to join a community band in my hometown that I tried to join in 2020 while I was living in Seattle. It’s gratifying to play good music within a group where a lot of folks are in my situation — they played a lot in younger years, but took decades off. It plays a very important role for this area, providing opportunities for amateur musicians who wouldn’t otherwise have any.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

As an Eagle Scout, I try to “leave it better than I found it.” Same goes for LPops. I hope to have built infrastructure, made processes smoother, improved our marketing, and contributed to the long-term success of the band.

Bonnie Brunner

BIO
 
Professionally, I have been involved with many musical organizations as an educator, performer, and board member. Since my first experience in elementary school band, I knew I would be playing in ensembles forever.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
Besides the enjoyment of making music, I have gotten to know so many wonderful people. I would never want to unmeet any of you.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

I hope everyone knows that I have, and will continue my best to represent all of my fellow band mates.

Jennifer Francois

BIO
 
I’ve been drawn to music since elementary school, and taking my dog for rides with the windows down and the radio playing is one of my favorite pastimes.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
The Lynchburg Pops is a dream continued, to me. Having understood that band music wouldn’t be apart of my life after college, I closed that chapter—playing only small songs at family funerals. The Lynchburg Pops has brought back a lost passion and even old friends. Now, it allows me to play for live audiences while being blessed with a community of like-minded people.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

Love. 

Deanna Lovelace

BIO
 
I have been involved in music ensembles from seventh grade through college. I didn’t play for several years while I was raising my children, so I’m a ‘second chance musician’ . I played with Bedford Community Orchestra for 9 years and joined Lynchburg Pops in 2020. Getting to play with this ensemble has been such a wonderful opportunity for me to get back into playing and sharing music with friends.
 
What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
I have enjoyed my time with Pops for many different reasons. It has been amazing to play with musicians of all ages, experience levels, and musical style preferences. Every member brings something unique to our group and the result is a great musical opportunity for all. I have enjoyed getting to play such a wide variety of musical styles. I think that Pops provides something really special and I am so thankful to be a small part of it.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

I hope to leave a legacy of an encouraging ensemble community, positive musical experiences, and friendship opportunities in our band. I also want to be remembered for my honesty, courage, and perseverance while resolving issues that could negatively affect our band members Pops experience.

Randy Kent

BIO
 

My name is Randy Kent. I am married to my wife of 44 years and have two grown children two grandchildren. I’m a retired minister of music. I served multiple churches in four different states for a total of 42 years. The last church I served professionally is West Lynchburg Baptist Church where I served as Minister of Music and Senior Adults for 17 years and where I now serve as a lay elder.

I began playing trumpet in 5th grade and played through high school. I was a music major at San Diego State University but my applied area was voice, not trumpet. I also have a Masters in Church Music from Southwestern Theological Seminary.

I have played my trumpet some through the years but not regularly. It has been a joy for me to have this opportunity to play regularly once again.

What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
I enjoy having the opportunity to be able to play my trumpet regularly. I enjoy practicing, building my skill level and learning, new music. I enjoy the community that the Pops provides and making music together with some great musicians. Pops makes my life richer.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

The only legacy I seek is a thriving Lynchburg Pops Community Band that exists for decades after I have passed on to glory. A Pops whose members enjoy being together, providing mutual encouragement and support to one another as they make glorious music together. Music that enriches both themselves and the community.

Bill Bare

BIO
 

I grew up in Florida, and perhaps the most important thing to know about me is that I love the Florida State Seminoles and the Tampa Bay Lightning. I came up to Virginia in 1995 to attend UVa for grad school. After graduation I took a job teaching chemistry at Randolph College, where I have been for a little over twenty years now. I was surprised a while back when I did the math and realized that I have now lived most of my life in central Virginia. I have one grown(ish) son who is a junior at Randolph. In addition to teaching and playing with the Pops, I love spending time doing photography and am an active member of the Blue Ridge Photographic Arts Society.

What does Lynchburg Pops mean to you?
 
I played trombone through middle and high school. Music was very important to me in high school, but I stopped playing in college when I got more interested in academics. In my adult years I really missed the fun of playing and especially missed the friendships formed by making music together. I was so happy when I heard about the new Pops band that was being formed back in 2020. At the time I was actually really nervous about trying to play again after a hiatus of about 35 years, but I’m so glad I came and got involved. The Pops band is one of the best things in my life right now, and as many people have said, Thursday night is my favorite part of the week. In all of the best ways, it feels like being in high school again – particularly in the trombone section where everyone is perpetually 17 years old.
 

When your time of serving on the board is finished, what would you hope for your legacy to be?

I’m not sure “legacy” is exactly the right word, but my hope for the board is that it can be a cooperative environment where all opinions and all points of view are heard, respected, and valued.

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