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Board of Directors 2006 / 2007Michael Patrick Van Why | Founder and Executive Director
Mr. Kirk Willett | President
Ms. Carol McHale | Vice President
Mr. Dan Anderson | Treasurer
Mr. Mike Király | Secretary
Dr. Leslie Dukes | Musical Director
Gramma Fisher Fellow in opera coaching and accompanying at American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Past soloist and chamber musician for Bach Society in Tucson, Arizona. Past pianist for New Music Works performing ensembles in Santa Cruz, CA. Pianist for Cinnabar Theater, Petaluma, CA. She is currently the staff accompnaist at the Santa Rosa Junior College where she also teaches piano. |
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Founder and executive director of Project Applause, Michael Van Why is leading a troupe of accomplished student vocalists who sing to gain experience and at the same time raise money for local, nonprofit organizations. Fueled by a desire to find performance venues, Van Why created Project Applause as a way to benefit small nonprofits and commercial ventures while building the confidence of budding performers. With a five-member board of directors, and Dr. Leslie Dukes serving as creative director, Project Applause seeks to nurture performers by providing stage experience.
Kirk Willett's vocation rests in his 20 years experience as a nurse including managment and high technical positons. Currently he is a nursing specialist with Genworth Financial. His advocation is performance art. He is a founding member of the NBA's Weekend Warriors dance troupe, having performed for over 300,000 spectators. 2006 has seen the release of two short films in which he has held primary roles. Currently production is underway for serial webcast cooking series that is to begin release at the end of the year. Mr. Willett brings organizational skills and performance knowledge to his role as President of the Board of Directors of Project Applause. 
A fiddle player, Carol McHale works at a non-profit agency that helps community health centers provide services to underserved populations. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology that served her in the 17 years she spent in the environmental field. She also has a Master's Degree in Kinesiology and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology (from Sonoma State University). The emphasis of her study was sociological and psychological reasons for exercise for older women. Carol is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Administration of Nonprofit Agencies at Sonoma State. Carol is an officer of Sonoma County's Commission on the Status of Women, and has served the Commission since 2004. 
A former music student and trombone, baritone bugle, and piano player from Tennessee, Dan spent 6 years performing with every band, orchestra, and marching unit he could find. With a background in performing, music theory, and directing, his music education is very well rounded. He hopes his involvement with PA will allow him to give back to the musical community that he has gained so much from through the years.
A long-time Santa Rosa resident, Mike is originally from Los Angeles and is a Navy Vet, having commendations for his service on the U.S.S. Coral Sea during the Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt. When he's not being the Director of Library Operations at Sonoma State University, he's also teaches American Government, Comparative Government, and Modern Ideologies at Napa Valley College and Santa Rosa Junior College. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in History and English as well as a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Has is a fellow with the National Endowment for the Humanities, and is currently co-authoring a monograph on Geopolitical Globalism.
Dr. Leslie Dukes holds a BA in Piano Pedagogy from Brigham Young University; MA in Piano Performance from California State University Chico; DMA in Piano Performance with an emphasis in Chamber Music and a minor in Musicology from University of Arizona. Studied organ with David Rothe and Roy Johnson. Studied piano with Nohema Fernandez and Paula Fan.