Catherine Hyde and her husband moved to Portland, Maine in the 2010s after living in Frankfurt, Germany for 15 years. She has an online business importing cashmere and wool clothing from Austria and Germany. Catherine has served as a past and current board officer of the Food Pantry of St. Luke’s Cathedral and as a Vestry Member of St. Luke’s, the Blue Hill Country Club, and Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine, as well as The Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas. Originally from Midland, Texas, Catherine graduated from Texas Christian University and received an MBA from the University of Hartford. Catherine is honored to serve as the President of the Bach Virtuosi Board of Directors.
Vicki Miele is an experienced entrepreneur having started, managed and sold several businesses over a 33-year span. She has served on the Boards of Westbrook College and the University of New England, where she helped with the merger of the two institutions as well as the fundraising for the George and Barbara Bush Cultural Center at UNE. She received the Tower Award for Community Service from UNE. She also served as Secretary of the Protestant Hospital Ministry Board for over 25 years, in addition to the Cancer Community Center and Bowdoin International Music Festival. Vicki has been a season ticket holder of the Bach Virtuosi Festival since its inception in 2016 and is elated to serve as the Maine BOARD SECRETARY. Today, Vicki splits her time between Maine and North Carolina where she lives with her husband, Pat. They enjoy hiking, boating, service to their church, and attending concerts, as well as spending time with their children and grandchildren in NC, Utah, and New York.
Connie Bingham is a retired tax director from a regional accounting firm where she specialized in tax issues affecting not-for-profit organizations, estates and trusts, and high net worth individuals. In addition to serving as the BOARD TREASURER, Connie is currently an active volunteer with St. Luke’s Cathedral and serves on the boards of Opera Maine and the Cumberland Housing Authority. She holds a BA from Carleton College and a Masters of Studies (MSt) degree from Bentley. Originally from Nebraska, she and her husband Peter have lived in the same antique farmhouse in Cumberland, Maine since 1970. She has three children and four grandchildren, all in New England. She and her husband Peter enjoy traveling, skiing, sailing, engaging in community service, and attending classical music performances. While they are not musicians, they are grateful for the opportunity to help bring first rate performances like BVF to Maine.
Arthur Kingdon lives with his wife, Linda, in Vassalboro, Maine. They both graduated from Oberlin College. He went on to receive two master’s degrees from the University of Chicago. While attending Oberlin, he was a member of the Oberlin College Choir which, under sponsorship of the United States State Department, toured Russia and Rumania. In subsequent years, he sang in the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Arcadia Players in Massachusetts, Brattleboro Bach Festival Chorus, and Central Maine Occasional Chorale. Arthur was on the faculty of Chicago State University and Colby College. He also worked in social service administration and hospital administration and is a retired Episcopal priest. He enjoys sailing, relaxing in Maine’s western mountains and Maui. He has taught in short term programs with Global Volunteers in Portugal, Crete, and St. Lucia.
Alison Leavitt is currently the Managing Director of WSSA (the Wine and Spirits Shippers Association), taking over the leadership of the association in 2013. Under her management, WSSA has grown dramatically and formed coalitions with other industry associations, port authorities, and trade groups. WSSA represents over 600 members involved in the import and export of alcoholic beverages and related products. The Association manages over 35 service contracts and a cargo insurance program that covers over a billion dollars in value in beverages shipped globally. Ms. Leavitt has been involved in the international logistics industry for over 40 years and is also a licensed U.S. customs broker. Prior to joining WSSA, she served for 14 years as the Director of Business Development at Albatrans, Inc., a global freight forwarder specializing in beverage alcohol headquartered in Florence, Italy working on global accounts and strategic initiatives. Ms. Leavitt continues to consult with Albatrans as their Global Strategy Leader. Alison serves on various boards, including the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade, and the Editorial Board of American Shipper, and is involved in the AgTC (Agriculture Transport Coalition). She is a past board member of the Maine College of Art & Design and the Maine Port Authority. In 2021, Ms. Leavitt was appointed to the National Shippers Advisory Council, one of 24 members who will advise the Federal Maritime Commission on policies related to ocean shipping. Alison was educated at Bowdoin College, graduating Magna Cum Laude and studied at the London School of Economics, specializing in Government and International Relations.
Elizabeth McLellan has spent her career working as a leader in nursing and healthcare administration. In recognition of her leadership, compassion, and service, McLellan has received numerous awards including the Hanley Center Leadership and Humanitarian Relief Award in 2010, the Red Cross Real Hero Award in 2011, the Outstanding Non-Profit Award in 2012, and the Northeastern University Social Impact Award in 2014. She received degrees from American University, Northeastern University, University of Southern Maine, and Boston University’s School of Medicine and Public Health.
Mary Nelson has served as a trustee of the Portland Symphony (Board member and President), and in 2008, she was elected to the Maine Legislature, serving three terms (2008-2014). She has also served on the Falmouth Town Council and was the President of the Maine Municipal Association. She has sung with Choral Art in Portland, Maine for over 30 years and has been actively involved with and supportive of the School of Music at USM, Boys & Girls Clubs of Maine, and Portland Conservatory of Music. She received a Masters degree in Public Policy and Administration in 1988 from the Muskie School at USM, and worked for the Maine School of Law, and Cedars as a fundraising and strategic planning specialist. Mary was born and grew up in Seattle, Washington and graduated from Smith College with a major in history and a minor in music. She and her husband, Kenny, have three grown sons, three daughters-in-law, and seven fabulous grandchildren.
As a child Eva Prather was immersed in music and the arts influenced by her family and the community where she grew up. After a career in the computer and energy sectors her upbringing fostered a lifelong commitment to the arts and philanthropy. Her volunteer work began in the 1990’s with the organization dedicated to service and support the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) in New Orleans. Later, while living in The Hague, The Netherlands, she became an active member of the American Women’s Club, supporting philanthropic initiatives in Dutch communities. After returning to the U.S., Eva joined the Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) in Houston, a non-profit organization supporting underserved populations where she provides interpreting services for Spanish-speaking clients. She is also a dedicated member of Accion Social Venezuela, assisting newly arrived Venezuelans in Houston. Now, as she splits her time between Houston and Brunswick, Maine, Eva is honored to serve on the board of the Bach Virtuosi Festival.