William Pemberton, Chair and Executive Director

William Pemberton resides in Tecumseh, MI and is cofounder and former music director of the River Raisin Ragtime Revue. He has also performed as R4’s tuba player. Mr. Pemberton is a scholar and collector of ragtime music and history and helps maintain R4’s extensive collection of vintage orchestrations, piano sheet music, and original source materials. Mr. Pemberton has overseen the recreation of music for The Henry Ford Museum’s Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition 100th anniversary celebration and developed programming for schools, community audiences and prestigious cultural venues. He has produced eight reference recordings with R4 that have received national and international critical acclaim. Mr. Pemberton has also served as President of the Tecumseh Area Historical Society (TAHS), where he oversaw that organization’s growth in membership, endowment and community arts and humanities programming. He was responsible for the development of numerous exhibitions and outreach programs that greatly enhanced TAHS’s visibility and reputation among the community. In 2001, he served as project director for the traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibition, Yesterday’s Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future. Under Mr. Pemberton’s leadership, TAHS was awarded an Institutional Achievement Award from the Michigan Museums Association.

William Hayes, Vice Chair

William Hayes is a retired music educator residing in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Southern Illinois University and his Master of Music from Western Illinois University. He has taught music at all levels from kindergarten through college, and is a retired music teacher and lecturer from the Ypsilanti (MI) public school district. Mr. Hayes is an active promoter of the arts in his community, where he has served on the Board of Directors of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue. He created the Music Masters program for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, which partners retired string players and teachers with students for one-on-one mentoring. This program was noted for its excellence by the Governor of Michigan. Mr. Hayes also helped form the Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra and became its first music director, a position he still holds. This organization earned the Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Educational Endeavors Award. Mr. Hayes has served as music director for the Cadillac Area Symphony Orchestra, where he often re-orchestrated works to fit the demands of his players’ varying skill levels. Encouraging beginning young players, retirees, educators and professionals to work together, this orchestra grew in numbers from seventeen to sixty-five, and in 1992 Mr. Hayes was presented with an award from the City of Cadillac for his outstanding commitment to community service. Mr. Hayes is a noted and published composer and arranger. He has written both for educational instruction and personal artistic expression. His Exodus, Suite Exodus for jazz trio and orchestra was performed by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in 2002. Mr. Hayes has composed two original works for the River Raisin Ragtime Revue and has restored or created over eighty orchestrations for the ensemble. He resides in Ypsilanti.

Kirk and Lisa Maki, Treasurer and Secretary

Kirk and Lisa Maki live in Tecumseh, MI. Mr. and Mrs. Maki have been long time enjoyers and supporters of R4. Kirk is a Principal Innovation Engineer for a company involved with creating new packaging and project management of new technology. Musically, he is a choir director at a Lutheran Church in Tecumseh, has sung in community choirs and a barbershop chorus, as well as playing the piano “poorly indeed.” Mrs. Maki works processing medical records at the University of Michigan hospital. She has also served on a church vestry, including time spent as both Registrar and Senior Warden. She has been involved with multiple choirs and singing groups and has a passion for music of all kinds.

Andre Dowell

Andre Dowell is a strategic arts administrator and thought leader who drives national programming and conversations around diversity in classical music. He serves as Chief Programming Officer for the Sphinx Organization, the nation’s leading arts organization transforming live through the power of diversity in the arts. He has been invited to address audiences at numerous universities and performing arts centers across the country. Currently, Mr. Dowell serves on the board of Third Coast Percussion, River Raisin Ragtime Revue, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Alumni Society Board of Governors, and Board Chair of the Association of Performing Arts Classical Connection Committee. Amid service to the field, he remains an active musician with the River Raisin Ragtime Revue and University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club. Though a native of Trenton, Tennessee, Andre completed both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Percussion Performance at the University of Michigan. He resides in Ypsilanti, MI.

Stephanee Strasburg

Stephanee Strasburg is Director of Foundation and Government Partnerships for the Sphinx Organization, where she is responsible for all foundation and government partnerships and grants. Ms. Strasburg is passionate about issues of social justice and their connection to arts and education. Her previous work in non-profit development included grant writing, capacity-building, and grants management for Migrant Health Promotion, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing health education and advocacy for migrant farmworkers. Ms. Strasburg graduated Summa Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Psychology. She resides in Canton, MI.

Idalí Feliciano

Idalí Feliciano advises on multicultural programming, with a special emphasis on outreach to Adrian’s Latino community. Ms. Feliciano is a retired Director of Adrian College’s Multicultural Affairs Program, where her job was to create programs for students of color and international students that enhanced their skills and understanding, provided academic support and resources and connection to the greater campus community. She served as advisor to student organizations, the MLK Jr. Community Planning Committee, Global Food Festival, Black History Month Celebration, College Culture Club, and International Student Week. Ms. Feliciano served on the Adrian College Social Work Advisory Board and was presented the Adrian College Stewardship Award for her service to the college. Since her retirement, she continues to serve the greater Lenawee County community. She has worked with the Lenawee County Historical Museum Heritage Project to create the exhibition “Latino Firsts in Lenawee County.” Ms. Feliciano is President-Elect and International Chair of the Adrian Morning Rotary Club. She is also a board member of 100 Women for Lenawee, and serves on the Lenawee Lifelong Learning Committee. She is co-founder of Cambios, an organization that provided anti-racism programs to children, parents and teachers. Ms. Feliciano was a board member of the Adrian Community Preschool and an advocate for local Hispanic families. She has been awarded the Community Leadership Award by the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Maria Zavala Leadership Award, the Faculty/Staff Community Service Learning Award, and the Zonta-Amelia Earhart Award.

Drake Lolley

Drake Lolley is an Adrian native, a former travelling musician, and has played and enjoyed ragtime music for most of his life. He currently serves Lenawee county businesses and nonprofits through his video production company, Advantage Visuals. He can also be found playing barrelhouse piano for local Kiwanis meetings, restoring old buildings, or doing historical research for yet another project.

Brian Gorski

Brian Gorski is the Director of the Adrian City Band, the second oldest continuously active community band in the country. Mr. Gorski is also an Ensemble director for the National Homeschool Music Ensembles, NHME where he works with wind percussion students. He is active as a guest clinician and freelance musician in Southeastern Michigan and Ohio where he works with many area music programs, as well as teaching private music lessons. He is a member of the internationally acclaimed Five Lakes Silver Band based in metro Detroit and plays with the Tecumseh Pops Community Orchestra, and many local pit ensembles for various musical theater productions. He has performed with numerous area ensembles including the Adrian Chamber Brass, Motor City Brass Band, The Huron River Submarines, Detroit Symphony Civic Ensembles, and the Adrian City Band.

Mr. Gorski holds professional affiliations with the Association of Concert Bands(ACB),  the International Tuba and Euphonium Association(ITEA), and the North American Brass Band Association(NABBA).  He serves on the Board of directors for Five Lakes Silver Band, and has previously served on the Board of Directors of LSM Performing Arts, Inc. a pageantry arts organization based in Southgate, Michigan. Brian is also active in the leadership of his local church where he serves on several committees and participates in their music programs.

He resides in his hometown of Blissfield, MI.

Leslie Rubio

Leslie has lived a life immersed in music. Starting piano at age four, she has sung in choirs and productions at all ages and joined the band in 5th grade, playing clarinet. Music has always been integral to her life. She was a member of the Toledo Youth Orchestra throughout middle and high school, played keyboard and saxophone in the Anthony Wayne High School Jazz Band, and received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. After college, she worked as an editor and graphic designer for a publishing company, creating and providing music publications, products, and resources for church musicians. Since moving to Adrian in 2011, she has been involved in the Adrian theater community, serving as a music and vocal director, director, costumer, stage manager, and pit musician for over 35 productions. She has been a full-time teacher since 2016 and she is currently the Orchestra Director for Adrian Public Schools. She is also active as a sectional coach for numerous band camps and pre-festival clinics in the area and as a private voice and instrument teacher. Leslie is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional organization for women educators, where she serves as Parliamentarian for the Beta Rho chapter.

She is looking forward to being a part of the board and joining in their vision for educating and entertaining via the performance, preservation and restoration of significant American music.