Celebrating America's
Musical Heritage

Board of Directors

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.

Daniel G. Hacker

Daniel G. Hacker owned and operated Hacker Jewelers, Designers & Goldsmiths, Inc. of Tecumseh, MI with his wife Barbara for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2020.  He has served as a trustee on many boards over the years, including the Greater Blissfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Tecumseh Area Chamber of Commerce, Tecumseh Central Business Association, Tecumseh Trolley Company, Tecumseh Civic Auditorium, Tecumseh Downtown Development Authority, Local Sky Bank Advisory Board, and the Independent Jewelers Organization. He earned his BBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross Business School, and his MBA from Eastern Michigan University.  In his spare time, he enjoys songwriting, plays guitar and other fretted string instruments, and is a member of the four-piece Americana ensemble the Raisin Jam Band.  He also has coached hundreds of youngsters in various youth sports over the years.

Idali Feliciano

Idali 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.