Meet Our Board

About Us > Meet Our Board

Jackie Vanderbeck | Executive Director/Treasurer: Jackie (President) is the founder and CEO of Sing For Your Seniors, Inc. A Native of Sacramento California, Jackie became heavily involved with theatre at an early age. Prior to graduating first in her class from the Natomas Charter School of Sacramento, she was the youngest apprentice ever to intern for the Outreach and Education Program for California Musical Theatre. After earning her BFA with honors and receiving the Ross Award from University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, she made the move to New York and was employed for three years as Managing Director of Together, NY. During that time Ms. Vanderbeck began volunteering weekly at the Village Adult Day Center (VADC) in the West Village of New York. Her experience at VADC along side the inspiration of her Grandparents and Great Grandparents fueled her passion towards the building of this organization. Jackie is represented theatrically with Kerin-Goldberg Association, Inc. and is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association.
Kate Petterle | Deputy Director: Kate Petterle (Vice President) became involved with Sing For Your Seniors through her childhood friend Jackie Vanderbeck. She is a 2001 merit scholarship graduate of The Boston Conservatory. Currently working at Music Theatre International, Kate is very excited to be a part of a project that encourages performers to give back to the community.
Brett Teresa | Secretary: Brett Teresa (Secretary) is a native of Sacramento, California now residing in NYC as an actor and vocal/audition coach. He has worked extensively with California’s Arts Bridge program bringing the performing arts to under privileged schools and also with various youth theater companies. Brett is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine’s Theater and Dance Department and a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Melissa Bohon: Melissa Bohon graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. During her undergraduate years, she worked for an independent movie theater and an entertainment catering company for the Cincinnati Tri-state area. Following graduation, she assisted Kiehl’s New York in the globalization of their products and assisted in the preparation of the spring line for L’Oreal Cosmetics. Her main employment, however, has been as a performer in multiple Equity theatres including the First National Tour of Wicked the musical u/s Glinda the Good and the Broadway revival of Fiddler On The Roof at the Minskoff Theatre and many other regional productions throughout the United States such as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, Little Sally in Urinetown, Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly! and more. Melissa was a swim instructor for 5 and 6 year olds at the YMCA and she met the founder of Sing For Your Seniors, Inc., Jackie Vanderbeck, at the University of Cincinnati and is thrilled to be a part of this non-for-profit organization.
Zach Deitz: Zachary Dietz is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, earning his BM in Piano Performance/Music Education. He works in NYC as a music director, arranger, and accompanist. Recent projects include In the Heights, Bush Wars, Plain & Fancy, (mostly) True Songs, Flora the Red Menace and The Monster’s Mind, an independent film for which he composed the score. In November, Zach orchestrated the opening ceremonies at the 2006 IAPPA Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served on the teaching faculty for CCM, Xavier University, Pace University, Broadway Artists Alliance, Music Theatre for Young People, TVI and Capes Coaching. He is very excited to be a part of Sing For Your Seniors, Inc.!
Courtney Glass: Courtney Glass received her B.F.A. in Drama from the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2005. In 2006, Miss Glass appeared in the Broadway company of Trevor Nunn’s The Woman in White and made her NY cabaret debut in her one-woman show The Boy From. In addition to her SFYS performances, Miss Glass performs for various Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS throughout the year. Additionally, she free-lances as a promoter for The Vincent Partners and Formula PR promoting products ranging from Hanes Her Way, Virtual RE and the hit ABC series Ugly Betty. She is a proud member of MAC and Actors’ Equity Association.
Barry James: Barry James is a web designer/composer living in New York City. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and has been seen in such productions as the Broadway National Tour of Saturday Night Fever (Monty) and the Prince Music Theater’s production of Gemini: The Musical (Francis). His web design firm, James Web Development (www.jameswebdevelopment.com) specializes in designing sophisticated websites for individuals and organizations in the arts, entertainment, and hospitality industries. Through James Web Development, Barry also developed a new website, Schools for Theatre, your online guide to schools and universities that specialize in the theatre arts. He is also an instructor at Playgroup Theatre in White Plains, NY, teaching children and teens to sing, dance and act.
Michael Littig: Michael is an actor living in New York City who graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) with a BFA in Drama. As an actor, Michael has performed with the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Hangar Theatre, Mint Theater Company, and the NYSF/Public Theatre among others. He has served as an instructor at the NYU Graduate Actor Training Program and the Stella Adler Conservatory. Michael has conducted education outreach as a teaching artist with students in Mongolia, the Navajo reservation in Utah, and all five boroughs in NYC. He is a Fulbright Scholar in Drama (Mongolia) and is honored to be a part of Sing For Your Seniors, Inc.
Carly Mayo: Carly is currently attending Marymount Manhattan where she will recieve a BA in Theatre and Musical Theatre. She was also a part of Stages of Imagination, a Philadelphia based children’s theatre company, that stressed morals and issuses for elementary aged kids. Before moving to New York a year ago, she taught dance at Carmela’s Dance studio for 5 years. Personally teaching from ages 3-16, the studio put on an annual show at the local nursing home in hopes to spread the love of performance and dance.