Valerie Quinlan, President, is a violinist who has performed in Europe, Mexico and numerous American states. Valerie has performed with the Peninsula Symphony and Santa Barbara Symphony in California, and most recently with the Staten Island Philharmonic.

In recent years, she has performed extensively throughout the tristate area. Her programs have included many of the major works from the Baroque, classical, romantic and modern eras.

A former music faculty member at Wagner College, Valerie continues to adjudicate the Young Artists Competition held at the college.

Lois Lamb, Vice President, has performed extensively with many of New York’s professional choral groups in the Metropolitan New York area.

Additionally, she has given many song recitals throughout Manhattan, including Cami Hall, The Ukrainian Institute, St. Paul’s and Trinity Church Wall Street Concert Series as well as The Lincoln Center Library, Columbia University, Rutgers University, among others. 

She has performed in both the Bern and Basel opera houses in Switzerland as well as the Seattle and St. Paul Opera Companies. 

Barnett Shepherd, Treasurer, served as executive director of the Staten Island Historical Society from 1981-2000.

A founder of the Preservation League of Staten Island, he serves as consultant for the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Staten Island Museum.

An independent scholar, he is the author of books and scholarly articles on Staten Island History. His most recent book, Tottenville: The Town the Oyster Built, is a social, cultural and architectural history of a unique community.

Nick Dowen, Secretary, is a member of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC).

He is a founding member of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, a member of the National Cathedral Association, and a member of the All Hallows Guild, an organization that looks after cathedral gardens.

Francis Quinlan, Member-at-Large, also serves as Serenade’s Technical Director. By profession a writer, he is the author of award-winning plays, Shadow Wars and FunBirds.

Other works include novels (The POOF Heist, The Ubiquitous Colacoque) and a collection of critical essays, Enduring Fluff, Murder That Does Not Die.

He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Drama League (NYC), the Society for Theatre Research (UK) and the New England Drama League. He is a member of the Staten Island Philharmonic Board of Directors.