 Today we begin to look at the innerworking of CASA with the first of a multi-part, multi-month series called "Who's on Board?"- a collection of questions posed to the members of the Board of Directors of CASA. This month we talk with the President of the Board- Deke Sharon:
Name?
Deke Sharon
Hometown?
San Francisco
Where do you live now?
San Francisco
In 50 words or less describe yourself/short Bio?
First sang a cappella at age five, by age nine, I toured with the San Francisco Boys Chorus; College at Tufts and New England Conservatory; Founded CASA; Arrange, Teach, Produce a cappella for TotalVocal; Direct and perform with The House Jacks; Live in San Fran; Wife and 2 Kids.
What is your educational background?
BA from Tufts U w/ honors, BM from New England Conservatory
Why did you get involved with CASA?
I started CASA in my dorm room at Tufts initially, just to bring together the college a cappella community. I was directing the Tufts Beelzebubs, and made all these great friends during road trips (including meeting my future wife!), and my desire was to build a network to share ideas, stories, and music. I was being contacted by enough non-college singers that I realized the need to expand my scope to include fans and singers, from amateur to professional. I moved back to SF upon graduating and filed the non-profit paperwork
What is CASA’s Mission Statement?
The first mission statement was simple: to foster and promote a cappella music of all styles. It has expanded and been refined since then, but the core idea is the same: to help people sing.
What position do you hold on the Board? What is your focus?
Currently president, but it's not my desire or goal to remain president ad infinitum, as I travel too much and have too many irons in the fire to be an effective ongoing president. There are others with great ideas and focus, and CASA benefits from having different leaders at the helm. I'll be stepping down at year’s end when my term expires, and remain on the board working on special projects.
Do you have any projects you’re in charge of?
Currently as president my main focus has been to help everyone else with his or her own projects.
In addition, I've been the champion/custodian of the CASA choruses program, which hasn't been moving forward very quickly as my energies have been too spread out. This will be a major focus for me next year, as well as partnerships with other organizations on some exciting new (and still secret!) projects.
How long do you plan on serving on the Board?
Until I'm pushing up the daisies! I'm in this for the LONG haul.
Where would you like to see CASA grow to in the next 5 years?
Short reply: I'd like to see the current programs all continue to grow, with a focus on creating new opportunities for people to sing (hence my desire to grow the chorus program). There's an enormous segment of the population who would love to sing, but don't want it to be extremely time consuming, and aren't interested in joining a church or classical choir. I'd like to give those folks a chance to get together weekly for an hour or two, not unlike a book club, and sing the "songs of their lives" (popular music from the past 50 or so years).
And to be clear, I don't care at all if I'm the one to do it! My desire is to help people sing. If anyone out there likes this idea and wants to help or head it up, by all means contact me. I'd love the partnership.
In your opinion why should people join CASA?
For fifteen years CASA has helped create the a cappella community, driving a wide variety of programs and opportunities that has helped the a cappella community grow at an alarming rate. No one on the board is paid, and all the money that CASA takes in is very well spent, going directly into programs, so someone's $25 a year will be turned directly into new arrangements, radio broadcasts, awards programs, etc.
Besides CASA, what is your involvement in the A cappella world?
Directing and touring with the House Jacks, publishing a cappella music via Contemporary A Cappella Publishing, and a variety of other projects I lump under the "Totalvocal" banner: custom arranging, running workshops, producing albums, etc.
How would you describe the a cappella community?
Educated, diverse, passionate, creative, and generous.
Where does CASA get its funding?
Memberships and donations nowadays (we haven't applied for grants in a few years). In other words, the a cappella community itself, giving what it can to help us grow.
Where does the money go?
Everything you see listed on casa.org costs money either as a one-time or ongoing cost. We're like Ebenezer Scrooge in that we pinch every penny and make sure not to waste anything.
Who are you influences, musical and non-musical?
Too numerous to list 'em all, as they span just about every musical style and era: Monteverdi, Beethoven, Debussy, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Tom Jobim, Stevie Wonder, and just about every a cappella recording you've ever heard. It's all a huge gumbo in my brain.
What are your personal goals for the next 1, 5, and 10 years?
Continue to grow a cappella as a community while making enough money to provide a reasonable life without compromising my family life (I have a 6 and 2 year old at home, so I've made it a high priority to only travel when necessary)
In your opinion what is needed to bring a cappella to the mainstream?
More people singing in community choirs.
More groups performing original music (rather than primarily cover bands).
More "bubble up" through the media - in movies, on TV, in commercials, on the radio, etc.
What would you like to see change in the a cappella community?
More people becoming involved, with their time or their money. Nothing happens unless people exert effort, especially in a small community like ours. $25 a year, or a few hours helping update our database can make a big difference.
Who is someone you look up to?
My wife.
What is your all-time favorite album?
Impossible to answer.
Favorite a cappella album?
Also impossible - it's like "what's your favorite food" - I need many different foods, as the variety makes each one all the better.
What product would you like to see invented that would benefit a cappella singers?
Something that converts a recording directly into sheet music and vice versa, making it easy for people to learn music by sight or by ear.
What is the title of the a cappella sitcom that should be created?
I guess it has to be annoyingly punny, right?
How about "Where's My Pitch!?!"
What is your favorite guilty pleasure? (keep it clean) ;-)
Cheese, Grommit!
What is your most unique skill? (Musical or non)
Right now, people seem most captivated by my muted trumpet. Once that catches on, who knows!
Are you involved in other Charities – if so which?
I've been pouring all my effort into CASA over the years, but I have given elsewhere. Most recently it's my kids' schools.
What do you think of talent shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Etc?
I think they dangerously skew the public's understanding of the music industry and actual talent.
Who’s your superhero of choice? And why?
I like Superman. Power with morals.
Top 5 songs on your ipod currently:
Uhoh - I don't have an ipod. I know. Don't hate me.
On itunes, it's the 5 tunes I have next to arrange.
 Add as favorites (45) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 2267
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved |
