Board of Directors

If you are interested in joining our Board, please complete this form.

Emi Eiting, President

**Emi Eiting** is a freelance performer, pianist, conductor, musical theatre consultant, vocal coach and choral adjudicator working in Northern Virginia. She is a vocal teaching artist for Mason Community Arts Acting for Young People Program, where she heads up their popular summer Musical Theatre Boot Camp for teens. She also works regularly with the George Mason University Chorale to stage and design their Broadway Choral Concerts. From 2010-2016 Mrs. Eiting served as the choral director at JEB Stuart High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She taught 4 choirs, IB Music, and directed the annual school musical.
Before her career in education Mrs. Eiting worked as an actor, music director, pianist, and stage manager at a number of regional theatres around the country, spent some time singing on a cruise ship, and toured the country with The Magic School Bus-Live! She has worked in New York with composers Jason Robert Brown, Lance Horne, Bree Lowdermilk and Scott Evan Davis. She has also performed as a solo artist at the Kennedy Center in a concert featuring the music of Mr. Davis. Her endeavors in theatre were made possible in part by her work as an Insurance Assistant for the largest insurance broker in the world and an Executive Assistant in commercial finance.
Mrs. Eiting spent 6 years in leadership for the Virginia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association-- first as State Newsletter Editor and then Membership Chair. In addition she spent a total of 8 years on the planning committee for the annual ACDA Voices United Conference-- two of those as Conference Coordinator.
Mrs. Eiting holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from George Mason University Mrs. Eiting lives in Alexandria with her husband and daughter, Nora

Jennifer Ryan, Treasurer

**Jennifer Ryan** is an active wife and mom of two boys and enjoys being engaged in their busy lives. Prior to “retiring” from her corporate career, Jennifer was a Senior Employment Paralegal in Ernst & Young’s General Counsel’s office for nearly 14 years. Jennifer spent her early career as a meeting and event planner for several large corporations and also held positions with the Women’s National Basketball Association for its inaugural and sophomore seasons, and the 1996 Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. Jennifer has also volunteered her time as a member of her boys’ elementary school PTA, both in Loudoun County and her native New York, as she chaired various committees and also served as PTA Treasurer for several years.
Music was a significant part of Jennifer’s childhood education as she played clarinet for nine years, was a member of her high school’s concert band, orchestra and marching band, and was selected as drum major for her junior and senior years’ of high school. She is looking forward to working with SLYC to bring music education to the youth of our community.

Kelsey Tolbert, Secretary

**Kelsey Tolbert** began her career in choral music with a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education (K-12) from James Madison University. She spent the next 8 years in public education as a teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools (grades K-8). Her experience teaching includes two years as choral director and musical theater director at Cooper Middle School in McLean, VA, two years as general music teacher at Camelot Elementary School in Annandale, VA, and 4 years as middle school choral director, guitar teacher, and adapted music teacher at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA.
In addition to public teaching experience, Kelsey also has over 12 years of experience in teaching private voice and piano lessons. She currently has a thriving private studio and also serves as administrator for her family-owned music lesson business, *Tolbert Music*.
Kelsey resides in Fairfax with her husband and company owner, Christopher, as well as her two daughters. She is excited to re-enter the choral world through SLYC!

Diane Chima-Orji

With over 20 years of experience in the information technology and services sector, **Diane Chima-Orji** exemplifies a steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Her expertise lies in customer relationship management, project leadership, software development, and process enhancement. Diane possesses a unique ability to seamlessly merge technical proficiency with effective communication, consistently delivering clear and concise solutions to clients.

Presently, Diane serves as the Vice President overseeing Customer and Product Success at RWS Group's Contenta Business Unit. Her focus revolves around crafting support strategies centered on customers and encouraging collaborative efforts across functions to streamline issue resolution and enhance clients' user experiences. In her previous capacity as the Director of Professional Services (former SDL Government), Diane was instrumental in launching the Training & Certification Program, skillfully coordinating the company's first-ever User Group Forums and Workshop Events.

Diane holds a Master's in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor's degree in Database Technology, both attained from Strayer University. She has certifications in Project Management (PMP), Certified Scrum Master, and ITIL Foundation. Additionally, she is an active member of the Project Management Institute and the Alpha Chi Honor Society.

Diane’s wealth of experience, coupled with her unwavering dedication to quality and innovation, positions her as a driving force behind customer success and operational excellence in the IT industry. She looks forward to bringing that drive to support the musical education of the youth in our community.

Philip Keirstead

**Philip Keirstead** is one of two choral directors at Marsteller Middle School in Prince William County, Virginia. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University and his master’s from Florida State. Guest conducting engagements include several district and regional choirs events in and around Virginia and all-state events in Louisiana and Kentucky. He and his 8th Grade Bass Choir have presented at VMEA, ACDA Southern, and ACDA Eastern conferences. He was named Prince William County’s Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012 and was a runner-up for the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Julie Krueger

**Julie Krueger** is Owner/President of Virginia Kitchen restaurant in Herndon, VA. Julie and her husband Linc have managed the restaurant since 2002 when they took over the business from Julie’s father John. Virginia Kitchen has been a staple in the Herndon community since 1981, and Julie is committed to continuing the restaurant’s legacy as Herndon’s hometown diner. Before Julie became a restaurateur, she worked for Hecht’s Department Store in Arlington VA. Upon graduation from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts double major in History and Spanish, Julie accepted a position as an Executive Trainee with Hecht’s in the buying office. Julie worked for Hecht’s for fourteen years as a Buyer and eventually a VP/Divisional Merchandise Manager until she retired from retail with the sale of Hecht’s to Macy’s.
Julie and Linc reside in the Cedar Hunt community of South Riding with their three children, Carlton (22), Luke (19), and Katherine (17). Julie has been an active volunteer in the South Riding area since joining the community in 2000. Julie supported her children through positions with Loudoun South Little League, South Riding Stingrays, DYS Volleyball, and Loudoun South Young Men’s Service League, as well as fulfilling multiple volunteer roles at their schools. Julie served as Den Leader for her boys while they were in Boy Scouts, and continues to serve as Girl Scout Leader for Katherine’s Troop 2788, a role Julie has held for 10 years. Julie also enjoys volunteering with the Dulles South Food Pantry, and serves as a Parent Ambassador for St. Paul VI Catholic High School.
Julie had the pleasure of witnessing first hand the amazing impact Artistic Directors Erik Jacobs and Laura Lazarevich have on their students with her son Carlton and niece Anna. Erik and Laura exude positive energy that, combined with their tremendous skills, gets the most out of their students and makes everyone around them better. Julie believes in the SLYC mission and its benefit for the Loudoun South community, and is excited to help provide an opportunity for local youth to explore their choral interests and develop their skills.

Emma Moores

Emma Moores is Executive Director of Cathedral Choral Society, bringing a track record for organizational effectiveness while maintaining her commitment to a people- and mission-centric approach. Her deep connection with symphonic choral music—including over 15 years managing similar organizations alongside decades of orchestral performance—shapes her perspective on daily administration as well as long-term strategy.

Prior to joining Cathedral Choral Society in 2025, Emma worked for Grammy Award-winning The Washington Chorus since 2013, serving for six years as its Deputy Director after being promoted from Development Director. She supported the 220-voice symphonic chorus in its presentation of concerts at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Music Center at Strathmore, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and other Washington, DC-area venues, reaching audiences of 35,000 annually. With a particular appreciation for the impact of partnerships, Emma brought intention to collaborations with DC-area organizations and worked closely with DC Public Schools, Arts for the Aging, BroadFutures, and the Library of Congress to develop engagement programming, in addition to extensive performance partnerships with area choruses, orchestras, and artists. She was a key player in The Washington Chorus’ artistic director search, strategic plan creation, and new brand identity and logo launch. Her efforts in development and marketing saw the growth of the organization’s earned and contributed revenue to surpass pre-pandemic levels for the $2.2MM organization.

As the Operations and Marketing Manager of YOA Orchestra of the Americas from 2010 to 2013, Emma managed performances that brought her to twelve countries in Central and South America. She supported productions in some of the world’s most renowned concert halls—from México’s Palacio de Bellas Artes to Chile’s Teatro del Lago—with guest artists such as Plácido Domingo, Philip Glass, Joshua Bell, and Sarah Chang. From 2009 to 2014 Emma also managed operations for Youth Orchestras of Prince William, the instrumental music program serving youth in Prince William county, Virginia.

Emma grew up outside of Seattle, Washington and studied trombone at the University of Washington under Don Immel, Philip Brown, and Ko-ichiro Yamamoto, as well as ensemble directors Brad McDavid and Timothy Salzman. She has performed in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Japan, and throughout the United States, including a memorable solo performance with the Husky Marching Band on Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody at the NFC West Championship game. After graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in orchestral performance, she earned her Master of Arts in Arts Management from George Mason University.

An avid trail runner and newly-minted ultra-marathoner, Emma is an active member of the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club and DC Capital Striders. Emma also enjoys continuing to play trombone with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra and can be seen in their season performances at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. She and her husband Patrick live in Virginia with their son, Henry, who keeps them busy with his school, piano, and swim club activities.

Board of Directors

Emi Eiting, President

Jennifer Ryan, Treasurer

Kelsey Tolbert, Secretary

Diane Chima-Orji

Philip Keirstead

Julie Krueger

Emma Moores

Anu Singhvi

South Loudoun Youth Chorale, Inc.