D. Garth Taylor, Founder

Garth Taylor, founder—I retired from a 20 plus year career as the founder/chief executive officer of a non-profit consulting firm in Chicago after receiving a PhD from the University of Chicago and teaching there for several years. I served seven years on the Jefferson Awards Committee. a program to recognize excellence in live theater in Chicago. Right out of college I worked one year as the musical director of a theater company in Minneapolis. I founded the School of American Music in 2012 along with two other board members and a volunteer Executive Director because I truly believe in the cognitive benefits of music and wanted to make an impact on our communities. Besides playing and performing guitar, I'm interested in composing music and writing a curriculum for teaching guitar. I reside in Harbert with my wife Sue; our son lives in California. I can often be found in my "office" Infusco coffee in Sawyer.

Tom Flint, President

I joined the board of the School of American Music in 2020. I had retired from a 30+ year career in sales and management and settled full-time into my weekend home in Three Oaks. Community service has always been important to me and as I was growing up, I was always involved in music. I believe that there has to be a safe space for creative kids to land and The School of American Music provides an open and accepting place where everyone feels welcome. I’m proud to be a part of the organization.

Donna M. Mitchell, Executive Director

Donna M. Mitchell is a retired Music Educator / Choral Director for public schools in Indiana. She is well-known locally for her work with the M C Messiah, Inc as Past President and as a volunteer and past Board member for Michigan City Chamber Music Festival. Mitchell is a member of Harbor Country Singers and Indiana University South Bend Community Concert Band. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mitchell is Executive Director of the School of American Music.

Bill Korbel, Treasurer

Born and raised in Harbor Country, I graduated from Western Michigan University in 1992 and worked as an accountant/consultant for Price Waterhouse until 1999. I began working at Lost Dunes Golf Club in Bridgman the day it opened in April 1999 and am currently the club’s General Manager. I am an active member of the Club Management Association of America and a registered Certified Public Accountant. Serving the community as Treasurer includes SAM since 2013 and two other local not-for-profit organizations, Islay’s’ Barrel and the Lost Dunes Memorial Scholarship Fund. Previously, I served as Treasurer for the Brookview Montessori School in Benton Harbor from 2006 to 2013. I enjoy giving back to the community that has given me so much my entire life. I reside in Sawyer and have been married to Laura for 30+ years. We have two children, Hannah, (former student of SAM) and Wil, both in their 20s.

Arthur Anderson, Secretary

I joined the School of American Music board in 2019 and took on duties of secretary. I started at the School as a piano student in 2017. I have studied piano on and off since childhood and began again after my retirement from federal government and my move to Harbert, Michigan. I have found playing a musical instrument to be a rewarding healthy pastime and want to support the School's education mission. In addition to practicing the piano, I like to garden and go hiking.

Denise Vanden Bussche, School Director

Denise Vanden Bussche has taught piano and flute for more than 20 years. She was named Port Huron, Mich., Teacher of the Year in 2017, and has recently moved to New Buffalo, Mich. Vanden Bussche is a frequent performer at weddings and church services, and is an accompanist in music competitions. She plays keyboard and is a backup vocalist for a 70s and 80s rock cover band called Sweet T’s. Vanden Bussche attended Wayne State University, where she majored in music education and studied under members of the Detroit Symphony.

John Balich

Devon Bergman

I am a recent, full-time, transplant to Three Oaks after 36 years of Chicago city life. I am a product of public-school music education and started on violin at age 7. I was a member of Colorado Children’s Chorale for 5 years and in numerous orchestras throughout my primary education. I studied voice in college, primarily classical and jazz. I still sing and play guitar. Making music has been a very important part of my life and still is today. I am passionate about getting music instruction to kids and anyone who wants it. I worked my way through school as a carpenter and eventually owned a renovation company. I’m currently the Midwest Regional Construction Manager for a national multi-family real estate company.

Hank Binswanger

I have played the drums since I was in high school and absolutely love music! I managed and played drums in a band playing original music when I lived in Philadelphia. I have been asked to join some local bands as I continue to play on a daily basis. I'm president of the board for Meals on Wheels of Southwest Michigan and formerly served on the Three Oaks Planning Commission. I worked as a Senior Vice President for one of the largest property management firms in Chicago.

Marco Chavarry

Sharon Eggleston

“Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel.” — Yo-Yo Ma.

As a parent of a former SAM voice student, I have seen firsthand how SAM works to enrich the lives of those in our community by providing access to the arts, and I am honored to be joining the Board. I have a wide-ranging health care and business background, including an Associate Degree of Applied Science, a Bachelor’s in Health Care Administration, and a Master’s in Business Administration. I also maintain a valid Indiana Physical Therapist Assistant license and have experience as an Adjunct Professor from teaching business courses at a local college. Although my background is primarily on the business and administration side of things, I also have musical experience as a flute and piccolo player and choir member. In my spare time I enjoy gardening and being outdoors.

Pat Putnam

I joined the SAM board in April 2019. I joined the board because I believe music education is very important and I believe in SAM's mission. Music has always been very important to me, and I took both piano lessons and voice lessons for many years in my youth. My responsibilities on the board include being the Producer for the Harbor Country Singers, the community chorus sponsored by SAM, helping plan and organize SAM events as part of the Programming committee, being chair of the Governance committee, sending out SAM emails and maintaining the email distribution list, and creating event posters. I am a retired software engineer. I have a B.S. in Business from Indiana University and a M.S. in Computer Science from DePaul University. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking, singing, and traveling.

Diane Ruzevich

I started guitar lessons when I was 8 in 1958. Music helped me through the 60’s and 70’s! I was lucky enough to to have a family where music was important and am thrilled to be a part of a school that is making music as available to anyone interested! I have always worked in the nonprofit field spending my last 29 years as a Reference librarian in a suburb of Chicago. I finished my college education after going back to school at 50 and continue my music education with Donna Mitchell at our school.

Board of Directors