Board of Directors
Dr. Frances Madachy, Artistic Director
Dr. Frances Machady studied at Marshall University and Indiana University, where she received her
doctorate as a student of Bela Nagy, Gyorgy Sebok, and Alfonso Montecino. She has enjoyed a distinguished career, serving as Professor of Music at Southern Oregon University for 30 years, and before that, teaching public school music in Cincinnati, OH and at the University School in Bloomington, IN.
As a pianist, she has performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Oregon, California and West Virginia. She has appeared with the Lincoln String Quartet, Vlach Quartet Prague, Philadelphia String Quartet, with members of the Britt Festival Orchestra, and with many other groups including engagements as soloist with the Charleston, WV Symphony and Rogue Valley Symphony.
She has been president and artistic director of Neskowin Chamber Music since 2008 and has served on the board since 1999.
Dr. Frances Machady studied at Marshall University and Indiana University, where she received her
doctorate as a student of Bela Nagy, Gyorgy Sebok, and Alfonso Montecino. She has enjoyed a distinguished career, serving as Professor of Music at Southern Oregon University for 30 years, and before that, teaching public school music in Cincinnati, OH and at the University School in Bloomington, IN.
As a pianist, she has performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Oregon, California and West Virginia. She has appeared with the Lincoln String Quartet, Vlach Quartet Prague, Philadelphia String Quartet, with members of the Britt Festival Orchestra, and with many other groups including engagements as soloist with the Charleston, WV Symphony and Rogue Valley Symphony.
She has been president and artistic director of Neskowin Chamber Music since 2008 and has served on the board since 1999.
Baiju Patel, PhD - President
Retired from Intel - he holds PhD in Computer Engineering from UMASS, Amherst, and has over 35 technical publications and over 80 US patents. In addition to Neskowin Chamber Music, Baiju volunteers at Mind Matters Family Center (previous board member) and manages technology for Assistance League of Greater Portland. In his spare time, he enjoys Cycling, playing Piano, Hiking, Rock Climbing and Yoga.
Baiju takes care of website, online ticket sales, taxes and royalty payments, hosts artists for dinner, write grant proposals etc for Neskowin Chamber Music.
FInd out More about Baiju at LinkedIn
Retired from Intel - he holds PhD in Computer Engineering from UMASS, Amherst, and has over 35 technical publications and over 80 US patents. In addition to Neskowin Chamber Music, Baiju volunteers at Mind Matters Family Center (previous board member) and manages technology for Assistance League of Greater Portland. In his spare time, he enjoys Cycling, playing Piano, Hiking, Rock Climbing and Yoga.
Baiju takes care of website, online ticket sales, taxes and royalty payments, hosts artists for dinner, write grant proposals etc for Neskowin Chamber Music.
FInd out More about Baiju at LinkedIn
Colleen Hofer
Married to David since 1983, she is currently a Realtor with Shorepine Properties. Real Estate keeps her engaged in communities up and down the central coast. In her previous life, Colleen was a Marketing Consultant and Graphic Designer for number of distributor/manufacturers where she travelled extensively across the USA and internationally for her clients. She is now content to be settled in beautiful Neskowin with her best friend and their furry kids.
After serving as a president for many years, Colleen continues to take care of all print and electronic communications to our audience, take care of artists when they are in Neskowin, and ensure the performances go smoothly.
Married to David since 1983, she is currently a Realtor with Shorepine Properties. Real Estate keeps her engaged in communities up and down the central coast. In her previous life, Colleen was a Marketing Consultant and Graphic Designer for number of distributor/manufacturers where she travelled extensively across the USA and internationally for her clients. She is now content to be settled in beautiful Neskowin with her best friend and their furry kids.
After serving as a president for many years, Colleen continues to take care of all print and electronic communications to our audience, take care of artists when they are in Neskowin, and ensure the performances go smoothly.
Helaine Koch, Treasurer
Lainie is a long time resident of Neskowin and have been key part of Neskowin Chamber Music for a long time. As the treasurer, she takes care of all aspects of our finances, manages ticket sales, and donors.
Lainie is a long time resident of Neskowin and have been key part of Neskowin Chamber Music for a long time. As the treasurer, she takes care of all aspects of our finances, manages ticket sales, and donors.
David Hofer, Event Manager
Retired from over 30 years in the trades, he owns and operates Oregon Coast Home Watch.
Dave and Colleen are thrilled to call Neskowin their home since 2016 as fulltime residence.
Prior to that they lived and worked in Vancouver WA since immigrating from Canada in 1990.
David works closely with Colleen and takes care of admissions and provides all necessary support for performances.
Retired from over 30 years in the trades, he owns and operates Oregon Coast Home Watch.
Dave and Colleen are thrilled to call Neskowin their home since 2016 as fulltime residence.
Prior to that they lived and worked in Vancouver WA since immigrating from Canada in 1990.
David works closely with Colleen and takes care of admissions and provides all necessary support for performances.
Richard Hook, School Outreach
Richard Hook grew up in Salem, and studied geology at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. He worked as a petroleum geologist in a verity of postings both in the US and abroad. He currently resides in Neskowin. He has served as Chairperson of the Neskowin Citizens Advisory Committee, a Trustee of Neskowin Valley School, and a Board Member of the Faber Institute in Portland. He has had a live long love of music, having studied cello as a child and has continues to play to this day. Richard and his wife Penny have three children, and six grandchildren.
Richard coordinates outreach programs to local schools for Neskowin Chamber Music.
Richard coordinates outreach programs to local schools for Neskowin Chamber Music.
Robert Gamblin, Resource Development
Robert is a third generation Oregonian, founder of Gamblin Artists Colors and Gamblin Conservation Colors. He is an artist, a landscape painter, who lives half time on Cascade Head from where all of his current subject matter is sourced. You can see some of the recent work on his website: RobertGamblinStudio.com.
His artwork is represented by the RiverSea Gallery in Astoria, Grey Raven Gallery in Beaverton, and Blind Insect in Portland. He studied art at both the University of Oregon and the San Francisco Art Institute.
Robert’s previous board membership includes The Vermont Studio Center in the 1990’s, The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in the early 2000’s, and two tours of duty on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Oregon’s College of Design.
Awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Art Materials Trade Association (2016), and the Ellis F. Lawrence Medal from the College of Design, U of O (2014).
His artwork is represented by the RiverSea Gallery in Astoria, Grey Raven Gallery in Beaverton, and Blind Insect in Portland. He studied art at both the University of Oregon and the San Francisco Art Institute.
Robert’s previous board membership includes The Vermont Studio Center in the 1990’s, The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in the early 2000’s, and two tours of duty on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Oregon’s College of Design.
Awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Art Materials Trade Association (2016), and the Ellis F. Lawrence Medal from the College of Design, U of O (2014).
Albert Thompson, Secretory and Myra Thompson
Albert a physician and Myra a nurse practitioner retired from a combined 90+ yrs in health care. Both travel across the globe to provide healthcare to under privileged. They have been members of Neskowin Chamber Music Board for over 15 years.
They raised 4 children here on the coast and all are musically active. Myra sings [alto] and plays flute; Albert plays piano and recently the French horn. Albert conducted the biennial Messiah production in Lincoln City/Tillamook for several seasons.
Albert is board chair for the Lincoln City Christian School. Myra is a long arm quilter. They own a Christmas tree farm and enjoy model railroading - ride on scale trains with a draw bridge, tunnel and trestles at their home in Lincoln City.
They raised 4 children here on the coast and all are musically active. Myra sings [alto] and plays flute; Albert plays piano and recently the French horn. Albert conducted the biennial Messiah production in Lincoln City/Tillamook for several seasons.
Albert is board chair for the Lincoln City Christian School. Myra is a long arm quilter. They own a Christmas tree farm and enjoy model railroading - ride on scale trains with a draw bridge, tunnel and trestles at their home in Lincoln City.