Staff
Nathan Wadley
Music Director
Nathan Wadley began his choral training at the age of eleven when he became a chorister with The American Boychoir, under the direction of Dr. James Litton, and he returned 15 years later to become the Resident Training Choir Director of The American Boychoir School, where he trained the newest choirboys in performance skills and musicianship. He has taught for over 20 years in both public and private school settings, and currently is on the faculty of Friends Select School in Philadelphia.
Mr. Wadley earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Missouri State University, and was awarded a graduate assistantship under noted conductor Dr. Guy B. Webb. He is a certified Kodály music educator, studying at both New York University and Capitol University in Columbus, Ohio.
Laura Harmon
Associate Music Director
A passionate musician who is dedicated to the musical growth and educational development of children, Laura Harmon has over 18 years of professional experience as an educator and choral conductor, and has directed choirs and taught general music to children ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. Her success as an educator has led her students to perform in honors choirs throughout New Jersey, as well as to participate in several prestigious choirs, including All South Jersey Choir, All State Choir, and OAKE National Choir.
Laura Harmon obtained her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. She earned her Level IV Kodály training from Westminster Choir College through The Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE).
Michelle Frank
Executive Director
Michelle brings over 20 years of experience in music education, educational leadership, fundraising, non-profit management, and accounting. A passionate nonprofit leader, musician, and educator, she leverages a broad range of business consulting and nonprofit management skills in her role as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Boys and Girls Choirs (PBGC). Through her unique combination of nonprofit management experience, business skill, and deep passion for music, she is inspired to lead the next stage of growth for this organization that impacts the lives of children and adults through music.
Michelle started her career in tax consulting and audit with E&Y, where she worked on consulting teams for fortune 500 companies and gained broad business perspective. She soon changed course to follow her passion for classical music as an opera singer, finishing her Master's in music at Florida State University while working in the FSU School of Music development office, coordinating fundraising for alumni and major donors. She then leveraged her experience in fundraising and music as the Director of Institutional Fundraising and Development Services at The Curtis Institute of Music, where she was instrumental in completing their largest ever capital campaign, raising over $40 million.
As a musician and life-long learner, Michelle is committed to excellence in music education. For the past 15 years, Michelle has been a music educator for the School District of Philadelphia and is completing her second master’s degree in educational leadership at University of Pennsylvania. During her tenure as the Director of Performing and Visual Arts at Franklin Learning Center, she conducted several choirs, increased student enrollment in arts programs, played an instrumental role in shaping the strategic plan and vision for the school and district, and trained countless music educators across the district. She established local and national partnerships with performing arts programs and served as a leader on the All City Choir committee for eight years. She was also a choral conductor for Settlement Music School’s Music Education Pathways program. Outside of school, Michelle is a classical singer and has performed locally with Opera Philadelphia, Lehigh Opera, and as a member of the Voices of The Philly Pops.
While not working in the Philadelphia music sphere, Michelle enjoys gardening and spending time with beloved family members. She is a proud mom to amazing 11-year-old twins and lives in New Jersey with them and her wonderful husband, Frederick.
Jodi Bohr
Collaborative Pianist
Jodi Bohr began her musical training with piano lessons at age 5, and started accompanying in fourth grade. She has accompanied many vocal and instrumental recitals and has played under the direction of conductors such as Donald Nally, Allen Crowell and Fred Waring. She has taught music at Germantown Academy for 28 years and is the organist at First United Methodist Church of Germantown. Jodi has taught music, directed choirs and accompanied groups and individual performers of all ages. Ms. Bohr graduated from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Church Music, and completed her Kodaly training at both Westminster Choir College and Texas State University in San Marcos. She enjoys learning music of many cultures, and has recently traveled to Kenya to learn and record traditional Kenyan songs.
Amanda Schkeeper
Director of Advancement, Philadelphia Boys and Girls Choirs
Amanda joins the Philadelphia Boys and Girls Choirs with over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience. Her development experience was honed at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she led the annual fund and the Friends of Music giving society as Assistant Director of Development. After returning to New Jersey, Amanda has served in fundraising and leadership roles for Choral Arts Philadelphia, the Bach Festival of Philadelphia, and Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, and has consulted for numerous other music organizations in the area. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Westminster Choir College, and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from La Salle University’s Nonprofit Center.
Michael Ashby
Vocal Conservatory Director
Michael Ashby earned his Master of Operatic Performance from New Jersey City University and his Bachelor of Science in Music Performance from Indiana State University. In addition to our vocal conservatory, he maintains a voice studio at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Michael serves as the vocal technical teacher for the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale and Philadelphia Girls Choir. For many years he has directed opera, musical theater and choir camp programs. His previous camps were directed at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and for Philadelphia International Music Festival in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Michael works with and owes his continued singing and teaching to his teacher, David L. Jones of New York.
