CMSA 2025 Elections for the 2025-2027 Term of Office

Please select one candidate for Board Member at Large.  There was only one nomination for Treasurer.

Board Member at Large

Tom Napoli Music has always been part of my life, actively performing during my teens and 20s with my focus on electric and acoustic guitar. The mandolin made appearances during this time but only became a serious interest over the past 6 years. This facilitated a shift from the more casual folk/rock scene to world and classical compositions and the discipline they bring. My career centered around computers, consumer product design, and international program management for the commercialization of consumer digital imaging products. Alas, my instruments rarely saw the light of day during these years. In 2019, together with Ken Luk, I founded the most recent incarnation of the Rochester Mandolin Orchestra with membership currently around 18 members. I manage operations, bookings, and finances, along with audio/visual production. I also built and continue to maintain the orchestra’s website. My musical role with the orchestra is playing octave mandolin, sometimes called G mandola, and mandolin for one of our ensembles. CMSA was prominent in my transition to the mandolin world, providing a window into both the music and the mandolin family’s influence worldwide. As a member of CMSA’s Technical Committee for several years, I helped operate 2 of CMSA’s virtual conventions. More recently, I co-chaired the 2024 CMSA convention in Rochester, NY and am currently part of the A/V team working to document the 2025 convention held in Portland.

Jonathan Rudie I have been a member of the Classical Mandolin Society of America (CMSA) since 2002 and have attended every CMSA convention from 2002 to the present. I served on the CMSA Board of Directors from 2004 through 2008 and as Vice President from 2008 through 2014. I was also a member of the host committee for the 2012 CMSA conference in Baltimore.

Over the years, I have been deeply involved in CMSA programming and events. I have organized, run, and emceed CMSA open mics at approximately twelve conventions, emceed numerous CMSA convention concerts, and frequently stepped in on short notice at the request of the CMSA when an emcee was needed due to last-minute cancellations. I have also organized and emceed CMSA raffles at approximately fifteen conventions. In 2020, I presented a live Zoom mandolin, gardening, and cooking
workshop for the In the Clouds CMSA conference; this workshop is available as an unlisted video on the CMSA YouTube channel.

At the request of the CMSA, I have conducted numerous hotel site visits over the years. Through this work, I have developed a strong understanding of the Society’s logistical needs, including space requirements for large ensembles and orchestra rehearsals and performances.

I studied classical mandolin technique with CMSA founding members Joyce Adams and Richard Walz, both of whom had direct pedagogical connections to leading figures in classical mandolin history, including Pettine, Munier, Calace, Place, Bickford, and Bertucci. As a result, I possess a deep understanding of classical right-hand mandolin technique and tone production—an approach that has become increasingly rare in contemporary practice. I am also well-versed in the history of the classical mandolin.

I have been a first-place award recipient in the CMSA National Mandolin Playing Contest at both the Montreal, Canada, and Seattle, Washington CMSA conferences. I have also received first-prize and Judges’ Choice Instrument awards at the Maryland Common Ground on the Hill Music Festival and the Westminster Fiddle Festival.

I regularly perform as a soloist, in duos, and with the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra, where I also frequently perform featured solos. I served on the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra for approximately five years. In 2019, I recorded a CD of mandolin music with Joel Hobbs entitled Vesper, which is available on most major streaming platforms.

I have taught classical mandolin for over twenty years and have contributed articles to the CMSA Journal. Professionally, I am an attorney licensed in the State of Maryland and maintain my own civil litigation practice.

In addition to my professional and musical work, I am an avid cook and gardener and regularly volunteer my time and music for annual homeless memorial services in Maryland, honoring the lives of homeless and underhoused individuals who have died each year. My service and performances in this capacity have been covered by NPR and The Baltimore Sun.

Throughout her career, Kristin has been a vital leader in music education, serving for seven years as the Lead Orchestra Teacher for her district. Her contributions extend to curriculum development, honors course design, and chairing state-level events. As a sought-after clinician, she presents on a diverse range of topics, including pedagogical scope and sequence, technique, improvisation, and ensemble development.

An active performer, Kristin has played with various symphony orchestras across Ohio and the Carolinas for three decades. She is a regular member of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (NC) on viola. In addition to her bowed string expertise, she is a dedicated mandolinist and attended her first CMSA convention in 2017.

Treasurer

CMSA has migrated IT services to Google Workspace and WPEngine with Jonathan’s navigation. He negotiated the donation of eight John Goodin works to CMSA and one to the Creative Commons and created the John Goodin archive website to ensure public access to John’s blog and much of his work in perpetuity. More recently, he has worked with other CMSA members to establish a Goodin video index and a searchable Mandolin Journal index. He has served as registrar for the past two CMSA conventions.

Jonathan’s home orchestra is the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, where he plays alto mandola. In 2017, he took over the booking-agent and treasurer responsibilities for MnMO. He has contributed to their efforts to establish and maintain 501c3 non-profit status, wrote the web app to collect player availability for scheduling performances, created pandemic performance videos, twice hosted performances of internationally-acclaimed visiting musicians, and continues to explore new venues for the orchestra.

Taking advantage of geographic proximity of and regular collaboration with Assistant Treasurer Lou Chouinard, Jonathan will be transitioning to Treasurer.

Voting

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