Executive Director

ASHLEY SIDON

Respected as both a soloist and chamber musician, Ashley is the Briggs Endowed Professor of Cello at Drake University and Executive Director of the Zenith Chamber Music Festival. As an invited performer and clinician, Ashley's credits include international solo performances across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France, Poland, and Brazil. Nationally, her performances as a chamber musician and orchestral soloist have taken her to the leading universities, chamber music festivals, and concert stages from Maine to California.

Director of Operations

NICOLE RAMSEY

An active music educator and scholar, Nicole is Assistant Professor and Director of Music Education at Drake University. During her career as a high school choir director in Greensboro, NC, she discovered she had a passion for mentoring the next generation of music teachers. Upon completion of her PhD in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she moved to Des Moines to teach in the music education program at Drake. Her research centers around music leadership and intersections of personal and occupational identity in music teachers, which she has published and presented nationally and internationally.

President

NATALIE STEENSON

Natalie holds a BA degree in music and religion. She teaches early childhood classes at the Montessori Children’s House in West Des Moines, has a private piano studio, and is the Director of Music and Arts Ministry at Windsor Presbyterian Church. She is a rostered teaching artist for ASAP and CultureALL and enjoys singing with the Des Moines Choral Society.

Vice President

Craig Owens

Craig N. Owens is Professor of English and Dean of the John Dee Bright College at Drake University. Before moving to Des Moines in 2003, he earned his PhD from Indiana University's graduate program in English and his BA in Latin and English from DePauw University. As an undergraduate, he studied voice with Leo Goeke and piano with Paul Barnes and Claude Cymerman, continuing his lifelong interest in operatic, symphonic, and chamber music. His book Staging Technology: Medium, Machinery, and Modern Drama (Bloomsbury 2021) includes extensive commentary on 20th- and 21st-century American opera and musical theatre. 

Marketing 

KIRA SCHALL

Kira is a junior at Drake University studying marketing and public relations. On campus, she also works in the Office of Community Engaged Learning as the Food Security Peer. Kira has a passion for supporting community development and engagement through communication and outreach efforts. As an avid enjoyer of music, art, and performance, Kira is excited to work with Zenith to bring these experiences to the community!

Secretary

ELAINA STEENSON

Elaina is both a skilled lawyer and accomplished musician. She practices law as a public defender in Iowa, specializing in wrongful conviction cases. Simultaneously, she’s deeply involved in the music world, teaching violin, viola, piano, and ukulele. She sings with the Des Moines Choral Society and enjoys performing in the ClearJoy duo with her sister. She was Zenith’s first intern during the 2015 inaugural season.

Treasurer

Paul Ching

Paul is both an actuary and an avid musician. A recent Drake grad, he has remained active in the Des Moines area, working for F&G as an actuary and being prolific in the Des Moines music gigging scene as a violinist, violist, and keyboardist. Paul is a violinist in the Des Moines Symphony, and frequently performs with other local groups such as Quartet 515. As someone whose worlds consist of math and music, Paul looks forward to using both of those areas of skills to support the Zenith organization and carry out its mission!

Board Member

XAVIER QUINN

Xavier is a Cellist and Educator in the Des Moines Metro who is passionate about connecting people of all ages through music and learning. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Education from Drake University and is currently an orchestra director at Valley Southwoods and Valley High Schools. He maintains active private studios independently and at the Des Moines Symphony Academy and gigs and performs locally with several ensembles.

Board Member

SANDY TATGE

Sandy is an avid music educator and performer. Some of her career highlights include performing as a cellist with the Des Moines Symphony for 53 years, teaching orchestra in the Des Moines Public Schools for 27 years, serving as an adjunct cello instructor at Drake University and Simpson College, as well as being an integral part of various music festivals and competitions. She maintains a private cello studio and has been a respected private instructor in the Des Moines area for 50 years.

Board Member

SARAH MCCOY

Sarah received her M.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Iowa and a Graduate Certificate from The University of Iowa Center for the Book in 2006 with a concentration in Letterpress printing and Artists Books. She taught as a full time tenured professor at Drake University in Art + Design, Graphic Design department from 2006-2022. She is currently a Senior Designer at Principal Financial Group in the Global Brand Experience, Content Studio. She also owns and operates The Permanent Collection Letterpress + Design Studio. She's an avid fan of all types of music.

Board Member

LAURA ERICKSON

Laura graduated with a degree in choral music education from the University of Northern Iowa, and a master’s degree in harp performance from the University of Kansas. She has held teaching positions at Washburn University, Simpson College, and currently serves as a music teaching artist at Grinnell College. She also maintains a private studio in West Des Moines. In addition to teaching, she coaches and performs with various orchestral, vocal, and chamber ensembles throughout Central Iowa. Laura is the mother of three grown children, wife to husband Warren, and walking companion to mini-goldendoodle, Cooper.

Board Member

BETSY NOYES

I am a former lawyer, teacher and band parent. As a community volunteer, I have experience on both the grant-writing and grant-making sides of philanthropy, and hope to use my experience to help Zenith thrive as an independent non-profit in pursuit of its mission to make chamber music accessible to everyone.