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.

PR/Events Coordinator, Grant Writer

MIMI BERINGER

Mimi works in Charitable Giving at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and is a proud graduate of Drake University, where she earned degrees in Music and Marketing in 2024. A tuba and bass player, Mimi is passionate about supporting music education and performance throughout the Des Moines community. Mimi is excited to advance Zenith’s mission to foster a vibrant and inclusive arts community in Des Moines.

Marketing 

ANNA STEENSON

Anna is a visual storyteller dedicated to amplifying and uplifting stories in the Des Moines community. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Digital Media Production and obtained her Master’s degree in Communication Leadership from Drake University. When she is not working on documentaries, photography, and graphic design, she teaches guitar lessons and performs with her sister in a musical ensemble, ClearJoy.

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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

LAURA AGÜERO

Laura is Director of Development, 4word. Laura started her career as an opera singer and voice teacher. After a decade in the music field, she realized that she had gifts in development, so she moved into roles at the Oregon Symphony in the area of Community Outreach, then became the Executive Director of the Salem division of the Oregon Symphony, and finally, the Director of Programs. While there she had the privilege of stewarding 175 top donors, sold advertising and corporate sponsorships, helped with the concert season planning and marketing, budgeting, and oversaw the donor records/accounting.

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

DANETTE KOBOLT

I am a licensed attorney in the State of Iowa with an MBA in Data Analytics and Accounting. My role on the board is the Treasurer. I have a particularly fond interest in classical music and Zenith brings music to the public who generally may not have access to music in affordable ways. Music is an important piece and framework in our society so I am eager to support the Zenith organization.

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

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. 

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.