{ BOARD OF DIRECTORS }

A commercial trial lawyer for more than 40 years, Rob is also a philosophy professor and journalist, who splits his time between Chicago and Honeoye, NY.  During the pandemic, he has continued his teaching in the U.S. and, virtually, abroad, in India, China, and Vietnam.  Starting in the spring of 2022, he will be teaching philosophy at St. Bonaventure University.  He and his wife, Susan, a retired high school history teacher and Holocaust scholar, are enthusiastic patrons of the arts.  In addition to being a board member at FLO, Rob serves on the boards of Chicago Opera Theater and the University of Chicago’s Court Theater and has a weekly radio show on classical music and opera on student radio.

Rose-Marie Klipstein has been a community volunteer in Rochester for over 45 years, serving on boards of schools, libraries, and the arts, including The Norman Howard School, Literacy Volunteers, Brighton Memorial Library, Friends of Eastman Opera, among others. She taught at Nazareth College and maintained a private practice tutoring learning disabled adolescents while raising three sons with her late husband, Dr. Frederick Klipstein.

Bliss has over 40 years of experience as a CPA assisting businesses with accounting, taxation, and succession planning. She currently is employed at Gray Locey CPA, PLLC. In addition to her Board position with Finger Lakes Opera, she is a Trustee and Assistant Treasurer of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Board Member of the Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of the Clergymen of the Episcopal Church and Board Member of the Estate Planning Council. Recently she served for 6 years as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Urban Choice Charter School. She also served for many years on the various Boards of Episcopal Senior Life Communities.

Helen Zamboni, a lifelong lover of opera, is one of the founding members of the Board of Directors of Finger Lakes Opera, Inc. She grew up in the New York City metropolitan area and went to her first performance at the “old” Metropolitan Opera House on her eighth birthday. Helen has served on the Board of Trustees of Geva Theatre Center, a regional theater in Rochester, New York, and the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Rochester (Board Chair 1999-2001) and remains an active volunteer of both organizations. In her professional life, Helen is Senior Counsel at the Rochester, New York, law firm of Underberg & Kessler LLP, concentrating in the corporate, real estate and health care practice areas of law.

As a graduate of Nazareth University, Danielle has dedicated her life and career to serving her community through building the capacity of nonprofit organizations. Helping to secure funding, develop and build partnerships, and coordinate strategic collaborations has been core to work she has undertaken while working and volunteering for organizations like Nazareth, Compeer Rochester, Easter Seals Disability Services, WXXI Public Media, The Association for Fundraising Professionals, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley, Finger Lakes Opera, Memorial Art Gallery and The Eastman School of Music where she is currently Director of Advancement. 

Christopher Dahl is President Emeritus and retired Professor of English at SUNY Geneseo. A life-long choral singer and opera lover, he helped Gerard Floriano found Finger Lakes Opera at Geneseo in 2012. He achieved the pinnacle of his operatic career, however, in the 1980s, when he appeared as an extra in several Metropolitan Opera productions in Detroit, back when the Met still toured. He has served on or chaired a variety of Rochester-area and national boards including those of the Rochester Area Colleges, the Allendale-Columbia School, the Center for Governmental Research, and the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

Katie Hannigan serves as Coordinator of Vocal Activities and Associate

Professor of Voice at Nazareth University. A refined professional mezzo-

soprano, educator and artistic administrator, Hannigan is a fierce advocate for

vocal music and opera as foundational pillars to serve our community and

nation. Katie is a respected vocal pedagogue, clinician and adjudicator, and

she is well-known for her collaborative partnerships and warm spirit.

She frequently works with prestigious living composers to procure and

commission vocal music, most recently a comedy series debuted at the

Rochester FRINGE Festival. Her path forges excellence and equity in all

aspects.

In addition to her participation on the FLO Board, Katie has previously served

FLO as a professional singer, Coordinator of Horizons at Harley, and as

Company Manager for Housing and Transportation. Katie is a member of the

National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS), a member of Classical

Singer, Opera America, College Music Society (CMS) and the Association

Holocaust Organization (AHO).

Her sabbatical work this academic year centers on Vocal Music and the

Holocaust, to result in commissions of vocal music, performances and

publications of untold and silenced narratives. Katie’s life’s work intricately

weaves honesty, kindness, and compassion, as she ravenously seeks positive

and supportive advocacy for all.

Katie holds a DMA and MM from Eastman School of Music, a certificate in

College and Community Teaching from Eastman’s Institute for Music

Leadership, a BM from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory, among many

additional certifications, awards, grants and scholarships in recognition of her

ethics and expertise.

Marion Swett Robinson is a financial services professional at Atrevida Partners, an investment advisor and hedge fund manager located in Rye, NY. Her business career spans a number of global financial institutions, including Bankers Trust Company, Deutsche Bank and Nomura Securities. In addition to her role on Finger Lakes Opera's board, she also serves on the Mesa Verde Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic partner to Mesa Verde National Park. Her interests include classical music, travel, and western plein air art. As a child, she studied music (piano, drum, theory, sight reading) at the Eastman School of Music. She has a BA from Wellesley College and an MA and MBA from Stanford Business School. 

Sharon Salluzzo is a retired children’s librarian and a member of The Genesee

Storytellers, a professional storytelling troupe. She is a Trustee of the

Rochester Public Library, and of the Reynolds Library Board. Sharon is a past

board member of The Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library,

and the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, as well as the author of the book

“Opening Doors for Women: A History of the Susan B. Anthony House – A

National Historic Landmark.” She and her husband, Ron, are delighted to live

in the greater Rochester area.

​Margaret A. Sánchez is Principal of Sánchez & Associates; a Rochester-based, organization development consulting firm. Her experience includes senior management roles in both the private and not-for-profit sectors and as adjunct faculty member at both the university and community college levels. Her expertise includes organizational culture change, strategic planning, diversity initiatives, leadership development, assessment and research, and group facilitation processes.

​

She currently resides in Rochester, NY, where she dedicates significant time and energy in volunteer activities and has served in volunteer leadership roles for the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the American Red Cross-Greater Rochester Chapter, the Al Sigl Foundation, and Literacy Volunteers of Rochester. In addition to Finger Lakes Opera, she currently serves on the board of PathStone Foundation and Action for a Better Community.

Crystal Sellers Battle, DMA (she/her) is the inaugural associate dean of equity and inclusion at Eastman School of Music of The University of Rochester. She previously served as the Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA before coming to Eastman in June 2022. In her role, Crystal works to advance programs and policies that promote mindsets and behaviors that value and support equity, diversity, and inclusion. She co-founded DIEMA (Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in Musical Arts) Consulting Group LLC, to help schools of music address DEI related challenges and initiatives. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant related to DEI efforts in classical music organizations, higher education institutions, religious institutions, and K-12 music programs. Crystal holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice performance with a specialization in Singing Health from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University, a Master of Music degree from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and a Postgraduate Diploma from Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK.

Roxanne Stavropoulos is a REMax Plus Associate Real Estate Broker with 15

years in the industry. For Roxanne, real estate is about engaging with people

and learning.

Beyond her real estate work, Roxanne is deeply engaged in the Rochester

community. She’s an active member of the Landmark Society and is currently

collaborating with a friend on a project to raise funds for preserving historic

bridges along the Erie Canal. Roxanne is particularly proud of how Rochester

has evolved over the years. Rochester has transformed into this incredible

place that attracts remote workers who appreciate a stable climate, is in the

top 10 worldwide for fresh water supply, has a well-educated workforce, and

so many people are moving here to start fresh in a community that truly has it

all. In addition, she sponsors several local charities, including The Accelerator,

a climate coalition, and The Veterans Outreach Center. She’s also a member of

the Brighton Chamber of Commerce and supports the Rochester Rotary

Sunshine Camp for kids with special needs.

When she’s not working or giving back to the community, Roxanne enjoys

spending time with her two grown children, who live in Brooklyn, and her

newly formed significant other. She’s also an aspiring children’s book author.

At the end of the day, what drives Roxanne is her desire to bring her best

always.