Meet our Executive Director (Musical and Managing)…
Deborah Marion joined the Golden Tones as part-time Assistant Director in 2005 and became full-time Acting Director in 2008, Director in 2009, ED in 2020. Music has always been essential to her life, but she came to it as a vocation by a circuitous route. Her connection to singing senior citizens began with her two grandmothers, who enjoyed family sing-alongs
and belonged to active performing groups well into their 80s (both lived to age 99). She started toward a career in arts management with an undergraduate degree in Communications, and after completing an MBA, took a detour into business information systems work. After hours, she sang with a prestigious Boston-area chorus, including a memorable performance at Carnegie Hall. Leaving full-time employment to raise her family, she created a small professional a cappella vocal ensemble in order to keep singing closer to home. This led to other professional musical endeavors, including preschool music time, senior center sing-alongs, and coaching a vocal class at a Boston public high school. With a life-long devotion to promoting singing for all ages, Deborah finds managing and conducting the Golden Tones to be a joyful and meaningful experience where she can exercise all her abilities to keep the Golden Tones singing.
Meet our accompanists…
Paul Huberdeau has been an accompanist with Golden Tones chorus for several years, in addition to being assistant conductor and accompanist of choruses for both The Rivers School Conservatory and Regis College. Having studied piano at The New England Conservatory, he has been heard in solo recitals from Maine to New York City, and has served as Music Director for dozens of musicals.
Valerie Schleppi holds an MFA in both piano and vocal performance. As a singer, she has performed internationally, as well as locally at Boston Conservatory, Longy School of Music, and Jordan Hall. She has also served as an accompanist for Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, Boston Conservatory and Boston Ballet, and as Music Director and Vocal Coach of the Theater Extension at Walnut Hill School and Weston Drama Workshop, where she created full length musical productions. Formerly a member of faculty of the European Piano School and Boston Ballet School, Valerie co-founded DIVAMUSIC School, providing music lessons at home. She also maintains her private piano and voice studio in Wayland. Many of Valerie’s students have chosen to continue musical education at the college level.