Donna Blanchard, Executive Director
Donna Blanchard founded Apple Tree Arts in 1989. She has a BA from Connecticut College in clarinet performance and is a certified K-12 music teacher. Donna received her Masters degree in Education from Worcester State College and has completed courses of study in Executive Director Management through the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Arts Management in Community Institutions through The National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts, and Choral Conducting at Boston University. Donna is certified in Orff and by the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.
Kathy Vandenengel, Business Director
Kathy graduated with a BSc in Physical Therapy in 1979 from McGill University in Montreal, spent 10 years working in that field, then left to become a stay at home mom for her son and daughter.
She found Apple Tree Arts through her church in 1991, when she and her daughter joined one of the very first Tots & Tunes classes, taught by Donna Blanchard. She has been involved ever since, serving many years as a volunteer, and progressing to Business Manager. Currently she oversees all business operations at Apple Tree Arts.
Kathy plays in the Apple Tree Arts Flute Choir, sings in our Community Chorus and is a member of the choir at her church.
Jan Barlow, Education Director
Now Apple Tree Arts education director, Jan joined Apple Tree Arts in 1993 overseeing all of our early childhood music programs. Jan has a passion for educating young children and their families during the informative early childhood years. She shares this passion through her music training programs for preschool teachers and daycare providers and through the classes she teaches for children from birth through keyboard classes. Jan is trained extensively in the MusikGarten curriculum and has earned an associate’s degree in business management at Dean College. She is an alumna in vocal performance from Berklee College of Music, and is level 2 certified by the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.
Lisa Scarlett, Theatre Arts Director A trained voice student and community theater member, Lisa brings much experience to the stage. She has been involved with numerous theatrical productions at many different levels both on and off the stage since the age of 13. Joining Apple Tree Arts in 2000, she began teaching early childhood music classes. Since 2004, she has directed and produced over 30 youth theater productions for Apple Tree Arts. Lisa earned a BA at Tufts University and also holds a MA degree in Education from Elms College.
Elaine Birkholz, Writer/Editor
Elaine joined the Apple Tree Arts staff part-timein 2007.She now serves as a part-time grant writer, newsletter editor, advertising manager, and creator of concert and theatre arts programs. A former high school English teacher, she holds a BA in French and English from Denison University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Northwestern University.
Dana Wilson, Marketing Director
Dana joined Apple Tree Arts in 2006. She has experience in many areas of marketing including product marketing, market development, program management and public relations. She has worked for high-technology companies, manufacturing firms, and advertising agencies. (MBA, Suffolk Universty, BA, Syracuse University, English and Magazine Journalism.)
