Photo courtesy of Karina Whitmarsh

     Paula's path to executive director of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra Association began with her daughter Kristine's love of the violin.

     Paula, who home-schools her three children, turned to the PYOA for instruction, and pretty soon her other two children were playing music as well, her son Luke on the viola and daughter Ashley on the cello. It became a family affair.

     From the beginning, Paula was a very involved parent, sitting in on her kids' classes and helping out in myriad ways, from setting up music stands to making copies, or whatever was needed. This past year she decided to apply for the executive director's job when it became available. In this role, she works to promote the PYOA and all it has to offer area students.      

     "I absolutely love the orchestra," she says. "Here we are, this little community, and we have this gem. My job is really to polish what is already a wonderful program, to strengthen it in any way I can so that the instructors and the students can concentrate on making music. Expanding the program will allow us to offer more students an opportunity to learn music within a very supportive environment, which is what the PYO is all about."      

     Paula lives with her family on the Key Peninsula.