Jackie Olesker
Jackie is President of the Los Angeles Symphonic Winds Board of Directors for the past six years. Interest in the LA Winds began several years ago when friends gave Jackie and Stu, her husband, tickets to a Winds concert. Jackie and Stu have been theatre and concert goers all their lives, seeing many performances at leading theaters throughout Los Angeles and the United States, and as they have traveled around the world. Without a doubt Jackie thinks that the Winds concerts are on par with the best in the world, and the venues at Calabasas High School and Agoura High School among the finest theaters with their great acoustics and ambiance.
Jackie was born in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to the San Fernando Valley with her family when she was in elementary school. She has seen Los Angeles and its surrounding cities grow from “small town” to major cities offering wonderful cultural activities, fine museums and great cuisine and wonderful entertainment.
With a B.A. in Anthropology, and a Minor in Accounting, from Cal State Northridge, they have served Jackie’s career path well. Her interest in architecture, “antiquities” and world cultures, along with a zest for numbers have been well utilized. As President of Lantern Masters for over 44 years, Jackie’s focus is on creating fine lighting and developing good relationships with the architects-designers and clients that she has worked with. Good communication and setting high standards are a priority to ensure that all lighting meet client expectations, with the ultimate-goal customer satisfaction. Semi-retired now, her desire is to see Lantern Masters lighting included with the “fine antiques of tomorrow”.
With an eye for detail, and project completion, Jackie applies this to designing lighting and to the leadership positions she has held over a lifetime of volunteering. Charities and organizations include Bnai Brith Youth Organization, Hillel Foundation, National Jewish Health, Hadassah, Temple Ramat Zion and Los Angeles Symphonic Winds Board of Directors. Jackie, and Stu too, are long time members of BNC Study Groups and enjoy visiting with friends and family. Traveling world-wide, “antiquing”, interior design, reading a good book, “googling” for knowledge and attending the theatre are among her favorite past times.
Michael Antin
Before High School, Michael was student conductor of the all Southern California High School Orchestra, playing bass violin. At UCLA Mike sang with Rodger Wagner and in the Rodger Wagner Choral.
After passing the CPA exam he attended law school, where he taught tax seminars at Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley. His career spans 45 years of tax law practice with multiple yearly contributed publications.
Other activities included serving as Chairman of the Board for the National Bank as well as other bank boards who ultimately sold to City National Bank which was founded by Michael. His real-estate activities encompassed building over 800 residential units in Phoenix, and managing 2300 units in Los Angeles County.
Another surprising career was working as a VW dealer! Upon retiring in 2008, Michael returned to music, studying the piano, followed by composing lyrics and music for 7 musical comedies, the last six playing in LA and off-Broadway. “Lili Marlene” ran for a year at St Luke’s theatre, off Broadway.
Judith Trester
Judith has marketing background of over 38 years starting with Xerox Corporation and extending to Directorships of two private medical colleges as well as Area Director for LA Valley and Mission Colleges. She spent the last ten years as the Director of Economic and Workforce Development Dept. for Pierce College. This department was initiated without seed funds and developed into 3 M funding source. As a result, the funds generated paid for all salaries of staff and instructors in the department.
During her career she received numerous awards for work at the State, County, City and local level. Some of these awards include:
- State of California – Excellence in Partnership and Leadership
- CA Community Colleges – Excellence in Contract Sales Performance
- Senator Alarcon – Award of Achievement for service to youth and adults
- L.A.County Board of Supervisors – Excellence in Workforce Development
- Economic Alliance of the SF Valley – Outstanding Service
- Cal State Northridge – Award for Community Services.
Other achievements include:
- Board of Directors, Westlake Yacht Club – 4 years (termed out). Received awards for Sailor of the Year (Trophy), Sportsperson of the Year and 3 Distinguished Service awards
- Director of Adult Sailing Program for 6 years. Initiated program and trained adult sailors for the Westlake Yacht Club during weekly sailings from Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Day Sail Captain for 21 years for Women’s Sailing Assn. of Santa Monica Bay
- Pierce College Leadership Board for Emeriti (PEP) – 13 years to present
- Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of San Fernando Valley – 6 years
- Board of Directors for Build WorkSource Center, Chatsworth – 8 years
- Liaison between Pierce College & Westlake Garden Club for scholarships – 4 years
- Leadership Committee for Computer Applications & Office Technology Dept. -8 yrs.
- Convention speaker: L.A, Pasadena, Long Beach and Anaheim
Sy Silverberg
Upon retirement, while looking for intellectual stimulation, I enrolled in the Encore program for seniors at Pierce College. Professor Stephen Piazza’s Music Appreciation class became the incentive to attend the Maestro’s Symphonic Winds concerts and subsequently become an annual subscriber.
The professional productions, dedication of the volunteer musicians, influenced me to join the LAWinds operations committee and the board, developing marketing aspects for the Winds.
Until 1964, my home was Montreal, Quebec Canada. I became enthusiastic about children’s development while 10 years as a camper, camp counselor, then eventually head counselor.
I received my undergraduate and medical degrees at McGill University in Montreal, then moved to Los Angeles for my pediatric residency at UCLA and became a ‘Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ and a ‘Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology. I subsequently practiced pediatrics, pediatric allergy in Northridge, with intermittent stints as Chairman of Pediatrics Northridge Hospital and as Assistant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics at UCLA, retiring after 46 years, in 2012. Throughout my practice, I attempted to influence children to deal with the roller coaster emotion and illnesses of life and not to fear doctor visits by maintaining a calm, respectful approach. Above all, I taught students and practiced state of the art pediatrics with a friendly, explaining details directly to the child, in an simple, honest manner.
For relaxation, I play the trumpet, as a true amateur. After primitive playing of the mandolin and banjo (influenced by folk singing), I became enamored with playing the spoons, a Quebec and New Orleans staple. Encore’s art classes uncovered a passion for drawing.
I practice a healthy lifestyle with emphasis on exercise in a gym and at the late age of 75, taking up golf, loving it despite its frustrations. It’s an unforgiving sport, which I had to forgive. Sports, basketball, football, especially UCLA teams, hockey (I was a devoted Montreal Canadien, now a LA Kings, fan), all involve a part of my allotted leisure time. Still hoping for a final ski run.
Terri, my wife of 41 years, retired from the English department at California State University Northridge and we enjoy our retirement by attending movies, theater and concerts, continuing Encore courses, and dodging the elusive Covid-19. Traveling, to visit our 4 sons, 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, who are scattered around the globe, is on my bucket list.
Being affiliated with the LAWinds, has opened my life to new vistas and relationships with a talented, friendly and enthusiastic “LAWinds Family.”
Marvin Liebman
Marvin Liebman was born and raised in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY. Marvin attended and received a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the Bernard M. Baruch School of Business and Public Administration of the City College of the University of the City of New York and became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
After college, while serving 6 years in the Army Reserves, Marvin joined an international CPA firm and developed a specialization as an auditor and eventually was elected to partnership with a further specialization serving publicly held client companies. He subsequently transferred to the Los Angeles office in Century City and became certified in California.
Marvin eventually accepted an offer from a client and subsequently spent more than 25 years as the CFO of more than 7 companies, encompassing more than 12 plants around the United States, always working with the same Chief Executive Officer. Approximately 12 years ago, upon his retirement, Marvin and Simone registered for Encore classes, including Maestro Stephen Piazza’s classes, at Pierce College, and remained students in Maestro Piazza’s classes throughout the years. In addition, they have been subscribers to the concert seasons of the Los Angeles Symphonic Winds (“the Winds”), for which Maestro Piazza was the Conductor/Artistic Director and the driving force of the Winds. Early in those years, Marvin volunteered to join the Winds’ Operations Committee and subsequently, when the Winds separately incorporated and obtained tax exempt 501©3 status from the IRS, Marvin was elected to the Winds’ Board of Directors as well as Treasurer. After 5 years as Treasurer, Marvin was elected, and continues to serve, as Vice President of the Winds.
Julie Newman, SFR
Julie has been a sponsor of the LA Winds since 2019 and is currently serving on the LA Symphonic Winds Executive Board of Directors. She plays a significant role in the sponsorship and donations collection. Last season she generously offered her home and yard to graciously host the LA Winds annual Soirée fundraiser, entusiastically and tirelessly working to ensure its success. Besides her charitable work with LA Winds, she also created the successful “Strides for Disabilites” Vicky’s Race Team.
Julie is a remarkable real estate agent who has been in the industry for over 26 years and has maintained her position as a successful agent. She has successfully dealt with various types of properties ranging from multi-million dollar homes to small townhouses and has also worked with numerous out-of-state clients. Her level of service to her clients is of the highest quality, and she provides the best customer care and resources while on the market. Julie is a top-producing real estate agent in greater Los Angeles County and Ventura County, and her reputation precedes her. Her expertise in negotiation has made her a master of the art of making deals.
Julie is a well-rounded individual who has achieved great success in her professional life as a real estate agent and has also made meaningful contributions to society. She is undoubtedly an exceptional negotiator, and her level of customer care is unmatched. With Julie, clients can expect nothing but the finest services and resources while on the market.
Deborah MacMurray
Featured piccolo soloist with the Los Angeles Symphonic Winds, Song of the Angeles Flute Orchestra and Coastal Communities Concert Band, Debbie MacMurray has won praise as a soloist, chamber musician and large ensemble player. Additionally she performs regularly on bass flute with the FluteSonic Chamber Orchestra, piccolo with the Westlake Village Symphony and Crown City Orchestras.
Prior to coming to the Los Angeles area in 2008, Debbie toured twenty-five years with the International Flute Orchestra 1-2 weeks every year teaching masterclasses and performing with local flutists in Europe, Asia, Russia, South America and South Africa. She also traveled with Global Missions Project brining music supplies, performing recitals and teaching masterclasses in Cuba, Jordan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Australia.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Debbie graduated from the University of Akron with a performance degree on flute and pursued both a musical and business career. She is a life member of the National Flute Association, serving on their Board of Directors as Treasurer and in various volunteer roles throughout the organization. Debbie also serves as President of the Song of the Angles Flute Orchestra and Secretary of the Los Angeles Winds Board of Directors.
When not performing or teaching flute, Debbie works full time for a behavioral mental health plan and enjoys traveling to Paris and other parts of the world with her husband, David MacMurray, and keeping their rescue animals (4 dogs, 4 cats, 6 aquatic turtles and many koi fish) safe and happy.
ellen Kane
Ellen Kane joined the LA Winds in 2018. She has played flute and piano since childhood, and played in the UCLA Concert band and UCLA Symphony while attending UCLA. After graduation with a Bachelors in Mathematics, she played flute for 25 years in the Pacific Palisades Symphony. Then stopped playing flute for many years until she joined the Los Angeles Symphonic Winds.
During her hiatus from music, she raised a family and worked in several manufacturing companies, including JBL which made high quality loudspeakers. She worked there for 10 years where she was Director of Information Technology, and Vice President of Strategic Planning. After leaving that company, she ran her own consulting business for over 25 years helping small to medium size businesses implement computer systems that run the entire company (Enterprise Resource Planning Systems). She also taught classes in Manufacturing and Supply Chain topics for the San Fernando Valley chapter of ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management) and continues to do so today while volunteering on their Board of Directors.
Ellen has now retired from the consulting business, and when she is not practicing her flute or teaching, she enjoys playing tennis up to 3 times a week, volunteering with the LA Winds as Treasurer and on the Operations Committee, and spending time with her husband Bruce, her son, daughter, and grandson.
John O’Reilly
John O’Reilly is one of the most-performed composers of school band and orchestra music in the world today. A recipient of numerous ASCAP awards, he has studied composition with Robert Washburn, Arthur Frackenpohl, Charles Walton and Donald Hunsberger. As co-author of the Yamaha Band Student, Accent on Achievement and Strictly Strings, John has made a major impact on the education of young musicians. Over sixteen million students have begun their musical life studying out of a book authored by Mr. O’Reilly.
John attended the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Postdam, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962. In 2014 the college awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Music degree. In addition, he is the recipient of a Master of Arts in Composition and Theory from Columbia University. John’s 12 years of teaching experience at elementary through college levels has provided him with insights and sensitivities to the needs of both students and educators.
An elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, John is a frequent conductor of honor bands worldwide and has received numerous commissions to write for ensembles at all levels. He has conducted in 48 states, all Canadian provinces and many international venues. He has 410 of his compositions published by Alfred, Bourne, Kendor, Shawnee Press and G. Schirmer. For thirty five years Mr. O’Reilly served as Executive Vice president and Editor-in Chief for Alfred Publishing, the largest educational music publisher in the world.
