Board of Directors

Richard F. Wong – Conductor

Conductor Richard Wong

Richard F. Wong received his B.A. in Music at U.C. Berkeley, and his teaching credential and M.A. in Music at CSU, Hayward. In addition to teaching at the high school level, he has taught elementary band through the Fremont Education Foundation and remains active as a performer, clinician, and as a lifelong learner.

Learn more about Richard…

Jim Carter – President

Board President Jim Carter

Jim was very active through his school years playing clarinet, tenor saxophone, flute, piano, and guitar. He has played semi-professionally in the area for many years and is currently playing first chair alto saxophone for the NSW.

He is a co-mentor of a traditional (Dixieland) jazz band, called The “Jazzinators” made up of junior high and high school students from the Tri-City area. They perform regularly in the Bay Area.

Jim is active in many aspects of the instrumental music program within the Newark Unified School District. He strongly beliefs that music education, particularly instrumental music, develops extremely important skills (teamwork, concentration, listening, self-esteem) that carry-over to all aspects of life and contribute significantly to the development of better learning skills in general.

He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley where he is an adjunct faculty member. He has been an aquatic ecologist for the National Research Program in the Water Resources Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey since 1981.

Sheryl Medford – Treasurer

Board Treasurer Sheryl Medford

Sheryl is a versatile musician, and a vocalist, pianist and oboe player.  She is also a choral conductor, and has been a piano teacher for 33 years. Music has been a passion all of her life. In earlier years she toured Europe with the prestigious Calgary Youth Symphony Orchestra as first chair oboist.  Until recently, she was the Director of Music for Cedar Boulevard Neighborhood Church, overseeing the choir and worship ministry programs and participating on a weekly basis in the Worship Band. She is married and has 5 children.

Steve Leitner – Woodwind Group Leader; Secretary

Board Secretary Steve Leitner

Steve began studying clarinet in the 4^th grade in Daly City, and later expanded to tenor saxophone, and flute. During his college years at California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, he tripled on all three in the University Jazz Band and its off-campus alter ego, “The Collegians” dance band. He is currently 1^st chair clarinet in the NSW.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and moving into the work field, he never stopped playing music. He has performed with the San Jose City College – Monday Night Jazz Ensemble, spent over 15 years with a Dixieland combo, 23 years with an area group called the “Santa Band”, and over 10 years with the Hewlett-Packard Symphony Orchestra.

He worked with Hewlett-Packard for over 23 years in various quality and regulatory compliance engineering positions. Today he is a staff engineer with Underwriters Laboratories in San Jose

In his leisure time, Steve likes woodworking, video transfer and DVD authoring, digital photography, hiking and walking the family dog. He’s been happily married over 25 years and has two grown sons.

Clark T. Denning – Membership Co-Chair

Board Membership Co-Chair Clark Denning

Clark was an active musician and player all of his school years. After which he has continued to play in various adult school bands, and does various gigging for area community theatre and groups.

He been an professional Electrician since 1979 , and ran his own firm for several years before joining the local Electrical Union I.B.E.W. in 1998, of which he is now the Vice President.

He and his wife JoAnn have a daughter in high school who is also a musician playing flute and sax in the Fremont Youth symphony, and Moreau Catholic High School bands. Clark loves to play trombone and in his leisure time enjoys varied activities, Science Fiction, and spending time with family.

Dave Strand – Fundraising Co-Chair

Board Fundraising Co-Chair Dave Strand

Dave learned to play the Trombone in his elementary school’s music program in Redwood City and continued to play all through high school. He also became involved in the drama department which sparked his first interest in the film industry.

After graduating in the early 80′s, he traveled to Los Angeles, where he started a successful 14 year career in film as an Assistant Property Master.

He left the film industry in 1997, and in 2000, he and his wife started the “We CARE”! – Coffee Company, a fundraising business that provides fresh-roasted coffees, gourmet products and innovative fundraising programs to help schools, bands, and sports programs raise the money they need.

Dave currently lives in Newark, with his wife Monika, and their two daughters, Alyssa and Kayla.

Dave Smith

Board Member Dave Smith

Dave began playing trombone in the sixth grade, and when he was a senior at Calumet (Michigan) hig school, he was selected to be the student conductor of the Calumet High School Band.  After a bit of a hiatus, Dave began playing trombone again so he could participate in the Alumni Band when Calumet High holds their All-Classes reunions.

Currently employed as the Executive Director of the Ohlone College Foundation, he is also serving his 15th term as Mayor of the City of Newark. At 30 years of service, he is the 3rd longest-serving Mayor in the Nation. The City’s participation was important in helping resurrect the music program in Newark’s schools.

Dave loves to play trombone with NSW, and also plays in “YOWZA!”…a band comprised of current and former City of Newark employees.  Dave also enjoys golf, cycling, and fishing.  He is married to Marsha, and has 2 children, 2 stepchildren, and 5 grandchildren.