Providing a performing vision for Haliburton County.
The Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation values inclusivity and diversity in its board. The Foundation’s AGM is in October. Should you wish to join the board of directors, please send an email to info@hhartscentrefoundation.ca.
Board of Directors
Meet the team behind the HHAC Foundation.
Daniel Manley, president
Daniel Manley has been a resident of Haliburton County since Fall 2007. There he works remotely as a software developer for Points.com, based out of Toronto. Dan quickly integrated himself into the local community, joining the Highlands Wind Symphony and becoming the radio host for classical music on volunteer-run Canoe FM. Fast forward a few years and he became Music Director of the Highlands Chamber Orchestra, co-director of the Highlands Wind Symphony and a term director on the board of the Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands. Dan is also an entrepreneur, operating Russell Red Records and co-owning Russell Red Guest House along with his partner, Collin Burke. To the HHACF, Dan brings his passion for music, his love for Haliburton County and his vision for a world-class performing arts centre.
Beth Kipping, vice president
Beth has been heavily involved in Music and theatre for over 50 years. Beth has performed in or musically directed over 45 musicals. Along with her onstage work she has been responsible for wigs, make-up, and props for several Theatre groups giving her experience both on and off stage. Beth is a Vocal Coach and soloist; she teaches singing and directs the “Haliburton Highlands Youth Ensemble”. She is also a member of the “Haliburton Festival Choir” and the “Highlands Chamber Orchestra”. Beth and her husband Brian moved to Haliburton 15 years ago and were amazed at what a vibrant community Haliburton was in the Arts. Over the years it has become apparent that Haliburton deserved a larger performance facility that would cater to the many needs of the wonderful performing groups in the area. Beth is excited to be a part of helping make that happen.
Wil Andrea, treasurer
In 2015 Wil Andrea emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada and made the Haliburton Highlands her home. While growing up, music became an important part of her childhood: pipe (church) organ is the instrument she learned to play first followed by piano and flute.
Before immigrating to Canada, Wil worked for over 10 years as a medical lab technician and financial project manager in humanitarian emergencies and development countries in Africa and Asia. Returning to Holland in 2008, she then worked six years in The Hague as the financial controller for a clean water accessibility project benefiting four African and Asian countries; this 36 million USD project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In Haliburton County, Wil maintains her financial skills by running her own bookkeeping business while being employed as an assistant bookkeeper.
She pursues her passion for music by playing flute (and piccolo) in the Highlands Wind Symphony and in the Highlands Chamber Orchestra.
Wil is committed to turning the dream of an Arts Centre in Haliburton into a reality; it will be the venue Haliburton County deserves as a community for performances, events, musical education and rehearsal space for the many music groups and musicians in the County.
Michael Clipperton, secretary
Michael has been working in the theatre for longer than he cares to remember. He is a director, playwright, designer, producer, university lecturer, workshop leader, singer, and sometime-actor. He is a community volunteer, sitting on the Boards of several arts organizations in Haliburton and Simcoe Counties. When he is not in a rehearsal hall, a theatre or a classroom, Michael can be found either travelling the world, or sitting on his dock with a book in one hand and a beverage in the other.
Dorothy Stavrinos, director
Dorothy Stavrinos is proud to join the HHACF, an inspired initiative to foster the Arts in Haliburton County.
Following her studies at the University of Toronto, Dorothy has been an active piano teacher throughout the city. Over the course of her teaching career, Dorothy has maintained close ties with the Royal Conservatory of Music, arranging a teaching studio in central locations in Toronto and creating an innovative housing model where Glenn Gould School students had the opportunity to teach and live ‘under one roof’. She is currently involved with managing the RCM practical and theoretical sessional exams in central Toronto.
A prolific fundraiser for the Arts, from the Toronto Children’s Choirs and Royal Conservatory Children’s Orchestras, to pioneering the Learning Thru the Arts program into TDSB and investing and coaching artists to strive for better business practices, Dorothy remains dedicated to enriching young minds while enticing new audiences to music and art.
Dorothy, along with her husband David Lavkulik, has been cottaging on Kennisis Lake for close to 20 years. Now, with two adult children and a new son-in-law, she looks forward to helping grow and excite new audiences at Haliburton’s new home for the Arts.
Tammy Rea, director
Tammy has been enchanted by storytelling ever since once upon a time. Living in Haliburton for over 20 years, and raising her family here, she has been connecting to the stories of the people and the land that surround her. Working with Sticks and Stones Productions, she has spent 20 years, creating video stories of the county, and mentoring digital storytelling, primarily with youth. She worked with programs through the public school system and has been faculty at Haliburtion School of Art and Design for over 10 years. She is part of the group THOSE OTHER MOVIES, that have brought TIFF films to Haliburton for over 16 years, through festivals and series, with over 37000 tickets sold. Sharing films from around the world, and showing our own stories is important to us as a community, and she is excited to help find a new cultural space.
Drew M. Allen, director
Drew Allen grew up in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, and attended university for Music, Business and Technology at NYU in New York City. After graduating in 1980, he started his career in radio sales, and worked at CKAR Oshawa, CFRB 1010 AM, and CHFI FM98 over the next 14 years.
In 1993, Drew left CHFI to start his own company, Champlain Entertainment, and spent the next 24 years representing clients such as the Canadian Country Music Awards, JVC Jazz Festival, Metro International Caravan, Metronome Canada & Canada’s Music Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame, Elgin and Winter Garden theatre, Richmond Hill theatre Feasibility Study, and the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid.
He spent the last few years of his career in business development and sales, selling pianos for Remenyi House of Music and the Steinway Piano Gallery, as well as consulting on the start-up of Soul Sound Wellness, Toronto’s first full-time sound therapy clinic and marketing for Millers Tale Music & Publishing in Nashville, TN.
Since 2013, Drew has been a cottager on Lake Negaunee in Haliburton and during that time has been rebuilding his record collection and learning new music on the piano. In 2020, he and his wife retired, moved to their cottage full-time, and have enjoyed making new friends in Haliburton county. In addition to playing hospitals, senior’s homes, golf courses, and special events, Drew also teaches piano to both adults and children of all different levels, from Grade 1 – 8 in the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Drew is very excited about the opportunity to join the Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation in 2020 and looks forward to actively contributing to the future building of a world-class performing arts centre for the Haliburton Highlands!
Maryssa Danilko, director
Maryssa was born into a creative family. Her mother a lover of music, theater, and choir. Her father a fantastic keeper of rhythm. Both parents encouraged their four daughters to foster their love for the arts. Maryssa trained in Ukrainian dance and ballet from a young age and is how she came to meet her now husband. They have made a family in Minden Hills where they both share passion for their local community. Maryssa’s enthusiasm for theater and dance never grew dim, as she looked within the Highlands community to bring Ukrainian dance and culture to their doorstep. Maryssa also played flute in a band for many years where she marched in various parades all over Ontario. Her belief that music satisfies your soul is one that carries her through life and has now encouraged this enthusiasm in her children. Self taught on many instruments, Maryssa’s home is always full of music and dance as she moves through life in the lens of the arts.
Michael Schiedel-Webb, director
Michael Schiedel-Webb is a newcomer to the side stage of the Haliburton Arts community. Shunning the stage in the early days of public school, Michael rekindled his interest by providing creative audio solutions to the high school drama troop. Opening a brewery and community space in 2014, Michael has been providing venue space to local and visiting artists. With a new business location in the works, a new intimate space will be available to artists once again. In 2020, Michael opened HaliUkes - a ukulele focused music store in Haliburton County. Providing a wide range of instruments to amateur and performing artists, HaliUkes also supports the greater artistic community with access to professional grade audio equipment. Accepting a seat on the board of the Highlands Performing Arts Center Foundation, Michael looks forward to bringing a premier performance space (and more) to the community.
Kate Butler, director
Kate Butler joined the Board of the Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre in 2023. She is the Director – Curator of the Haliburton Highlands Museum and she loves to find creative ways to bring local history stories to life, including through the performing arts. Kate is the Vice Chair of Highlands Little Theatre and one of the founding members of Rural Rogues Productions, a theatre collective with a mission to present original theatre inspired by the history, culture and landscape of Haliburton County. Additionally, Kate sits on the Board of SPARC, a provincial network dedicated to supporting performing arts in rural and remote communities. She can often be found performing on stage or on the radio, producing a show or writing for the theatre.
Monica Scott, director
Monica Scott moved to the Haliburton Highlands from Toronto in 2018 with her two daughters and husband. A love of Nature and community, she was drawn by the unparalleled beauty of the countless lakes and vast beautiful wilderness that the Highlands have to offer.
In 2021, after 20 years working in the Enterprise Technology space, she made a pivotal leap by purchasing the much beloved Minden River Cone located in Minden, Ontario.
With a strong desire to build a community hub; incorporating Arts, Music and last but not least, food, specialty coffees and Ice Cream. Monica and her husband have transformed this establishment into a very creative and collaborative outdoor environment that welcomes all demographics, especially families.
Monica is beyond thrilled to bring her business expertise, including Project Management, strategy, and land development to the Haliburton Arts Centre Foundation.