BCAS Leadership
Buffalo Choral Arts Society employs a professional Conductor/Music Director and Accompanist and is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, nominated and elected by the membership at its Annual Meeting.
David Curtis
Conductor/Music Director
David Curtis is also the Organist/Director of Music at the Oakfield United Methodist Church and recently retired from the Director of Choral Activities at Niagara Wheatfield High School. Formerly held positions include; Artistic Director of The Orchard Park Chorale, Artistic Staff Member of the Buffalo Niagara Youth Chorus, and Niagara County Community College Choir Director.
Mr. Curtis is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, receiving a Bachelor's and Master of Music degrees in Music Education.
He frequently conducts and accompanies all-county and honors choirs throughout New York State and has presented numerous music education and choral conducting workshops to music educators. His choirs have earned numerous "Gold with Distinction" awards at N.Y.S.S.M.A choral evaluations and national choral competitions. The Niagara Wheatfield Choirs, under his direction, have performed for the N.Y.S.S.M.A. winter conference, A.C.D.A. conference, E.C.M.E.A. conference, Ithaca College Composers Festival, have served as a model choir for college practicum students and was the featured choir at Carnegie Hall for the National Youth Concert Series in March of 2009, and 2011. In 2015, he received the "Choral Music Educator of the Year" award from Buffalo State College.
Robert Hull
Accompanist
Robert Hull is a life-long resident of Niagara County. He has been performing publicly since the age of 12, having three piano and organ albums published to his credit. Robert has served numerous churches in the capacity of organist and choir director since the age of 14 and is currently the organist and director of music at Saint Francis of Assisi R.C. Church in Tonawanda, NY and the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, NY. He has rebuilt and installed many pipe organs, including the 44-rank Schantz organ installed at St. Francis Church.
From 2011-2015, he served as accompanist and piano instructor at the Buffalo State College of Music. He is the accompanist for Niagara Wheatfield High School, Lockport High School, North Tonawanda High School, the Red Blazer Men’s Chorus, and various theater productions in WNY.
In addition, he performs regularly in the Buffalo area as a jazz musician and volunteers his time as organist at the historic Riviera Theater in North Tonawanda NY.
Mr. Hull holds an Ed.M. in Music Education, a B.S. in Civil Engineering, and an A.A.S. in Fire Science. He is a member of the Church Musicians Guild of Buffalo, an Active member of the Chromatic Club of Buffalo, and the American Guild of Organists. As a Senior Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force stationed at the Niagara Falls Air Station, his 22-year career was carried out by serving as Fire Chief for the 107th Attack Wing and as NCOIC of the 107th Base Honor Guard program. He has now embarked on a new Air Force journey, receiving a commission as 2nd Lieutenant and accepting the position as the 107th Deputy Base Civil Engineer. He lives in Niagara Falls with his wife, Sarah, and two children, Robbie and Jack. In his spare time, he enjoys working on his classic cars, motorcycles, and trucks.
BCAS Board
President
Thomas Naber
A BCAS member since 2014, Tom sings tenor and is entering his second two-year term as President. He has served on the board since 2016 and has chaired the tickets and fundraising committees. He was a member of the search committee which successfully recruited current Director David Curtis and has worked on publicity and marketing efforts for BCAS, as well as redesigning the ensemble’s website. Tom teaches Computer Science at Orchard Park High School and lives in Tonawanda with his wife Megan and daughter.
Vice President
Sarah Podvezko
Sarah has been a member of the BCAS soprano section since 2016 and has been a board members since 2022. Sarah has been instrumental in taking the chorus’s marketing efforts to the next level, particularly in the area of social media. She was a member of the search committee which successfully recruited current Director David Curtis and has been actively involved in efforts to expand Buffalo Choral Arts Society’s community volunteerism and support for local charities. In her day job, Sarah teaches 3rd grade in the Clarence Central School District. She is also the co-leader of the school’s musical theater club. Sarah lives in Getzville with her husband John who also serves on the BCAS board as treasurer.
Secretary
Beth Anne Jasen
Beth Anne has been a member of Buffalo Choral Arts Society’s soprano section since 2014 and has served as board Secretary since 2019. She enjoys connecting with everyone on a personal level and knows each and every one of our 120+ members. She has spearheaded the BCAS diversity committee is active in the ensemble’s community involvement efforts. In her “day job,” Beth Anne is a literacy specialist in the Cleveland Hill school district.
Treasurer
John Podvezko
A member of Buffalo Choral Arts Society’s tenor section since 2023, John quickly shouldered a leadership role on the board. He is dedicated to maintaining the group’s financial health and stability, while keeping BCAS membership dues affordable so we can continue to attract and retain new young singers. With a background in Public Health and Business Administration, John is working to help build his brother’s carpentry business. John lives in Getzville with his wife Sarah who also serves on the board as Vice President.
Member at Large
Patricia Chiodo
Pat sings alto and has been a BCAS member since 2024. Originally a trumpet player and middle school band teacher, she became an elementary school general music teacher and spent the majority of her career fostering a lifelong love of singing in thousands of young students. Now retired, she remains an active volunteer with various musical organizations, helping them flourish and encouraging adults to remain active participants in music making. Pat is dedicated to helping BCAS recruit new singers and retain current members. Pat has two daughters and four grandchildren and is hoping for a great grandchild in the near future!
Member at Large
Jenifer Grasha
Jen is a soprano and has been a BCAS member since 2023. She has served as a BCAS board Member-at-Large since 2024. In that short time, she has served on Buffalo Choral Arts Society’s Diversity, 60th Anniversary and Publicity committees. Since joining BCAS, Jenifer has helped secure performance venues, build relationships within the music community, and advance BCAS’s values of diversity and outreach. Professionally, she is the Audience Services Manager for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Kleinhans Music Hall, following a 24-year career teaching K-7 vocal/general music. In her free time, she studies bass, composes music, and loves spending time with her niece.
Member at Large
Gail Leary
Gail sings alto and has been a member of Buffalo Choral Arts Society for 30 years. She served as board Vice President for many years until deciding in 2022 to scale back her role. As Member-at-Large the past three years, she concentrates on the areas she has a strong passion for: developing and growing the donor program she created and organizing fun activities that strengthen our culture of Family within the chorus. Prior to retirement, Gail was a middle school band director in the East Aurora School district for 27 years. During her tenure, her bands traveled to major cities throughout the Northeast. She brought that experience to BCAS, coordinating successful performance trips to Washington, DC and New York City. She resides in Derby, NY with her husband and commutes an average of 1.5 hours each week (in good weather!) to be at BCAS rehearsals.
Member at Large
Kevin Maerten
Kevin sings tenor and has been a BCAS member since 2023. He has served as a BCAS board Member-at-Large since 2024. In his first year, Kevin worked to explore new community service opportunities, participated in fundraising events, and assisted the marketing team in developing positive, inclusive communication with our audience and the community at large. Kevin is an Activity Leader at Beechwood Continuing Care and Community Support/Club Adventure Lead at Heritage Christian Service. He resides in North Tonawanda and is active in his church and various charities and organizations, also serving on the board for the Queen City Jass Society.
Member at Large
Alison Searer
Ali sings soprano and has been a BCAS member since 2008. She is entering her third year as board Member-at-Large and has actively participated on various committees since she became a member. She’s active on the chorus’s Publicity and Social Media committees and has helped spearhead marketing efforts through new channels that appeal to and attract new young singers and audience members. Ali is also helping to reinvigorate Buffalo Choral Arts Society’s group sales program. Perhaps her biggest challenge through the years has been helping BCAS navigate the many logistical challenges that arise from keeping 120+ singers organized and in the proper place at the proper time at new and different venues throughout WNY. Outside BCAS, Ali is a professional photographer and lives in Elma with her husband.