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WRMTA Board Members
Ed Wiles | President
Edward Wiles is a pianist, piano instructor and collaborative pianist. He currently serves as Organist/Choirmaster for St. Phillip Episcopal Church, a prestigious Historically Black Church in Columbus, Ohio. He is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cuyahoga Valley Concert Band and presents Moments in Music, a weekly lecture/recital series.
Ed Wiles has served as a classroom music instructor and pianist for Western Reserve Academy and Westerville South High School. He has held posts as conductor of the Chagrin Valley Choral Union and Associate Conductor for the Summit Choral Society and Choral Arts Cleveland. He holds a BME from The Ohio State University, MMed from Vandercook College of Music, and an MMCM from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Mr. Wiles resides in Hudson with his wife, soprano Midge Karam and their three cats Ms. Fluffy, Mr. Fuzzy Bear and Dora where they enjoy gardening and hiking local trails.
Sadie Eaton | V.P. for Member Activities
Pianist Sadie Eaton is known for her collaborative artistry as well as her adaptability both at the instrument and in teaching. She earned both a Bachelor and Master of Music in Piano Performance from Kent State University and has been teaching private and group piano lessons in northeast Ohio since 2006.
A strong sight-reader with extensive experience as a choral and chamber music pianist, Sadie has held multiple church musician positions and her skills remain in-demand in northeast Ohio. She has won prizes in prestigious state and national solo and duet competitions, including third prize in the MTNA National Performance Competition in the duet category and first place in the 2015 KSU Graduate Concerto Competition where she performed as soloist with the KSU Orchestra.
Sadie enjoys managing her full teaching studio in Stow while being on staff as pianist for the Green Local Schools choir departments, volunteering as a pianist for Christ Community Chapel, and performing with her longtime duet partner, Timothy Ledger, as part of the LETS Duo.
Kathy Merwin | V.P. for Student Activities
Kathy Merwin teaches at her private piano studio in Hudson. Her students play regularly at The Danbury in Hudson, and Kathy also enjoys subbing for area church pianists. Kathy earned her B. Music in Piano Performance at the University of Illinois where she studied with Ian Hobson. She is a longtime member of MTNA, and in 2016, earned the designation of Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. In 2021 she was honored to be selected as OhioMTA State Certified Teacher of the Year. A member of Summit County OhioMTA (now WRMTA) since 2006, she has served as Secretary and VP Student Events. Kathy remains committed to mentoring teachers who are new to the organization, as well as encouraging teachers pursuing their own certification projects. She enjoys playing golf and exploring area parks with her husband Jim, children and grandchildren, and Bernese Mountain dog, Cally.
Alexandra Piepenbrink | Secretary
Alexandra Piepenbrink is a performer and private music educator based in Richfield, Ohio. She holds degrees in both Oboe Performance and Music Education from The College of Wooster. Alexandra currently plays both Oboe and English Horn with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic and enjoys freelance work in many pit orchestras and area churches. As a sought after educator, Alexandra has supplemented many area band programs and has worked for Bocal Majority Bassoon and Oboe Camps, Wooster Music Camp, Royalton Music Center, and Live Music Tutor. Alexandra maintains a large piano and woodwind studio serving students in and around Richfield. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys working as a cake and caramel apple decorator at Cold Stone Creamery in Fairlawn, collecting uranium glass and other antiques, and listening to music from Pink Floyd and The Beatles.
Lori Carlson | Treasurer
Lori Carlson received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Iowa and her MBA from Northwestern University. She worked in strategic planning and market development in Chicago before moving to Ohio where Lori established her piano studio in Hudson. She especially enjoys working creatively with young beginners.
Lori has served on the WRMTA board since 2006. Her roles have included Communications, President, Marketing, and Treasurer.
Lori and her husband Drew have three grown sons.
Mayumi Kikuchi | Immediate Past President
Dr. Mayumi Kikuchi has been active as a piano teacher and collaborative pianist in Northeast Ohio. Since 2000, she has been on the faculty in the School of Music at the University of Akron, and some of her students are now active musicians and teachers. She also has a home studio where she teaches students of various levels and ages, and they are actively involved in many local performance activities, including nursing homes visits, cancer center visits, and church services. She has helped many students receive prizes and awards, including OMTA Buckeye Auditions, Lakeland Civic Orchestra Concerto Competition and OFMC festivals. As a collaborative pianist, Dr. Kikuchi works with faculty members and students in the School of Music as well as local artists from the greater Cleveland area.