Amber Linde, President
Dr. Amber Li
nde recently retired from Federal service after a distinguished 27-year career. She is now focusing on her new business venture, Woodshed Saxophone Repair, where her mission is to make your saxophone sound as great as you do.
A passionate musician, Amber made her return to music in 2019, joining the Browningsville Cornet Band as a tenor saxophonist. Inspired by the camaraderie and joy of playing, she was encouraged by fellow musicians to explore other musical opportunities. In 2021, Amber expanded her involvement by joining the Market Street Big Band, where she plays both tenor saxophone and flute. Her musical journey continued to grow in 2022 when she became a member of The Swinging Harmony Band and the Harmony Cornet Band, where she plays tenor and alto saxophones, as well as the flute.
Amber also contributes to the administrative side of the music world. She has served on the Board of the Browningsville Cornet Band since 2021 and became the Manager of the Market Street Big Band in 2022.
In addition to her musical endeavors, Amber’s professional expertise in grants and contract management has played a key role in securing funding for various arts programs. She is proud to have written and successfully received grants for the Italia Performing Arts Institute (IPAI). As President of IPAI, Amber is dedicated to promoting both professional and student learning in the dance arts, furthering the organization’s mission to foster creativity and education in the arts community.
Amber holds degrees from Walden University (PhD), the University of Maryland (MS), and Winthrop University (BS). She resides in Frederick, Maryland, with her husband, Seth and puppy Snorri Thorfinnson.
Peter Kirk, Treasurer
Peter Kirk lives in Woodstock, Virginia, USA, with his wife Lorenza (married 2009) and their two dogs. Born in Britain, he lived many years in Chelmsford in the south east of England.His academic life started in the study of Physics at the University of Cambridge and completed postgraduate courses in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. He worked for several years in the electronics and software industry, including design of accounting software. He studied theology to MA level at London Bible College, now London School of Theology. After training in linguistics he served with Wycliffe Bible Translators and the United Bible Societies on a Bible translation project in the Caucasus region, partly living in that region and partly based at home in Chelmsford.
In 2012, Peter and Lorenza moved to the United States and opened Italia Performing Arts LLC, a dance studio in Winchester, VA. As a trained bookkeeper and tax preparer, he is the Business Manager for the studio which includes responsibility for its accounts, student database, website, and marketing.
In 2018, he was one of the founders of the non-profit Italia Performing Arts Institute. Initially, the IPA institute was to promote scholarships for those pursuing dance in the Shenandoah Valley region where Peter has served as Treasurer. He will continue to serve as Treasurer as the IPA Institute expands its vision in the opening of the ARTEINMOVIMENTO Dance Company.
Jennifer Hopkins, Secretary
Jennifer Hopkins grew up in western Henrico County, Virginia but moved with her family to Chesapeake, Virginia in 2007. She has always been an arts enthusiast and spent much of her childhood attending artistic performances, playing sports, drawing, crafting,
and playing the violin. Jennifer is the Chair of the Interior Design Program at Tidewater Community College, teaching a variety of courses and building curriculum to support the design industry in
Hampton Roads. She has an educational background in rchitecture but is interested in all aspects of the arts, design, and related technologies.
Jennifer has worked in a variety of architecture, interior design, and landscape firms in Virginia, North Carolina, and New Mexico. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from the North Carolina State University School of Design, and a Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning.
As Chair of her department, Jennifer is familiar with outreach, marketing, and the value of finding available grant funds. Jennifer has made it a mission to design a curriculum that not only promotes the entrepreneurial spirit of her graduates but allows a smooth transition for student transferability to CIDA accredited professional programs in Virginia and elsewhere.
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys family life with her husband Bill, and adult son and daughter. Their oldest, Ben is finishing his Master of Architecture degree at Virginia Tech while daughter Becca graduated with her BFA in Dance from the Shenandoah University Conservatory and is completing her Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management. Becca is also one of our Arteinmovimento Company dancers!
Jennifer is happy to take on the role of Secretary for the Italia Performing Arts Institute.
Angela Palombi, Director
Angela is a Frederick County, Virginia Resident working in healthcare for 23 years as a MRI/CT technologist. Her family has long been native to northwest Virginia and West Virginia. Her personal exposure to the arts growing up was dance, music and arts of many different styles, Her parents were florists. She has family members who are music therapists, art teachers adding designers, photographers and a variety of educators. She has two young daughter age 13 and 11 who are talented and involved in various music and dance styles. Her love for the arts run deep. She had served in church as worship chair and various other roles. She has a passion to help wherever she can to promote the arts in the Shenandoah Valley that create the community connections of respect and love for one another through the arts.
Cecilia Engelberg, Director
My husband, Alan, and I moved from New Jersey to Charles Town , WVa six years ago. It was the best decision! We wanted to retire and live the rest of our days in my home state. Alan wanted Chicago, at first, but I won out and he could not be more happy. We have one son, Nick, here with us in Charles Town. Our older son lives in Waverly, Virginia with his wife and five children.
I worked as a registered( diploma ) nurse for nine years. I decided to then attain my B.S. degree from W Va University in Morgantown. I worked there in the Medical University Hospital for three years. Appalachian Laboratories for Occupational Safety and Health (ALOSH) was my next job. I traveled all over the country working as a field nurse. After one year working there, Alan signed up as a Medical Field Officer and the rest is our history, 45 years in 2023!
I had served eight years as a flight nurse In the Delaware Air National Guard. When I started at ALOSH I had to hang up my flight wings because at ALOSH, we were commissioned officers in the US Public Health Service. Our family experienced moving seven times and it provided such rich experiences for us all. I went back to school at age 50 to become a sign language interpreter, because I have always been intrigued by this language. I worked for three years in schools and churches and music venues. I stopped working as an interpreter but I still practice signing music. I have always loved dancing!! When Alan used to travel a lot with his work, I decided to take up ballroom dancing. I got hooked and in all the cities we lived, I found a dance studio. So it has been 30 years, off and on.
I just experienced learning a modern and ballet type of dance with my new instructor, Al’Yona Kalynii. She works for Freddie Ciampi who owns and teaches at Social Graces in Berryville, Virginia. He brought Al’yona and her daughter, Masha, and her Mom, Svetlana from Kharkiv, Ukraine August 2023. Al’yona has danced and choreographed modern-ballet performances for 25 years. She teaches all types of ballroom dances as well as hip-hop. We performed our solo on February 23, 2024 at Freddie’s yearly Gala. It was totally awesome to dance a different style dance and have such an amazing, beautiful teacher. I am compassionate about dancing and how it helps us stay young and vibrant and happy!
Susan Strickland, Director
I am a Native born Washingtonian. Both of my parents met in DC and worked for the Federal Government. I originally lived in Fairfax, VA, then Moved to Maryland when I married. I have 4 children and 1 Grandchild currently. Expecting a New Baby grandchild.
My career started with NIH in Bethesda, MD working with the Grants Administration, with PBIM. I took a leave of absence to have children. After staying home raising them, I returned to work in the Benefits and Human Resources area. I am a licensed Insurance Broker, affiliated with several Companies. I also work with Artisan Movers as their Marketing and Advertising VP.
I have always been involved in Dance, as a child, with Ballet, then Aerobics, and now my husband and I enjoy Line dancing, ballroom and country dance. I spend time working in my garden and planting flowers. My son recently married a girl who is hearing impaired, so I am taking courses in sign language. I love staying busy with a variety of activities.
Dawn Mueller, Director
Dawn is the Global Facilities Manager at World Resources Institute (WRI) in Washington, DC. WRI develops research-based solutions that create change to sustain our natural resources.
Dawn brings passion, commitment and customer service to her facilities management service delivery.
Before moving to Washington, DC, three years ago, Dawn was at a non-profit specializing in behavioral health services. She managed a campus environment and five satellite locations. With this experience, she developed the ability to respond to the most challenging of situations with innovation, cost effectiveness and quality delivery.
Dawn is a certified facilities manager (CFM). She has held numerous board positions for the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), including President of the San Francisco chapter.