President

Claiborne T. Richardson, II, is a graduate of West Virginia University’s School of Music (B.M.Ed.), and The College of William and Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law (J.D.). He studied trumpet with John Wright (Principal Cornetist, Marine Band) and Jack McKie (Pittsburgh Symphony); percussion with Dr. Claiborne Richardson (Lake Braddock S. S., Virginia State University, and Howard University) and Frank Delpiano (Principal Percussionist, Marine Band); and studied conducting with Professor Don Wilcox, Frederick Fennell, and Dr. Claiborne Richardson. Clai is a former high school- and middle school-music educator who has also served as a guest conductor and clinician for high school and college instrumental ensembles in Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. He has played for TV, radio, and a touring company. He has played drum set with Herb Smith, Wes Biles, Herman Burney, Michael Thomas, Dr. George Ross, Jacques “The Saxman” Johnson, Kenny Rittenhouse, Joe Kennedy, Jr., Charlie Byrd, Lew Soloff, and Randy Purcell, as well as in the WVU Jazz Ensemble, the Leonard Hannigan Big Band, the Doc Dikeman Big Band, and the Russell Wilson Trio. He is a co-founder of the band Nightmusic.

Clai currently holds the drum set chair for the Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra and The Chris Johnston Trio. He is the timpanist and principal percussionist with the NOVA Symphony Orchestra. He is an original member of the orchestra and has been a guest conductor.  He plays trumpet and percussion for the Annandale Brass Ensemble and for St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. He also plays with various artists and groups on a freelance basis.

Treasurer

Song Johnston is a dedicated educator and community volunteer. She holds a degree in Bilingual Multicultural Education and spent 21 years teaching Korean language, traditional music, and dance in Fairfax County Public Schools. Since retiring, Song has served as treasurer for two nonprofit organizations and volunteers as a tax preparer for the county. Song continues to teach Korean to professionals in Washington, D.C.’s diplomatic community. A lifelong supporter of the arts, she enjoys singing in her church’s choir and attending concerts, musicals, and dance performances.

Recording Secretary

Ruth Bedell has extensive experience in the music field and with RMS.  She has worked with RMS since its inception and has served on the RMS board for three different terms, in various capacities.  She studied piano in Peabody conservatory.  She expanded her education into vocal and organ.  She is a professional organist and pianist, and taught Spanish in Fairfax County Schools for 30 years.  She has traveled extensively, spending ten years supporting diplomatic and music activities in Latin American countries.  In those countries, she has organized choirs and music programs in both English and Spanish and performed for the Presidents of several countries.  She has also performed at the White House in Washington D.C.

Correspondence Secretary

Constance Worthington is the RMS Correspondence Secretary and assistant website developer.  She has degrees in Mathematics and Information Technology.  She worked for the Federal Government for 33 years, retiring as an executive manager.  In her retirement she has been volunteering with multiple organizations, including RMS.  She is a fan and supporter of the arts, having memberships in several arts organizations in the D.C. region.  She has played both piano and guitar as a hobby.

Other Board Members

Lou Brundidge began his trombone studies at age 12 in Panama City, FL. As a young trombonist, he made first chair in 7th grade and maintained that position throughout High School. He auditioned and was selected for All District Band six consecutive years for the Florida Panhandle. As a sophomore, he auditioned and was selected to play in the Florida’s State Orchestra. Lou competed and scored superior in numerous semi-annual ensemble and solo competitions. Upon graduation, he attended the United States Air Force Academy at which point he placed his musical ambitions on hold to serve the nation. He retired from the Air Force in 2014 and has since played in several local concert and jazz bands. He joined the NOVA Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2016.

Jan deHoll has over 20 years of experience in teaching music to both adults and children and has taught and assisted in a variety of subjects.  He worked in Fairfax Country Public Schools as a substitute teacher on a wide range of subjects, and as an instructional  assistant for special education programs.  While working as substitute he supervised music classes at the junior and senior high levels. In 2001, he began teaching guitar, banjo, and bass guitar to adults and kids through Fairfax County Parks and Recreation.  He has been providing individual instruction of guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, and other fretted instruments to all levels of students at Foxes Music since 2004.  He was previously President of Washington Labeling Consultants, working with meat and poultry processors.  In 2001 he collaborated with Wammie Nominated Artist Gregory Lygon on a solo guitar recording.  He has degrees in Psychology and Education.  He has been active with the Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in the past, supporting music and youth programs.  He is a member of the Annandale chapter of the Freedom Network Group.

Ron Goad has been a performer and supporter of music for most of his life.  He developed curriculum and taught courses on creative writing and English for over thirty years.  He began singing from a very young age, and began playing drums as a child as well.  In 1970 he started playing guitar and since then has been covering and writing songs, and playing rhythm guitar.  He plays back up for dozens of contemporary folk singers from the DC area and beyond, many of whom have won multiple awards.  He appears on dozens of albums, including winners of Wammies, SAW’s MASC, and other awards, and has been acknowledged on over a dozen others for co-writing, producing, and arranging.   He is an active leader in the arts community, and is a 7-time Wammie winner of the Most Supportive of Washington Music award.  He has produced showcases and concerts at various venues.  He plays drums and other percussion (including washboard), and adds harmonies and sometimes sings lead vocals, for numerous bands.   He is an Executive Board Member, and former Vice President of The Songwriters’ Association of Washington.  He is a Board Member of The Folk Club of Reston-Herndon.  He is the former Vice President of Focus Music and a former board member of the Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise.  He has been a member of the DC Bluegrass Union for two years.

Sharon Jones hails from Portsmouth, Virginia. She started piano studies at the age 9 and started cello age 12. She played in junior high and high school string orchestras and attended All-State and regional orchestras where she had the honor of playing under the baton of Aaron Copland. Sharon is a charter member of Bay Area Youth Symphony and was awarded a music scholarship for lessons with cellist Janet Kriner. Ms. Jones attended West Virginia University and Wheaton College (Illinois) Conservatory of Music, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Cello Performance. Her undergraduate cello teacher was Mr. David Szepessy. She is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon. She is an alumnus of the Eastern Music Festival, Greensboro, North Carolina for three summers where she studied cello with Owen Carman, Nancy Stensen, and Jonathan Catchings. In her free time, Sharon enjoys singing in the choir and playing for worship services at St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. John’s United Methodist Church, and Hope Lutheran Church in Annandale, Virginia. Ms. Jones has performed with the Georgetown Symphony Orchestra, the Arlington Forest United Methodist Church Orchestra, the Prelude Chamber Ensemble, The Hollin Hall Band, and the VA Medical Music Group. She is a charter member of The Annandale Strings.

Pat Sawhney has been a member of the Reunion Music Society board for approximately 35 years.  She served as the president of RMS for two terms, and has passionately promoted the orchestra and ensembles over the years.  She has hosted RMS events at her house, promoted events regularly through various advertising and social media mechanisms, assisted with concerts by selling tickets at the door and setting up flowers and concessions, created event flyers, and has recruited additional members for the RMS board.

Pat has been a REALTOR in Northern Virginia since 1975, working full-time representing buyers and sellers.  She has been very active as a volunteer supporting many organizations in addition to RMS.

Pat has been a member of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce since 1985 and was President for two terms.  She is a member of the board of the Shepherd Center of Annandale Springfield and provides entertainment and assistance with their activities.  She supports Saint Stephens United Methodist Church as a member of the choir, and formerly as a trustee, and is a member of the UMC District Church Locations and Building Committee.

She was a former member and president of the Oak Hill Garden Club, and served many years as their newsletter editor.  She was interviewed by WETA for their series “If You Lived Here”.