Administration
Roots of American Music
Michele Colopy
Michele brings 28 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from The University of Akron. She has worked with various nonprofits at the local, state, and national level in fields such as crisis intervention, arts and culture, affordable housing, social justice, and environmental issues. She co-founded and managed several arts organizations, including the Wolf School of Music and the Crooked River Women’s Chorale. Colopy is passionate about furthering artists and arts organizations, effectively managing nonprofits, and creating positive social change.
Bettyjeane Quimby
Bettyjeane holds a Master’s degree in Music Performance from Cleveland State University graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Cleveland State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She has 18 years of experience as a music teacher from K-12 to the college level.
She has music performance experience including with the Sammy DeLeon y Su Orquestra, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and with local bands, as well as touring shows performing in Northeast Ohio.
She coordinates the implementation of music residency programs and serves as the primary point of contact between the partner schools/program sites and Roots of American Music. She arranges project schedules with schools/sites and teaching artists, assists with program evaluation and curriculum development.
Bettyjeane will take the lead to craft our music education programs to compliment academic core standards and collaborate with our Teaching Artists to continue to provide excellence in music education connecting history, culture, and social and emotional learning through music.
Tam Siverston
As the Roots of American Music Bookkeeper, Tam tracks project income and expenses and contract artist payments. Tam earned a Bachelor of Music – Percussion Performance Major from Berklee College of Music in May 1985. He continued his studies in music education and taught elementary music Preschool-Grade 8 for nineteen years. He continues to teach preschool music part time and plays drums professionally in the greater Cleveland area. Tam has completed three levels of Orff Schulwerk teacher training and one level of Kodaly teacher training.
