The Washington Chorus Proudly Welcomes Three New Trustees to its Board
Shannon Finney, Anthony Salvi-Exner, and Peter Clunie Bring Passion, Experience, Commitment to TWC’s Mission and Continued Evolution as Newly Named Washington Chorus Trustees
As the D.C. region’s only two-time Grammy award winning choral ensemble, The Washington Chorus is proud to announce Shannon Finney, Anthony Salvi-Exner, and Peter Clunie as newly elected members to its Board of Trustees. These individuals were unanimously elected to the TWC board at its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
“These new TWC board members are nothing short of extraordinary,” commented Washington Chorus board chair, and Advisory Board for the Arts Founder and CEO, Chris Denby. “In our conversations with these folks over the last few months it became evident that their range of professional backgrounds, skillsets, and zeal for TWC’s mission – especially in this time of significant change and evolution – were and are perfectly aligned with the needs of our organization. We’re honored to welcome them even more closely into the TWC family.”
Under the leadership of recently appointed Artistic Director Dr. Eugene Rogers and Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin, The Washington Chorus enters its 60th anniversary season starting in the fall of 2020 with a refreshed vision inspired by inclusive excellence and innovation. TWC’s season of online and small ensemble performance, education, and community programs will be announced in late June.
“I offer my congratulations and gratitude to Shannon, Anthony, and Peter as our new class of TWC Trustees,” said incoming Washington Chorus board chair Kara Morrissey. “Already they are valued members of the TWC community and having them more closely involved as leaders on our board will help fuel our further transformation. As we welcome these new members, I also want to thank our outgoing TWC board members, including the Honorable Jan Lodal, who served for 12 years on our Board, and Thayer Baine, who served for twenty-plus years as a board member, including time as Board Chair. I thank Thayer and Jan for their longstanding dedication to The Washington Chorus. We consider them friends for life.”
About Shannon Finney:
Shannon Finney has been a member of The Washington Chorus family for over a decade as principal photographer. In addition to owning and operating her business, Shannon Finney Photography, she is a contributing photographer for Getty Images where she photographs large-scale events and concerts, including New York Fashion Week, iHeart Music’s annual JingleBall, and the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Ms. Finney is a classically trained pianist and singer, performing with various conductors and composers, including Dr. Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock, Stanley J. Thurston, and the late J. Reilly Lewis. Prior to starting her business Ms. Finney was part of the media logistics team for radio and television correspondents for the U.S. Senate and was a producer and on-air for ABC radio and a classical music radio station. She has a Masters of Divinity from Boston University’s School of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Randolph-Macon College.
About joining The Washington Chorus Board of Trustees, Shannon had this to say:
“I feel called to the challenges of this moment as The Washington Chorus – and our mission to share the transforming power of choral music – stretches beyond the concert hall and into a world in need of that connection now more than ever.”
About Anthony Salvi-Exner:
Anthony Salvi-Exner is an avid music lover with a diverse musical background in choral, instrumental and musical theater. He sings with many local choirs and is also a percussionist. Anthony is an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax and has held a variety of leadership positions, including President of the Board of Directors.
Professionally, Anthony brings 30 years of executive leadership experience working in a variety of organizations. He has held several Chief Operating Officer positions including his current role at VMD Corp, a rapidly growing professional services company. Mr. Salvi-Exner has worked extensively in change management and preparing companies for rapid growth. His passion is developing and implementing strategies to win new business, as well as ensuring the organization is prepared for growth. His success has been in leading cultural change including organizational structure, leadership progression and communication during rapid growth.
Mr. Salvi-Exner is a graduate of the University of Buffalo (BS in Mechanical Engineering) and George Mason University School of Management (MBA). Anthony has been blessed with 5 (mostly) grown children and 3 grandchildren. All of his kids/grandkids live locally and are engaged in the music/arts. Anthony lives in Fairfax, Virginia with his husband, Peter.
About joining The Washington Chorus Board of Trustees, Anthony had this to say:
“I am so excited to join TWC and help to ensure excellent choral music is part of the landscape here in the DC area. Given the challenges we are facing with the pandemic and political environment, I am committed to the long term viability of TWC and its important place in the region.”
About Peter Clunie:
Peter Claude Russell Clunie was raised in Queens, New York; he is the oldest of three children in his family. At the age of eight, his mother taught him how to play the piano. Peter also took piano lessons from a number of teachers and played the piano for his high school chorus. Peter attended Howard University in Washington DC, where, in 1985, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. It was during his military assignment in the United Kingdom when Peter sang with the Cambridge University Music Society, the university’s symphonic chorus. This experience sparked his interest in choral singing. Peter eventually left active duty military to attend graduate school and then worked in the financial services industry in New York City. While there, he sang with the New York Choral Society. Peter is now a Program Analyst at the Transportation Security Administration where he develops and writes Standard Operating Procedures for the screening workforce. He continues with his musical endeavors in the Washington D.C. area and currently sings as a 2nd Tenor with The Washington Chorus, and recently completed a term as Chorus President.
About joining The Washington Chorus Board of Trustees, Peter had this to say:
“I am excited to be on the TWC Board because I love to sing and share the joy of music with the greater Washington D.C. community, and also because I would like to use my leadership skills to help sustain the organization.”