Officers
Dr. Joan Ortega-Cowan
President
Joan was born in New Jersey, and moved with her family to Cocoa, Florida when she was a young teenager when her father took an engineering position at Cape Canaveral Space Center (now Kennedy Space Center). She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Rollins College, with focus on history, political science and foreign languages. She earned her Doctoral Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Higher Education Management. She first discovered opera in Paris at a performance of Tales of Hoffmann at the Opera Comique. "My husband, Román, actually introduced me to the world of opera since he is an operatic baritone and knows practically every opera written," she says. "We have attended opera performances all over the world." In 1988, Rosemary Gagliardi asked them to become involved in the Vero Beach Opera Guild which they did. Joan has served as a Board Member, President and Executive Director during the past 21 years. She has sung in the choruses of Carmen, Madama Butterfly and La Traviata. "La bohème is my favorite because of the music but also because it takes place in one of my favorite cities – Paris. I speak several foreign languages so attending operas gives me an opportunity to enjoy operas even more."
Kendra Haines
Vice-President
Kendra has lived in Vero Beach for 30 years. She has volunteered for her children’s school, St. Edwards, and served on the board for Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Society in North Carolina. Her role on the VBO board is fundraising and supporting the VBO Piano Scholarship program. This program is now in its 15th year. Kendra works closely with Dr. Marcos Daniel Flores, an accomplished concert pianist, as the Maestro for the program.
Ed Halsey, CPA
Treasurer
Thank you, Ed!
Carol Palowich
Corporate Secretary
Carol does so much for Vero Beach Opera! Her bio is coming soon.