Board of Directors

Sydni L. Roberson, President

Sydni is vice president and regional manager for the James Campbell Company, where she oversees a portfolio of retail, office, and industrial real estate spanning the United States. She began studying piano and voice at age nine, performed with ensembles and choirs throughout high school and college, and continues to indulge her passion for singing. Sydni joined SF Choral and the board in 2003.

Katie Wadley, Vice President

After years of practicing civil litigation, including as a staff attorney at the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Katie is now a senior attorney with the firm of Severson & Werson in downtown San Francisco. Having taken piano lessons since age six and sung in both her high school chorus and a beautyshop sextet, she joined SF Choral in 1995, joined the board in 1998, served as board president from 2000-2002, and currently heads the board's Newsletter and Website Committee.

Jim Stewart, Secretary

As an alternative-healthcare practitioner, Jim uses clinical hypnotherapy, body work, chi kung, and meditation to help release the energetic congestions that perpetuate chronic or habitual negative states. He also leads stress reduction and self-care workshops in the workplace and at retreats. He is a lifelong student of music, sang in his high school concert choir, plays the piano, and writes songs. He joined SF Choral in 2007 and the board in 2008. He believes that if everyone sang in a chorus, the world would be a safer and happier place.

Paul Nocero, Treasurer

After many years as a programmer, analyst, and senior sales executive with a major software company, Paul is now devoting more time to singing and other musical activities. His background in singing reaches back to grade school, and he has been the lead guitar and choir member in his church for more than 37 years. Paul was a member of the Winifred Baker Civic Chorale in the mid 1980s, and he joined SF Choral in 2003. He joined the board in 2006 and supports the board's online database and office system, as well as being part of the Marketing and Personnel Committees.

Gale A. Townsley, Past President

Gale is a senior attorney with the firm of Severson & Werson, where she is coverage and monitoring counsel for London and Swiss professional and employment liability insurance underwriters. She began singing in a country church choir in Florida at the age of six and has sung in community choruses in the Bay Area since 1981. Former treasurer and CFO of Pacific Singers, Gale joined SF Choral in 1995, joined the board in 2000, served as board president from 2002-2006, and currently heads the board's Marketing Task Force and New Music Committee.

Zara Bagdasarian, Member

Zara holds a bachelor's degree in physiology and a doctoral degree in chiropractic. She is co-founder/vice president of California Senior Care Services, specializing in geriatric care and senior assistance, referral, and placement throughout Northern California. Classical music and singing have had a decisive influence on her personal and spiritual growth. Zara began piano playing and singing at age seven, joined SF Choral in 2005, and joined the board in 2006.

Daniel R. Bedford, Member

After more than three decades in private practice at two major international law firms, Dan has scaled back his practice to devote more time to the public sector. He was recently interim legal counsel at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and executive director of a nonprofit that supports stem cell research. He was part of a Stanford Business School alumni team that served as business consultants to the American Conservatory Theater. Dan joined SF Choral in 2000, joined the board in 2005, and currently chairs the board's Development Committee.

Caroline H. Damsky, Member

Caroline is professor of cell and tissue biology at the UCSF School of Dentistry, where she has taught and maintained an active research laboratory. In 2004, she was appointed the school's associate dean for academic affairs. Growing up in New York, Caroline was first inspired and encouraged to sing by her middle school choral director. She has sung second soprano with SF Choral since 1997, she joined the board in 2004, and she currently is head of the board's Special Events Committee.

Dwight Smith, Member

Dwight currently serves as administrative manager for Divine Feline, the Rocky Mountain Feral Cat (spay/neuter) Project. He started taking piano lessons and playing cornet in elementary school, but switched to guitar in high school, adding voice lessons and some music theory in college. He has sung in choruses for a number of years and has served as the coordinator for a community a cappella chorus as well.