Debra has been married for 25 years and has two children.  Her love of music and the arts started at a young age and comes from her mother, who planned annual Christmas outings to theatrical performances.  In high school, Debra played the clarinet as a member of the Libertyville High School Marching Band.  She also participated in the LHS-TV club, where she won “The Electronic News Gathering” competition and placed 3^rd overall for State TV in 1990.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Chemistry from Northern Illinois University.  Debra has worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry as a Director of Research and Development until she retired in 2015 to focus on her family.  Debra headed the Husmann “Galaxy of Games” school event and enjoyed helping support the Prairie Ridge High School Fine Arts department in various capacities during performances, competitions, fundraisers and concerts.  She’s been an active volunteer at Encore Music Academy since her daughter joined in 2019 and she looks forward to continuing her involvement as a board member now that her daughter has started college.

Music has always been a passion for Susan Dobbe-Leahy. Growing up in a large household there was always music. Even today when her siblings gather, there are often contests to recall the lyrics, event, and performer from the past. Dobbe-Leahy joined the Encore board in 2025. She seeks to assist wherever her talents, skills and relationships can support this thriving organization. A lifetime resident of Northern Illinois, Susan founded Dobbe Marketing & PR, Inc. in 1989 and provides branding, marketing strategy, websites, creative digital presence and outreach campaigns for small and midsized companies. She and her husband, Tom Leahy have a blended family of four adult children and three grandchildren. Music, travel, books, and outdoor activities fill any extra moments in their days.

Jenny Oberbillig was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in southern California and Dayton. Jenny comes from a musical family and has sung choral music from an early age. Her father shared his love of choral music by arranging music for her and her six siblings, often singing for family parties and company Christmas parties. Jenny moved from Cincinnati to Crystal Lake in 1996, and has been singing with Voices in Harmony ever since. She has served on the VIH board of directors in various capacities for over 20 years, and currently as president of the organization. Employed in the telecommunications industry and currently employed in the banking industry, Jenny uses her administrative and communication skills to further the mission of VIH. Jenny’s creative outlet has always been choral music and piano. She has studied voice with Dr. Marie Ann Vos, and currently studies piano with Danielle Cairoli. She is a member of First Church in Crystal Lake and sings with the Celebration Singers. She is currently married to Don and between them have four children and three grandchildren.

Cynara Pierzina, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Encore Music Academy and Private Flute Instructor, earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Augustana College and her Master’s Degree from DePaul University, both in Flute Performance. She is a frequent freelance flutist and teaches private flute instruction. A recipient of first place awards in the Lakeview Musical Society Woodwind Competition and the Society of American Musicians Young Artist Composition, she has performed with Lake Forest Symphony, Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, University of Chicago Orchestra and Minstrel’s Chamber Ensemble. With over twenty years in arts administration, she has served as Assistant Director of DePaul University’s Community Music School, Director of Admission and Programs / Interim Executive Director at Sherwood Conservatory of Music and as Assistant Director of McHenry County Music Center.

Stephen’s children have been active in Encore Music Academy’s choirs, private lessons and summer productions for many years. He enjoys serving as the Master of Ceremonies for their Winter Gala every year. In his normal job, Stephen has over twenty years of experience helping his clients protect their intellectual property in the United States and internationally by preparing and filing patent and trademark applications at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Stephen has a wealth of experience counseling clients on short- and long-term patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret strategies. He has managed large and diverse patent and trademark portfolios for large corporations, as well as individual inventors and small- to medium-sized businesses. Stephen has experience in many areas of technology, and has prepared patent applications for inventions in such diverse fields as chemical, mechanical, electrical, computer software and internet-related business methods. He has a particular interest in helping clients with green inventions.

Ann Tucker, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Encore Music Academy, has taught in the area since 1993 and grew up in Crystal Lake. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She has studied choral music and conducting at Westminster Choir College, Oberlin College, Northwestern University and St. John’s University. At EMA, she directs two of the four youth choirs as well as the Encore Touring Choir. In addition to her work with Encore Music Academy, Mrs. Tucker is the Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Crystal Lake, where she serves as department administrator, as well as a member of the worship ministry team. She directs four of the six choirs, the Carol Choir (3rd-5th grade), Chancel Choir (6th-8th grade), Alleluia Sound High School Choir and Vestry Choir (adults) and is responsible for preparing two cantatas in December and March and the annual spring tour by the Alleluia Sound. The Vestry Choir, the church’s 60 voice adult choir, presents two annual concerts in December and March as well as weekly music at services. Under her leadership, Vestry choir has performed such diverse works as Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, John Rutter’s Requiem, Glenn McClure’s Caribbean Mass, Durufle’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.