Our Board

Dimensions In Sound and The Studio Orchestra, Inc. (DISSO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a board of directors. The members of the board are:

Mike Honeck, President
Melissa Brumm, Vice President
Marvin Ripp, Treasurer
Leola DeKock, Secretary
Ann Weber, At Large
Bob Gurda, At Large
Sarah Donovan, At Large
Emily Boyd, At Large
Robert Toomey, At Large

If you have a comment or question for the board of directors, we invite you to Contact us. Thank you.

A little bit more about some of our board members:

Melissa Brumm, Vice President

Melissa has been involved with DISSO since fall 2010, first playing cello under Pat Backhaus. Loving to see the joy the groups brought to the seniors, she decided to the board in 2013. She started the Facebook page, Just Coffee fundraisers and works on many of the annual grants that keep our organization rolling.

Sarah Donovan, At Large

I proudly play second violin and joined the Studio Orchestra and DISSO in the fall season of 2013. Before I had my son, I helped with SO communications and I have been a DISSO board member since February of 2019. I love the community and friendships that are formed through DISSO and I strongly believe in our mission to serve amateur musicians as well as our audiences.

Marvin Ripp, Treasurer

Marv Ripp doesn’t play in either group, but he is a long standing fan of DISSO, having watched many performances over the years. When the role of treasurer opened in 2019, he decided to contribute his many skills by stepping into that role.

Leola DeKock, Secretary

I played clarinet when I joined the Studio Orchestra in 1993 under the direction of Lonnie Nofzinger.  I later I played bass clarinet or alto saxophone when needed.  In 1999 Lonnie invited me to join the alto sax section of Dimensions in Sound.  I was in both ensembles until 2007, but I’m now playing alto sax only in the band.

I have been the Secretary of the Board of Directors since 2017.  

I know the music that both ensembles provide affects the residents in a good way.  Often times residents arrive looking sullen, but by the end of the performance their eyes have a sparkle and they’re smiling.  One of my best memories was when I saw a woman in the audience sitting in a wheelchair.  I saw her mouth moving and assumed she was singing to the music along with others.  At the end of the concert the staff members were excitedly saying ‘oh my goodness’.  I was informed that the woman had not spoken in several months and now she was singing.  I believe that DISSO had helped her recovery.

Robert Toomey, At Large

Robert Toomey, Violin, first came to The Studio Orchestra in January 2019. He resumed playing violin in fall 2017 after not having played since high school.  Robert began serving as a DISSO Board member in February 2023. He also handles preparing and printing concert programs and posters.  Robert loves DISSO (and has become a sponsor) because of its service mission to bring music to senior communities and assisted living facilities. He loves being involved with a musical group that is fun, welcoming, and friendly. DISSO provides an atmosphere of learning and growth,  and Robert looks forward to the opportunities each new season brings.