ABOUT US
Our name reflects the double entendre of the Italian musical term da capo,
meaning a return to the beginning, while coro means chorus.
OUR ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO FOSTER:
Passion for a cappella choral literature
Commitment to group effort
Support from each to produce a common musical goal
Diversity in membership as well as musical literature
Openness to all types of music enabling us to grow together
Mutual respect for people’s time
Executive Board
Marsha Core
Conductor
Marsha Core has been conducting choirs for more than thirty-five years in the Main Line area and has been directing Coro da capo for two years. She holds degrees from Bethany College and Westminster Choir College. Her choirs have been selected to perform at numerous State and Eastern conventions of both the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education.
Ms. Core has conducted choirs in prestigious American and European venues including the Cathedral of St. Patrick, New York; Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis; National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna; Matyas Templom, Budapest; and the Bergkirche, Eisenstadt, Austria.
Most recently she prepared Coro da capo for a collaborative performance of Faure’s Pavane for Orchestra and Chorus with local chamber orchestra, Orchestra Concordia.
Alicia Tomkowich
President
Alicia Tomkowich is a founding member of Coro da capo, beginning as Treasurer in the Fall of 2017. She is excited to step into the role of President and work with such a dedicated Executive Board. Alicia is a proud alumna of Haverford High School and is thrilled to be singing under the direction of Marsha Core once again.
Alicia currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Her passions involve working with children and adults who utilize alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) and finding creative ways for others to maximize their ability to communicate. Alicia earned an M.A. from West Chester University in 2018 and a B.A. in History from The Catholic University of America in 2014.
Kimberly Dohler
Vice President
Kimberly Dohler is a founding member of Coro da capo, and proudly serves on its executive board as vice president. Originally the group’s graphic designer, she now helps craft the organization’s brand and maintains its mission to provide free, accessible a cappella performances to all. Kimberly, like many of Coro da capo’s members, is a choir alumna of Haverford School District. She began her musical journey at a young age and considers singing a major component of community. She is thrilled to be part of a talented, unique group of vocalists who lift each other up and sustain a happy and harmonious culture.
Kimberly currently works as a geospatial analyst at a water utility company. She is rooted in the world of business intelligence solutions and strives to give back in her career and personal life through volunteering and partnering with local organizations. She earned an M.S. in Geospatial Technology for Geodesign in 2018 from Thomas Jefferson University, and a B.S. in Finance from West Chester University in 2014.
Derik Velasco
Treasurer
Derik Velasco joined Coro da capo in January 2023 for the beginning of their Spring season, and soon after became a member of the board as section leader of the basses and tenors. He then became Treasurer, blending his passion for music with his background in finance. He began singing as an undergraduate as a member of the Villanova Singers, through which he had the opportunity to tour and sing in cities such as Montreal, Prague, and Saltzburg, as well as perform the National Anthem at many of his beloved college men’s and women’s basketball games (Go Cats!). He is excited to once again be a part of an organized choir and sing with a group as passionate and talented as Coro da capo.
Derik earned a B.A. in Economics from Villanova University, with a concentration in Peace and Justice and a minor in Public Service. He currently works at Vanguard as part of their Clearance and Settlements team and has been involved in multiple committees within his organization, most extensively as a leader in his department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Sarah Maxwell
Assistant Treasurer
Sarah Maxwell believes, like the NASA janitor who helped to put a man on the Moon, that supporting a worthy endeavor is critical to helping make the world a better place. Sarah has been a member of Coro da Capo from its inception, and enjoys singing classically while also singing with the cover band Northern Lights and practicing guitar at the local Kelly Music Center biweekly Bluegrass Jam.
Sarah is a trained singer, actress, costumer, and massage therapist. She is an avid facilitator and speaker, and was honored to be chosen by her organization to attend TED2019. She is the co-founder of the internal Project Management Institute's Toastmaster Club, PMI Speaks. Sarah is also a Project Management Institute Cultural Activator, and was recently chosen to present on Culture Transformation in Nairobi, Kenya.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from George Mason University.
Megan Brust
Content Developer
Megan Brust is a founding member of Coro da capo, beginning as an alto singer in Fall 2017. She sang with Coro da capo for two seasons before moving out of state in 2019. She is an alumna of Villa Maria Academy High School and is excited to be able to contribute to her favorite choir once again.
Megan currently works remotely as an I.T. Product Owner. She enjoys working with both developers and business leaders to produce comprehensive solutions to technical goals. She earned an M. S. in Software Engineering from Drexel University in 2021 and a B. M. in Music Education with voice as her primary instrument from Ithaca College in 2015.