Eliza Goodell, President
Eliza Goodell grew up in Newbury, VT. In elementary school, she began learning French horn, and in high school took up the fiddle. She has played in classical and folk settings across Vermont and New England, and traveled with Young Tradition Vermont to Cape Breton, Scotland, and Japan. Eliza graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a degree in Geology with a minor in Music. She now works at Vermont State University as a scientist studying Arctic environments, and continues to be involved in local folk music.
Susan Goodell, Secretary
Susan Goodell started playing the cello when her younger child left for college, packing as many instruments as she could into the car. The cello did not fit. She was a third-grade teacher at Newbury Elementary school before changing careers to become a fee-only financial planner. She is a graduate of Bates College, has a Master’s Degree from Antioch New England, and completed her financial planning training with The College for Financial Planning. She lives in Newbury with her husband, Jeff, and a menagerie of animals. She has two adult children, one of whom serves on the Music Helps Board with her.
Paul Sachs, Treasurer
Paul has lived in Newbury, VT since 1974 where he started a business and raised a family with his wife, Ruth. Though not professionally involved in music, Paul has been playing guitar most of his life. He became friends with Patrick Ross a few years ago and learned about Music Helps. He’s acutely aware from his own experience how much of a confidence builder playing an instrument can be and thought, “what a great idea,” providing scholarships for students interested in learning to play but unable to afford lessons…or the cost of an instrument. It’s Paul’s firm belief that if you can learn how to play music, you can accomplish almost anything you set your mind to. Paul is founder and owner of North Country Organics, a manufacturer of organic amendments for certified organic farms and other organic applications throughout the northeastern US.
Rowe Williams
Rowe was introduced to music at an early age by his father, who was an accomplished jazz pianist as well as an arranger and composer for a number of acapella groups. He spent his summers as a camper and then counselor at Camp Lanakila in Fairlee, Vermont, where music was everywhere: the camp musical, daily singing at assembly, talent shows and the myriad of guitar players among the staff. It was here in the 1970’s that Rowe began playing guitar. As a classroom teacher at Bradford Elementary for 13 years, Rowe integrated music into his daily classroom routine, and he and his students often composed songs together for various school events. Years later, he had the great joy of playing in bands with two of these former students. These days, Rowe lives in West Newbury, VT, with his wife, Laurie, where he enjoys hiking, backpacking, skiing, cooking, and gardening as well playing guitar, mandolin, and harmonica and writing original music.
David Carlson
David’s parents raised him to love music of all kinds. As a child his home was never without music playing in the background…there was always a soundtrack to daily life. Voice was David’s instrument and he began performing in Middle School in Upstate New York. He sang in school and in his local Episcopal Church. The theater and the church became his two passions. David has a BA from Hamilton College. During his college years he attended The National Theater Institute and The American University Academy for the Performing Arts. After Hamilton he auditioned for and was accepted to attend The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. As much as David loved, and still loves, the theater, the church was his true passion. After being approved for ordination in The Episcopal Diocese of New York, he attended The General Theological Seminary where he earned a Masters in Divinity. As an Episcopal Priest he served parishes in Manhattan, Westchester County, and in Orange/Sullivan Counties, New York where he was The Canon Missioner. In each setting he established a concert series to support local artists and to promote the experience of live music. Nearly five years ago he retired to live in Haverhill Corner, NH with his husband, Tim, who is himself retired from a life as a professional musician. Music has been a constant source of joy and inspiration in David’s life and the opportunity to nurture the gift of music in the lives of young people is a true privilege.