Voice Part: Bass
Major: International Studies
Hometown: Port Clinton, Ohio
President Josh Newton is a junior Political Science major here at BGSU. However, he has not always been such. He first entered BGSU as a Pre-Music Education major, but he quickly switched to a broader field, International Studies. While the international arena still interests him, he is looking more along the lines of a future career in a federal agency, perhaps along the lines of in the Census Bureau. His hobbies include music, video games, cooking, and eating, and his favorite movie is Love Actually.
Vice President
Dani Bash
Voice Part: Soprano
Major: Music Education
Hometown: Findlay, Ohio
Dani Bash is a sophomore instrumental Music Education major. She started her music career in first grade, with the piano. Her current primary instrument is harp, and of course, loves to sing. This is her second year as a soprano II in the A Cappella choir. She is also a member of the BGSU Philharmonia, and plays with other various ensembles when there is a need for a harpist. Dani's hometown is Findlay, OH where she grew up with 4 musical siblings and a mom and dad who can't read a note, but are the best parents in the world. In her spare time, she likes to bike, hang out with friends and family, and bake.
Nicolette is from Toledo, Ohio where she lived for 20 yrs with her mother. Last year she was in A Cappella Choir and was a commuter student studying interior design. She was voted treasurer last year and "balances her check book on a regular basis". This year she moved to an apartment in Bowling Green very close to campus and loves living by herself. In her free time (which she has very little of) she enjoys singing (duh), listening to music, creating things like food, art and sewing projects and finally watching how-to shows. This year, she hopes to better herself and the choir by being treasurer, as well as meeting new people and also further developing her relationships with the people that she already knows.
“Every experience that you have, either good or bad, is an opportunity for you to grow" - Nicolette Hicks
Secretary
Melissa Penkava
Voice Part: Soprano
Major: Music Education, Performance, Theatre
Hometown: North Ridgeville, Ohio
Melissa A. Penkava is currently in her first year at BGSU. She is studying for a double major in Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education. She is from North Ridgeville, Ohio (which is near Cleveland), and is a member of OCMEA. At this point, she considers herself to be a Lyric Mezzo-Soprano. Along with being quite involved at the CMA, she is also active in the Theatre department; she not only acts onstage, she holds a part-time job in the costume shop (and no, she will not hem your pants for you). She rather enjoys her secretarial position, as long as no one asks her to lick envelopes. She currently lives in the Music Community of Kreischer-Batchelder, and you can reach her by email at mapenka@bgsu.edu.
Fundraising Coordinator
Nick Kottman
Voice Part: Tenor
Major: Music Education
Hometown: Bellbrook, Ohio
Nick Kottman is a junior music major. He graduated from Bellbrook High School in 2005. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha where he is the historian for that organization. He has been a member of the A Cappella Choir for 2 years and was the historian last year. Besides A Cappella Choir, Nick sings with the BGSU Men’s Chorus. His birthday is December 11th, and now that you know, he’s expecting presents! Some of his favorite movies are Tommy Boy, Boondock Saints, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. His interests also include long walks on the beach, drinking pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain!
Publicity
Monica Smith
Voice Part: Soprano
Major: Business Administration, Marketing
Hometown: Massilon, Ohio
Monica Smith is a senior this year receiving her undergrad in Marketing. She’s originally from Massillon, Ohio and will most likely be heading back there after graduation. This is her second year in the A Cappella Choir, and she has loved every minute of it. She is also involved on campus as a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, where she was recording secretary, and has done previous work with Homecoming and Dance Marathon. Monica has a younger brother Mike, who’s 18 but doesn’t want to come to BGSU for college, so she’s sad about that. She also enjoys watching Family Guy, American Idol, and Numbers, and her favorite band of all time is Aerosmith! Rock on!!
Kristina Green is a second year Graduate student in Choral Conducting.
Along with being the Treasure for the Collegiate Chorale and BGSU's
ACDA chapter she is also the Graduate Assistant and Co-Advisor/Tour
Coordinator for the A Cappella Choir as well as holds duties with the
Women's Chorus. This past summer Ms. Green was accepted into the
Conductor's Guild Workshop in Santa Cruz, CA which allowed her to work
closely and diligently with the wonderfully talented Gustav Meier and
Marin Olsop. On the side she volunteers for Susen G. Komen's Race for the Cure and the Toledo Habitat for Humanity.
