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MCS welcomes new board president

by JILLIAN CHANDLER / Contributing Writer
| January 29, 2025 1:00 AM

The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, which celebrates 15 years serving the Sandpoint community, is excited to welcome its new board president, Frank Geisler, who continues the work of Dana Whatley, who held the position the last 16 months.

“Frank brings a wealth of experience to the board. His background, strength of character and love of music fuels his enthusiasm to honor the vision and mission of MCS. Under his leadership, the board will continue to build upon its foundation and accomplishments, and I am excited to see the new avenues his ideas will bring to the table,” Whatley shared.

After attending many MCS performances over the years, Geisler joined the board of directors in January of 2024, drawn by a particular quote he has taken to heart by German philosopher F. Nietzche: “Without music, life would be a mistake.”

“I am aligned with that idea, having been exposed to music since my childhood,” Geisler said. “Furthermore, I have witnessed how music education can greatly shape the development of a child. As a resident of Bonner County for the past eight years, I have admired the growth of the school.”

Shortly after joining the board, Geisler stepped into the treasurer position “and immediately brought a knowledgeable and comprehensive approach to our strategic goals for the school,” according to Kathi Samuels, development director for the conservatory. Aside from his roles as a businessman, musician, longtime Rotarian and Chamber of Commerce member and CEO, Geisler brings four decades of experience spent as a member of various community boards; in particular, as they relate to music, the Carmel Music Society and the Monterey Jazz Festival (12 years including three years as president of the board).

“It is a great pleasure for me to welcome Frank as a new board chair. Frank is originally from Belgium and brings an incredible background to the table. I know his contribution to MCS will be of immeasurable value!” stated Karin Wedemeyer, founder and director of the conservatory.

Geisler also assisted MCS in developing their new online store, featuring creative and school-specific merchandise, including chocolate — which would make a fabulous Valentine’s treat while showing your support to the conservatory.

Last month, Geisler was introduced to a gathering of longtime supporters of the school, where friends and donors of the conservatory met at the home of Drs. Charles and Sherry Manning “to honor the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, celebrate the season, and to raise funds for students at the conservatory,” Samuels noted.

Since its inception, the vision of the conservatory has been to become a leading school of performing arts in the Northwest. In the short term, Geisler hopes to help lead the way in building up MCS’s programs throughout Bonner County, which currently serves 500 students — teaching close to 10 percent of the youth population in Bonner County. When looking to the future, he explained, “I wish to expand geographically to the state of Idaho and Washington and reach a global audience notably for ‘Music Matters.’”

When it comes to challenges the conservatory faces, Geisler noted that “it is always difficult to predict the ebb and flow of our financial support, as it is inherent to all cultural nonprofit organizations. My goal is to build up our financial reserves to be able to continue our development journey — in spite of all peaks and valleys.

“The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint is a gem in our own backyard," he said. "As we celebrate our 15th year, support it as much as you can!”