Board Members

John Nasukaluk Clare is Host of Symphony Hall on Sirius XM and Artistic Director at Gretna Music.

Born and raised in Massachusetts Sheldon Culver, M. Div., D. Div. has a deep love for classical music, poetry and fine arts. She is a graduate of Washington University and Eden Theological Seminary, with a focus on Systematic theology. She is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ (UCC), having served congregations and middle judicatory ministries in Missouri and Illinois since 1974. Sheldon was honored by Eden Seminary with a Doctor of Divinity with the 2007 publication of her book Steeplejacking. She served on the UCC Office for Church Life and Leadership Directorate from 1987 to 1991, was Vice-President to the board and secretary for the Executive Director Search Committee and was an Illinois South Conference delegate to General Synod in 1985 and 1987. Sheldon has worked on the three-member Committee Process Team for numerous General Synods since 1991, served two terms on the UCC General Synod Nominating Committee, and two terms as the Convener for the Great Lakes Region. As Convener she sat on the Cabinet of the Council of Conference Ministers, served on the UCC Board of Directors 2013 – 2015 and was a Trustee with the Pension Boards UCC from 2010-2018. Now retired from service as a Pastor, Sheldon is a Diplomate with the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, graduating from this North American training program in 1996 and is an active member of The Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts (IRSJA) and The International Association of Analytical Psychology (IAAP). Sheldon resides in Columbia Illinois.

Dr. Daughaday is retired Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and served as Chief of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Section at the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1984-2012. He cofounded the Clinic for Mycobacterial Diseases, at the Jacqueline Maritz Lung Center in the Center for Advanced Medicine at Washington University, specializing in the care of patients referred for management of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. Carlos served on the Committee for Admissions at the Medical School and work groups for the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with asthma. He received his A.B. from Harvard College and M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine. He completed residency training at the University of Minnesota, and military service at Walter Reed Army institute of Research, before returning to St. Louis to accept a faculty position at Washington University In the community, Carlos was a director of the Board of Education for the School District of University City, a member and President of the Board of the American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri and supporter of the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. His musical interests are varied, enjoying both new works and traditional repertoire, with a special interest in young artists.

Thomas M. Siler, M.D. is a pulmonary and sleep physician who has been in private practice working for Midwest Chest Consultants, PC in St. Charles, MO since 1987.  He currently practices outpatient pulmonary and sleep medicine.  He has also been involved in clinical trials developing new treatments primarily in COPD and asthma since 1987.  He has been medical director of the first sleep lab in St. Charles County since it opened in 1995.   In the past he has served as president of the Missouri Thoracic Society and as a board member of the National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care.  He has also been listed as a Best Doctor by St. Louis Magazine. Dr. Siler has been a contributor to many St. Louis non-profits and is a board member of the Sheldon Arts Foundation and HEAL Center for the Arts.   He has an interest in all types of music from classical to jazz to rock and roll.   He also has been dedicated to music education especially in public schools and has supported several local programs in that area. Tom grew up on the plains of western Kansas in Hays, KS.  He attended the University of Kansas and received a BA in chemistry and biology and also received his MD degree.  Following medical school he did an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at KU followed by a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at St. Louis University.  He has been married to his wife, Cindy, since 1979 and they have 3 sons, Frank, Chris and Jack.  Tom and Cindy both love to travel both domestically and internationally and have been to all 50 states as well as many European countries.  Our favorite country is the United Kingdom and we have several friends there that we enjoy visiting and travelling around the UK and Europe.

Miran Halen is a prominent Fundraiser of the Arts and community volunteer. She has garnered widespread praise as a versatile singer of opera, symphony, chamber and recital music. Miran has performed at The Grand Center Gala, St. Louis Symphony fund raising concerts, UMSL concert series, the Art and Education Gala, and the Sheldon Classical Series. She performs regularly with Chamber Music Society of St. Louis as well as the Innsbrook Institute Summer Music Academy and Festival and the Booneville Missouri River Music Festival. After receiving a Music Performance and Science degree from University of Houston, she won a position in the Houston Grand Opera performing in more than 30 productions. Distinguished performance occasions have included a concert gala for former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and additional appearances at recitals for international diplomats and politicians at the Missouri State Capitol. Miran was often featured in the KFUO Classical Radio Broadcasting Series “From The Garden Live” and at the 2005 St. Andrew’s Gala. A passionate advocate for musical education, she has participated as a performer in benefit concerts for the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival and helped spearhead a benefit celebrating the 30thanniversary of the highly acclaimed St. Louis Children’s Choir.

Gerry brings over forty-five years of management experience to the CMSSL Board of Directors, from first level through company president, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, as well an impressive musical background. He was involved in establishing Clarkson Eyecare, Inc. and its franchise operations as well as instituting and expanding a full-service eyeglass lens laboratory. At Clarkson, Gerry was a partner for 20 years and served as company president, CEO and Chairman of the Board, taking the company from two locations to 64 locations in 19 years.  He has held positions in retail store management, telecommunications operations, community relations, full-service primary eye care operations management and served as a government lobbyist. Gerry has served on the boards of The Oklahoma Arts Institute, Ballet Oklahoma, Opera Theatre, and Clinton, OK. YMCA.  He previously held positions as Music Director for Catholic Parishes in Oklahoma City, Moore, Oklahoma, and St. Louis.  His community service includes Vice President of the Mount Vernon, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Past-President of Clinton, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce and the Clinton Rotary Club, Volunteer Chairman for the LPGA Michelob Light Championship in 1998 and 1999 and numerous other non-profit groups and organizations. Gerry graduated from Washington University, St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Theory and Composition. He continued his musical studies in keyboard at Fontbonne University and received a Master of Business Arts with concentration in Marketing from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He later attended Harvard University, University of Kentucky, Carnegie Mellon University, and Boston College for specialized studies obtaining Certificates in Crisis Management, Executive Management, Community Relations, Conflict Resolution, Economic Development, Public Relations and Finance. Gerry lives in Wildwood with his wife, Judy.

Recognized as an internationally known expert on endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery and anatomy and a leader in Hand, Elbow and Shoulder surgery, Dr. Mitchell Rotman enjoys a strong background in music as well. As a Board Certified Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Rotman specializes in total care of the hand, elbow, and shoulder, including pediatric and congenital deformities, joint replacement, arthroscopy, nerve and microsurgery. He has authored numerous articles in the medical literature and is in demand as a speaker at national medical meetings. Dr. Rotman majored in Biology and Music as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana graduating cum laude and attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. A hand surgery fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine brought him to St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Rotman currently serves as Associate Clinical Professor of Occupational Medicine at St. Louis University and on the staff at St. Louis Spine and Orthopedic Surgery Center, Des Peres Hospital, Timberlake Surgery Center and is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. When not practicing medicine and spending time with his family, Dr. Rotman performs with the St. Louis Philharmonic as a member of the horn section.  

Milton P. Wilkins holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School 1971 and a BA degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA 1969. Milton’s professional career prior to joining Roman, Butler, Fullerton & Co. includes positions with the First National Bank of Chicago in electronics and aerospace commercial lending 1971-1972; with the international management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. 1972-1975; and with Monsanto Co. 1976-1997 where, as a member of the senior management group, he held positions as Regional Director of Latin America of the Agricultural Co., V. P. of the Plant Sciences Division, and V. P. of Corporate Development in the corporate mergers and acquisitions group. Upon retiring from Monsanto in 1997, Milton joined Roman, Butler, Fullerton, & Co. as a partner in the firm. In regard to civic activities, Milton currently serves on the Finance Council and Investment Committee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, is a member of the Board of Trustees of Cardinal Glennon Hospital Foundation where he has served as Treasurer; a member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis Science Center where he serves as chair of the finance committee; a member of the St. Louis County Retirement Board where he serves on the investment committee of the $400 million public employees pension plan; and a member of the Board of Directors of KETC-Channel 9 where he has served as Chairman of the Board. Milton also has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Louis Priory School; of St. Louis University High School where he served as chair of the investment committee; and Maryville University where he served as a chair of the investment committee. He also has served as a Commissioner of the St. Louis Airport Commission and as a member of the national Board of Directors of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Milton is a native of St. Louis and a graduate of St. Louis University High School. He lives in Creve Coeur with his wife, Nina Smiley Wilkins.    

Phoebe Dent Weil is a specialist in art conservation. She is a Director at Northern Light Studio, a collaborative enterprise to investigate, practice and teach the traditions and materials of studio art practice. Phoebe attended Wellesley College Wellesley College receiving a BA in Art History. She also studied at Memphis Academy of Arts, New York University, Institute of Fine Arts. A recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship, Phoebe worked at Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique, Brussels, Belgium studying technical examination and conservation treatment of mediaeval polychrome wood sculpture with Paul Coremans and Jean Thyssen. She has been involved in sculpture conservation efforts in St. Louis through the Center for Archaeometry at Washington University. As technical director and chief conservator of Washington University Technology Associates, Phoebe has consulted and lectured on art conservation projects all over the country. She divides her time between St. Louis and consulting in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin is Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL). He also maintains a rigorous schedule of guest conducting throughout the world and is active as a composer, author, and educator. Highlights of the 2015-16 season include a three-week Brahms festival in Detroit; engagements with the St. Louis Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and NHK Symphony in Tokyo; debuts with Beijing’s China Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra; and a summer tour of Japan and China with the ONL. Slatkin’s more than 100 recordings have garnered seven Grammy awards and 64 nominations. His recent Naxos recordings include works by Saint-Saëns, Ravel, and Berlioz (with the ONL) and music by Copland, Rachmaninov, Borzova, McTee, and John Williams (with the DSO). In addition, he has recorded the complete Beethoven and Tchaikovsky symphonies with the DSO (available online as digital downloads). A recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, Slatkin also holds the rank of Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor. Moreover, he has received Austria’s Declaration of Honor in Silver, the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Gold Baton Award, and the 2013 ASCAP Deems Taylor Special Recognition Award for his book, Conducting Business. Slatkin has held posts as Music Director of the New Orleans, St. Louis, and National symphony orchestras, and he was Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He has served as Principal Guest Conductor of London’s Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and the Minnesota Orchestra. He has conducted virtually all of the leading orchestras in the world, including: New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, all five London orchestras, Berlin Philharmonic, Munich’s Bayerischer Rundfunk, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Slatkin’s opera conducting has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Santa Fe Opera, Vienna State Opera, Stuttgart Opera, and Opéra Bastille in Paris. Born in Los Angeles to a distinguished musical family, he began his musical training on the violin and first studied conducting with his father, followed by Walter Susskind at Aspen and Jean Morel at Juilliard. He makes his permanent home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with his wife, composer Cindy McTee.