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Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer Spotlight: Denise Emery
Steadfast Commitment to our Success
Denise Emery, one of our esteemed long-time Volunteer Ambassadors, has resided in Lewes since 2009. However, she has been a Coastal Concerts volunteer since 2005, when she and her husband relocated to Millsboro from Northern Virginia.
Denise is a former President of Coastal Concerts and currently chairs the “Toot Your Own Horn Program.” This program is a vital outreach component of our organization, where she coordinates the collection of gently used instruments and donates them to students in Sussex County Schools who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
Prior to retiring to Sussex County, Denise served for nine years in the Foreign Office of the National Academy of Sciences and visited China in 1974 with a group of physicians studying acupuncture anesthesia. Additionally, she served for 21 years as a College and Career Counselor for Fairfax County Public Schools.
In her spare time, when Denise is not collecting and delivering instruments to schools, she serves on the City of Lewes Board of Adjustment, the City's Public Art Committee, and the Development Committee for Village Volunteers.
Denise also has a profound passion for travel, with Spain being one of her preferred destinations. She has enjoyed many riverboat cruises, notably the Elbe River cruise from Prague to Berlin, which she regards as the most memorable.
“I don’t think I have a favorite country,” Denise shared, “I love them all, but I do wish I had commenced my travels to South America years ago."
An interesting fact about Denise is her “proficiency” in the Spanish language. She proudly shares, “I am working hard to improve my ability in the Spanish language. I have been studying Spanish since 1990, and I participate in a conversation group at the Lewes Library every Thursday afternoon. Learning to speak a foreign language has been a fascinating experience.” So, it’s no surprise then that Spain is one of her favorite destinations!
Denise shared, "My tenure with CoCo over the years, witnessing the organization's growth and being an integral part of its history, has been a profound source of satisfaction for me."
Her extraordinary passion and dedication to our mission are remarkable. We extend our sincerest gratitude to Denise for her extensive years of volunteerism with CoCo and her steadfast commitment to our success.
Volunteer Spotlight: Joan Colley
Recognizing Dedication and Passion
We are honored to acknowledge Joan Colley as one of this this month's featured Coastal Concerts’ Volunteer Ambassador. Over the past two years, Joan has generously devoted a considerable amount of her time to assisting concertgoers by greeting them and scanning tickets prior to our performances.
Joan relocated to Coastal Club in Lewes in February 2018 from New Jersey, where she retired from her esteemed career as a paralegal. Although Joan does not play an instrument or sing, she eagerly volunteered for Coastal Concerts to deepen her appreciation for classical music and to foster connections with fellow volunteers within our organization. Joan remarked, “I thoroughly enjoyed the recent concert with the Cann Duo because the musicians were so personable and provided explanations of what we were listening to.” Additionally, she volunteered at Michelle Cann’s performance at the high school in October 2023 and was delighted to see her return along with her sister.
In her leisure time, Joan volunteers for the Harry K Foundation and possesses a fervent passion for travel. Indeed, she has embarked on numerous extensive journeys across the globe. “Along with my husband, we traveled throughout Europe, and with having four Italian grandparents, my first love is Italy, and I never tire of revisiting. We’ve also made several visits to South America; particularly memorable were Machu Picchu and Buenos Aires. Our trip to China was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where I loved seeing the pandas!”
When asked for suggestions on how we might enhance our organization and concerts, she remarked, “while Coastal Concerts presents itself as 'world-class classical music,' perhaps including performances of various music genres, not solely classical, could attract a wider audience. Additionally, more young people might be encouraged to participate and attend more concerts.” This thoughtful suggestion will be forwarded to the Program Committee and the Board for their consideration.
Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Joan for her energy, exceptional customer service, responsiveness, commitment, and passion for our mission. We are deeply appreciative of her eagerness to assist whenever she is not exploring the world!
Volunteer Spotlight: Joan Colley
Recognizing Dedication and Passion
We are honored to acknowledge Joan Colley as one of this this month's featured Coastal Concerts’ Volunteer Ambassador. Over the past two years, Joan has generously devoted a considerable amount of her time to assisting concertgoers by greeting them and scanning tickets prior to our performances.
Joan relocated to Coastal Club in Lewes in February 2018 from New Jersey, where she retired from her esteemed career as a paralegal.
Although Joan does not play an instrument or sing, she eagerly volunteered for Coastal Concerts to deepen her appreciation for classical music and to foster connections with fellow volunteers within our organization.
Joan remarked, “I thoroughly enjoyed the recent concert with the Cann Duo because the musicians were so personable and provided explanations of what we were listening to.” Additionally, she volunteered at Michelle Cann’s performance at the high school in October 2023 and was delighted to see her return along with her sister.
In her leisure time, Joan volunteers for the Harry K Foundation and possesses a fervent passion for travel. Indeed, she has embarked on numerous extensive journeys across the globe.
“Along with my husband, we traveled throughout Europe, and with having four Italian grandparents, my first love is Italy, and I never tire of revisiting. We’ve also made several visits to South America; particularly memorable were Machu Picchu and Buenos Aires. Our trip to China was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where I loved seeing the pandas!”
When asked for suggestions on how we might enhance our organization and concerts, she remarked, “while Coastal Concerts presents itself as 'world-class classical music,' perhaps including performances of various music genres, not solely classical, could attract a wider audience. Additionally, more young people might be encouraged to participate and attend more concerts.”
This thoughtful suggestion will be forwarded to the Program Committee and the Board for their consideration.
Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Joan for her energy, exceptional customer service, responsiveness, commitment, and passion for our mission. We are deeply appreciative of her eagerness to assist whenever she is not exploring the world!