Alina Diaz President
Alina Diaz is an active supporter of the arts in Miami. She is the founder and owner of Casa Artali, a private art gallery and cultural salon in Miami. She has been an Executive Director in the Miami Dade County School System from 2003 to 2009. Ms. Diaz was an Instructional Supervisor ay Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources from 1974 through 2003. She is a graduate from University of Miami School of Law, with a J.D. in Law from 1985 to 1988. She received her M.S. in School Psychology from Florida International University from 1976 to 1978. At Pace University from 1970 to 1974, she received her B.A. in Psychology.
Kirsy Batista Secretary
Kirsy Batista is an architect from the Dominican Republic. She has always been interested in the arts. Ms. Batista worked for four years in the Miami Dade College Art Galleries System. Batista’s work included designing of installations for many monthly exhibitions; the largest and most ambitious was the exhibition of works by Francisco Goya at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami. She has served on the Board of Directors of Fire Haus Projects in many capacities since its inception in 2007.
Lourdes Garcia Treasurer
Lourdes Garcia is a South Florida real estate agent broker. Owner of Lopez Realty, she has six decades of experience in the industry.
Lilia Fontana Executive Director
Dr. Lilia Fontana is an arts management professional with expertise in grant procurement, management and reporting. She founded Fire Haus Projects in 2007 to strengthen the arts community by assisting artists to showcase their talent. She manages the operations of the organization that include finding talent, fund-raising and locating spaces for cultural activities. Notable collaborations with The Unconservatory include the Altered Arts Series Festival (2015), Gala For Two Pianos (2018) and World Walks (2020). She was Adjunct Professor of Humanities at Strayer University with headquarters in Washington DC, and is the Visual Arts Director of the musical theater production of Always Remember by Marilyn Morales.
Dr. Fontana has designed and curated exhibitions from museum artifact collections as well as archiving valuable photo collections. Working with volunteer staff to prepare spaces, scheduling activities, marketing and advertising the various functions, she enhances the artist’s capability to reach a broader audience. She is an art critic and contributing writer for many publications since 1990 in the US and Latin America, publishing numerous reviews and articles for Arte al Dia Magazine and Newspaper as well as for Artes en Santo Domingo and Art Papers.
She has written about artists such as Elba Damast, Soledad Arias, Lucia Pizzani, Ruth Vollmer and Gego. Articles she has written include About Collections and Collectors: Interview with Dr. Arturo Mosquera; Edouard Duval Carrie, Diaspora: The Trajectory of a Haitian Artist; (cover article) and Interview with Ruben Torres Llorca (cover article). Galleries she has worked with include Hardcore Contemporary Art Space, Alejandra Von Hartz Gallery, Signature Art Gallery, Miami Art Central, and Bernice Steinbaum Gallery.
Dr. Fontana has designed and curated exhibitions from museum artifact collections as well as archiving valuable photo collections. Working with volunteer staff to prepare spaces, scheduling activities, marketing and advertising the various functions, she enhances the artist’s capability to reach a broader audience. She is an art critic and contributing writer for many publications since 1990 in the US and Latin America, publishing numerous reviews and articles for Arte al Dia Magazine and Newspaper as well as for Artes en Santo Domingo and Art Papers.
She has written about artists such as Elba Damast, Soledad Arias, Lucia Pizzani, Ruth Vollmer and Gego. Articles she has written include About Collections and Collectors: Interview with Dr. Arturo Mosquera; Edouard Duval Carrie, Diaspora: The Trajectory of a Haitian Artist; (cover article) and Interview with Ruben Torres Llorca (cover article). Galleries she has worked with include Hardcore Contemporary Art Space, Alejandra Von Hartz Gallery, Signature Art Gallery, Miami Art Central, and Bernice Steinbaum Gallery.
Jelani Bandele
Jelani Bandele is an author, writer, and the founder of TELL Legacy, a website curating Black history as it is being made. Her career span includes writing for tthe major publishing houses Billboard and Fairchild Publications, and directing art, fashion, beauty and entertainment publicity campaigns. Bandele also serves as the Alumni Engagement Manager at Pratt Institute, where she manages the 30-year-old affinity group, The Black Alumni of Pratt, which supports the college's Black and Latinx students and alumni. Bandele serves on the Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center's Advisory Council and Pratt's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council.
Carleton Cornish
Carleton Cornich is a Cranberry Coast native, born in nearby New Bedford. He performed the premiere role of Hassan Kassari in the 2022 world premiere production of Always Remember. Mr. Cornish has been singing as a tenor/counter-tenor for as long as he can remember. He has performed in theatrical productions of Godspell and Hair, and professionally in acapella groups No Strings Attached (Boston) and Rapid Transit (San Francisco).
Mr. Cornish writes, records, releases and performs high energy dance music as his alter ego Eton, and his music is available on iTunes, Beatport, Spotify, Amazon, youTube and hundreds of digital sites worldwide. In his spare time, he enjoys his career at Oracle Corporation.
James Dolan
James Dolan grew up locally in Lakeville, MA and has studied piano with Steve Tinkham from the age of 12. Mr. Dolan appeared under the auspices of Cranberry Coast Concerts as an Outstanding Young Artist in five seasons. Following this apprenticeship, he performed in his professional debut.
Over the years, Mr. Dolan has enjoyed playing a diverse mix of classical music from J.S. Bach to Frederic Chopin, as well as contemporary music from Kirk Whipple. Lately James has also entered the ranks of teacher, taking on private students.
Mr. Dolan's other interests include spending time with his supportive family and friends, as well as playing golf at Lebaron Hills Country Club, where he is currently employed. He continues to further his musical education and pursues his lifelong passion for playing and teaching music.
Dax Fontana
Dax Fontana served as the President of the Board of Directors of Fire Haus Projects for many years. He is currently working as the Programs and Events Manager for the Key Biscayne Parks and Recreations Department. His passions are music, visual arts, nature and the environment and is an avid golfer and tennis player. He has a bachelors degree in communications arts and a masters in public administration. He is currently enrolled in his second masters degree from the University of Florida in a Masters of Science in Natural Resource Policy and Administration.
Katie Ketchum
Katie Ketchum is a singer, pianist, composer, songwriter and painter. She is the Music and Choir Director at Ebenezer Lutheran/herchurch in San Francisco, CA. Ms. Ketchum is a National Endowment for the Arts recipient for touring her one woman musical about the American Artist Mary Cassatt. Her concert/drama; An Evening with Clara Schumann premiered at Cranberry Coast Concerts in Massachusetts.
Ms. Ketchum has performed her musicals at Boston University, herchurch in San Francisco and starred in a months run of her original musical, "Magdalene the Musical" at Sacramento Theatre Company. Her paintings are in private collections in Florida, California as well as in Katie’s Dream Portal Studio in Sebastopol, California where she also has concerts. Her artworks are on display at her private gallery at herchurch in San Francisco, CA.
Marilyn Morales
Marilyn Morales, a native of Havana, Cuba, has performed in solo recitals and concerts throughout the United States. She has a Bachelor's degree in piano performance from Boston University and an Associate's degree from Miami Dade College. She studied piano with Maria Clodes Jaguaribe, Roy Bogas, Linda Byrd and Bela B. Nagy and has taken master classes with Michael Tilson Thomas and Claude Monteau. Morales has also studied harmony, composition and improvisation with W. A. Mathieu. Other music teachers include Robert Sirota and Richard Cornell. A finalist in the Portland, Maine Symphony Piano Competition, Ms. Morales performed in the 1990 Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition which was held in Valencia and gave several concerts in Spain. She is listed in “Quien Es Quien,” the American Hispanic version of “Who's Who.” In the summers of 2014 and 2016 Ms. Morales presented concert versions of her original musical Always Remember at Cranberry Coast Concerts to widespread public and critical acclaim. The work is based upon her experiences and personal accounts from other Cuban refugees. Postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19, a full-scale world premiere theatrical version of the musical was presented at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay on the Thanksgiving weekend of 2022.
Donald Quan
Donald Quan is a renowned multi-instrumentalist and has toured the world overwith Loreena McKennitt playing tabla, viola and keyboards. Mr. Quan is best known for his instantly recognizable theme for the syndicated television series "Relic Hunter”.
He regularly performs locally as the leader of the Donald Quan Trio and withseveral other groups and collaborations including Coleman Tinsley (jazz), Emily Coulston (pop) and Jim Gelcer (kirtan).
As a recording artist, Mr. Quan has released 3 albums on his independentlabel Edam Squid and has released over a dozen albums as a label artist forSomerset/Avalon. He currently is mentoring and producing young artists and continuing to score films. Mr. Quan is also an internationally recognized chef, specializing in Chinese cuisine.
Craig Wheeler
A librarian by trade and an actor by passion, Craig Wheeler performed the premiere role of Mengano in the 2022 world premiere of Always Remember. His comedy, like his music, comes from a place of shared human experiences at which we can all share a laugh. His comedic heroes include Lilly Tomlin, Bette Midler, George Carlin, Bob Newhart, Anna Russell, and Carol Burnette.
Mr. Wheeler has appeared in numerous productions: Arsenic and Old Lace, Treasure Island, Once upon a Mattress, Faust, Summer and Smoke, Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute, and Musical Director / Accompanist / Sister Mary Craig in Nunsense. He is grateful for all the opportunities to connect with audiences and especially in the Cranberry Coast Concert Series.
Kirk Whipple
Kirk Whipple is one half of the Whipple-Morales Piano Duo and one quarter of the United Nations Piano Quartet. As professional musician and educator, Mr. Whipple has been involved with all aspects of the music world, including performance, administration, private and class instruction, concert production and promotion, career consultation for pre-professional artists and musical journalism.
Mr. Whipple's extensive and varied musical experience includes solo concerts of classical, original and improvisational performances around the world, tours with the Harry James Band and the starring role in a national touring performances of "Mr. Showmanship: A Sparkling Grand Tribute to Lee Liberace." An apprentice of William Allaudin Mathieu, Kirk Whipple assisted Mr. Mathieu in his ground breaking work, "Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression," a globally acclaimed reference work.
As Executive Director of The Unconservatory, based in Florida, and Cranberry Coast Concerts, based in Massachusetts, Mr. Whipple is very much involved in the presentation of musical and educational projects throughout the East Coast.