Staff

Barbara Brown - RPO Vice president of Education

Vice President of Education Barbara Brown joined the RPO in 2008, and was named Director of Education in 2012. She was promoted to Vice President and given oversight of a new department in 2021. Her department is responsible for the management and implementation of all of the RPO’s educational concerts and activities. Additionally, she oversees and coordinates all aspects of the RPO’s community engagement programs, including the RPO Care & Wellness Initiative, Around the Town Concerts, and summer parks concerts. Barbara and her team oversees the development and rollout of OPUS, from ideation to program pilots.

Barbara earned a BA/BM in Saxophone Performance and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Washington. In 2008 she completed an MM in Saxophone Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where she was also awarded a Performer’s Certificate. In addition to her duties with the RPO, Barbara still performs in the area with the Vertex Saxophone Quartet.

Ashlee allaire - youth orchestra and education projects manager

Ashlee Allaire joined the RPO team in September of 2023, and now serves as the RPO’s Youth Orchestra and Education Projects Manager, where she oversee all RPYO activities and assists in the execution of the RPO educational engagement programs. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant Patron Services Manager, where her passion for elevating the patron experience successfully helped her manage the Patron Services Center and play a vital role in ticket sales during the RPO Centennial Season.

Ms. Allaire has an extensive background in music education and percussion performance. For almost ten years, she’s taught various ensembles - such as the Tallahassee Youth Orchestra, the FSU Summer Music Camps, and as an assistant Percussion Director in multiple Florida Public Schools. Her passion and enthusiasm for orchestral training has allowed her to continue pursuing teaching, as she currently serves as the percussion instructor for the Roberts Wesleyan University Community Music School.

In pursuit of intermittently performing, she is a founding member of the Call Street Percussion Quartet, who is dedicated to the advancement of percussion chamber music, through collaborative commissions and innovative performances. Ms. Allaire holds a Masters of Music from Northwestern University, as well as a Bachelors in Percussion Performance with a minor in education from Florida State University. She’s originally from the Tampa Bay area and loves hiking, rock climbing, and spending time with her cat, Molly.

Dr. Chisato eda marling - RPo manager of education and community partnerships

Dr. Chisato Eda Marling joined RPO in February 2022 as the Manager of Education and Community Partnerships. She is also the instructor of Saxophone at Eastman Community Music School and a founding member of the Vertex Saxophone Quartet.  She started playing piano at age 3 and saxophone at age 8. She holds the Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, Japan, the Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Minnesota, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature with a minor in Musician's Wellness and Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Chisato is a Vandoren Performing Artist.