DOUBLE YOUR
IMPACT
Did you know that many companies will match any personal contribution you give to the choir?
If you or your spouse work for a company that has a matching program, your donation could make double impact.
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Here is a list of just some of the companies that have matching programs.
Don't see your company?
Just contact us and we'll be happy to do the legwork for you!
Building a Joyful, Vocal, and Involved Community Through Song!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Read all about our hardworking board of directors below! If you want to send them feedback or an idea, click the button below to send an email.
Karla Thomas
President
Karla (she/they) began singing before they could talk. Music has always been an important piece of life for Karla, keeping them connected to their own family and culture and introducing them to the world around them. Karla is honored to serve as the President for this organization and is dedicated to fostering a community that is focused on the joy, compassion and togetherness that music can bring. Karla is also a ceramicist and pottery instructor and a homeschooling parent to three children.
Lisa Harris
Secretary
Lisa Harris started out with EBPC in 2017 and joined MPCS in 2020. Other musical endeavors include playing guitar, the occasional open mic, and in the past, directing children's musical theater productions in her backyard.
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Alfin Pamula
Treasurer
Alfin (he/him), a graduate of UCLA with a major in Economics, joined the MPCS choir as an EBPC member in 2022 and took on the role of treasurer in 2023, where he combines his financial acumen with a passion for music, ensuring the choir's (financial) harmony. While Alfin's singing experience may have humble beginnings - primarily confined to his bathroom serenades - his enthusiasm to expand his musical horizons have enabled him to blend in with (and occasionally sneak in unsolicited one-note solos to) the choir's tenor section. Beyond the choir, he finds joy in exploring the outdoors through hiking and indulges in his love for culinary adventures, often singing along while whipping up delectable dishes. In Alfin's world, the numbers may add up, but the music adds soul to his life.
Dr. Carola Di Alessandro
Carola (she/her) is an Italian engineering seismologist with extensive experience in ground-motion characterization. Her passion for designing resilient structures is paired with her desire to build strong communities through music and foundational society values. Since joining EBPC/MPCS in 2019, she has been supporting the organization's Steering Committee, public outreach, and concert logistics. Outside of the choir, she sings her way across multiple volunteering engagements in the community, involving an Italian cultural club, a Fremont-based cat rescue organization, and her kids' soccer and swim teams. Fun fact: Carola sang blues songs even before learning how to speak English!
Falguni Desai
Falguni's passion for singing began in her youth, where she sang in school choirs from elementary school through high school. She joined the East Bay People's Choir in 2023, and her love for group singing and its healing power led her to join the board in 2025.
Professionally, Falguni has a BSc in Business Administration and a postgraduate degree in Management Studies. She brings over 25 years of experience in corporate America, where she held senior business operations roles and managed complex programs, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Outside of the choir, Falguni is a passionate advocate for Scleroderma awareness, working as a Patient, Advocate, and Educator. She also enjoys traveling, attending the theatre, and spending time with her family.
Carl Blincoe
Carl moved to the Bay Area in 2nd grade and get up on the peninsula. He graduated from UCLA, married, and raised four children. He now has four grandchildren. Music has always been a passion. Before joining Mission Peak Choir, he sang in a church choir and directed a kids choir. His last career before retirement was teaching high school math. Besides music, Carl enjoys delivering Meals on Wheels, swimming at Ohlone, preparing tax returns through the VITA program, and he is a member of the Niles Rotary club. He stays active with bicycling and hiking. Music gives him great joy, especially when singing with the amazing people in our choir.
Romain Bacou
Romain started singing with his town choir back in France when he was 5 years old. Rather shy at the time, he would hide behind his music sheets the entire performance so no one would notice him, so he thought. Thankfully he's a little better about engaging with the audience. He joined MPCS as a singer in 2022 and joined the board of directors a year after. In his spare time, he enjoys many activities around the outdoors, he loves live performances, and dreams about one day reviving his old band to sing old classics like Sinatra. He studied Mechanical Engineering yet worked in Information Technology his entire career. Now done with the corporate lifestyle he's doing property and wealth management while attending his kids who are in elementary and college grades. And let's not forget supporting this wonderful choir and community that is ours.
Kirsten (she/her) joined Mission Peak Choir as a singer in 2021. Her favorite part of performing is the amazing opportunities to connect in the moment with the audience and her fellow singers. Since joining the choir she has steadily taken on more volunteer responsibilities, which include creating and organizing practice resources, supervising rehearsal logistics as Choir Manager, and joining the Board
in 2025. Kirsten has a BS in Physics from the University of Virginia, and worked in data analytics before deciding to switch gears and focus on homeschooling her kids. Her non-musical hobbies include lifting heavy weights at the gym, playing Minecraft (with or without her kids), and sleeping.
Jackie Flaten
Jackie Flaten is a North Dakota native who has resided in the Bay Area since 2000. She loves to sing and harmonize with others. She believes that everyone can sing, even when they say they can't, that music is good for one's heart, mind, and soul, and that sharing musical experiences helps build community ties. She is also trying to learn various instruments (mandolin, piano, accordion, autoharp, dulcimer, triangle) at least well enough so people don't run screaming from the room when she attempts a song.
She joined the Mission Peak Choir a few years ago and is thrilled to be a part of this growing and evolving group of music lovers. Jackie also participates in the San Mateo Folk Singer Meetup, singing circles at The Freight & Salvage, and aspires to be brave enough someday for open mike performances. Jackie is a writer and creates mosaics and textile art; she and her husband, Chris Breitling, have two daughters and four cats and live in Niles.
Kirsten Kavulak
A Letter from our Board President
As we step into a new season together, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for the part you’ve played in shaping our choir’s story. Whether you’ve sung with us, attended a performance, volunteered behind the scenes, or supported us financially, you are an essential part of the community that makes our work possible.
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This year marks an important time of renewal for us. We are working not only to prepare a season of beautiful music, but also to strengthen the foundation that supports our choir’s future. Together, we are building a structure that is sustainable, inclusive, and nurturing for every member. Our goal is not just to perform, but to create a place of belonging where people can connect through music, support one another, and grow as musicians and friends.
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Some of the changes you’ll notice this season include a name and logo change, new leadership, a brave new financial structure and membership volunteer initiatives. Each of these steps is designed with one purpose in mind. To ensure that our choir continues to thrive, not only today, but for many seasons to come.
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Our new name, Mission Peak Choir, was the organic result of a combined rehearsal structure with the East Bay People’s Choir and the Mission Peak Chamber Singers that took place a few years ago. This year though, we officially become ONE choir and ONE community. Our choir is open to all and still contains a small group of chamber singers that dedicate additional rehearsal time to advanced repertoire.
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Our new Artistic Director, Andrew Kessler, joins us with a fresh look at community engagement. He can often be overheard saying "when the singers are having fun, the beautiful music flows."
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In recent years, the organization faced significant financial strain, operating at a substantial deficit. Our current board has taken decisive steps to restructure finances and put us on a sustainable course, ensuring we honor our responsibilities and protect the choir’s future. With this financial plan comes more member involvement through volunteer initiatives, both within our organization and within our greater community. We strive to create a space that engages members with a strong sense of belonging and purpose.
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At the heart of all of this is our belief that music is meant to be shared. We sing not only for ourselves, but for the joy, healing, and connection it brings to those around us. By coming together, we create something larger than any one voice could achieve alone. Our campaign for the year, called Raise Every Voice! reflects this sentiment.
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I invite you to stay connected, lend your voice (whether in song, in support, or in spirit), and join us as we begin this exciting new chapter. With gratitude for all who have helped us come this far, and with hope for what lies ahead, let us lift our voices together.
With warmth and appreciation,
Karla Thomas
Board President
Mission Peak Choir
