Leadership

Emily Olson

President and Artistic Director

Emily Olson brings over 25 years of experience in classical performance, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement to her role as Artistic Director for Beacon Arts Michigan. A versatile flutist, Emily has performed with the Ann Arbor, Flint, and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras, Michigan Sinfonietta, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, and the Encore Musical Theatre Company. Her summer performances have taken her to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she’s appeared with the Pine Mountain Music Festival, Manistique Community Chamber Concert Series, and Strings on the Bay.

Originally from Ohio, Emily holds degrees in performance and music education from The Ohio State University and a master’s in flute performance from the University of Michigan. Her academic training laid the foundation for a career that bridges artistic excellence with community-centered leadership. Emily has held key roles in arts and healthcare organizations, including Director of Philanthropy for Arbor Hospice and Development Manager for Kerrytown Concert House. As a Certified Music Practitioner, she has provided therapeutic music at Michigan Medicine and Beaumont Health, underscoring her commitment to the healing power of the arts.

With strong ties to both Southeast Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, Emily leads Beacon Arts Michigan with a vision rooted in accessibility, collaboration, and celebration of Michigan’s diverse musical heritage. She is passionate about creating meaningful artistic experiences for all and believes in the power of music to build bridges, educate, and inspire.

David Lamse

Vice President

As a former professional concert violinist and chamber musician, David Lamse presented over sixty concerts throughout New England while a member of the Point CounterPoint Chamber Players, and he has appeared in recital at Middlebury College, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Eastern Michigan University, and Klavierhaus in New York City. With a wealth of diverse experience across all musical genres, David has played twenty-six Broadway National Tour engagements and recorded for the Cerberus, Blonde Vinyl, Naxos (American Classics), and Motown record labels. In addition, over the past three decades, he has performed with most Midwest professional orchestras and been featured live on-stage with an extensive list of popular artists, including Mannheim Steamroller, Smokey Robinson, Sarah McLachlan, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Liza Minnelli.

David was the Personnel Manager of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra for eight seasons and served as the Director of the Jackson Community Music School (CMS) from 2015-18. There, he helped grow total enrollment to over 300 students while creating numerous outreach and enrichment programs for local organizations, including the Jackson District Library, Public Schools, and the YMCA. He also produced the entire CMS String Team Program, which placed CMS faculty in area schools, reaching over one hundred children per semester with subsidized after-school music classes. David has held faculty positions at the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and Point CounterPoint Music Camp, where he was also named founding Music Director of the camp’s Adult Chamber Workshop. Most recently, he served as Personnel Manager of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra for two seasons before retiring in 2024.
David was raised in Grand Rapids and attended college in both E. Lansing and Ann Arbor; he is a true and proud Michigander. David has enjoyed reacquainting himself with the wonderful people and natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula as a former member of the True North String Quartet; he now splits his time evenly between Ann Arbor and a family property near Naubinway, MI. David is honored and thrilled to serve on the Board of Beacon Arts Michigan and looks forward to bringing the highest quality music, art, and culture to the UP and beyond.

Maurita Holland

Secretary

Maurita Peterson Holland grew up in Gulliver, MI. After graduating from Manistique High School, she attended the University of Michigan where she studied music, computing, and information science. Maurita is a University of Michigan Associate Professor Emerita of Information, having taught courses in the design and management of information systems and services, served as Assistant to the Dean for Academic Initiatives, and worked with cultural heritage preservation information systems in Native American tribal colleges and the Smithsonian. After retiring, she continued her teaching and interest in K-12 curriculum development in the UM’s School of Education and School of Information.
Maurita began playing piano at age four. She spent several summers at Interlochen’s National Music Camp. Maurita has accompanied the Ann Arbor Cantata Singers and has been a frequent piano accompanist and performer in the Ann Arbor area. She earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Michigan where she studied piano with Robert Hord and also pursued doctoral work in musicology. Maurita has played flute with the Ann Arbor Adult Flute Ensemble. As an active member of the Detroit-area Swedish community, Maurita often plays Scandinavian music on her accordion. She was the first woman on the board of the American Society for Engineering Education and has served on the boards of the University of Michigan Press, Michigan's Institute of Continuing Legal Education Technology Committee, Board of Trustees of the Emerson and Greenhills Schools, and of the Board of Trustees of the Community Systems Foundation. She has been a governor of the Martha Cook Building of the University of Michigan and president of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. She is currently the chair of the board of The Stewardship Network, a regional environmental non- profit, is a founding member of Washtenaw Citizens for Ecological Balance, and belongs to the Rotary Club of Manistique.
Maurita spends as much time as possible at her Lake Michigan home in Gulliver. She is an Advanced Master Gardener and grew orchids for many years.

Claire T. Foley, CPA

Treasurer

Senior Financial Consultant & CFO | Founder, Fiscal Fitness, LLC
Claire is the founder of Fiscal Fitness, LLC, a financial consulting practice dedicated to helping businesses gain clarity, control, and confidence in their financial strategy. With nearly three decades of experience navigating complex financial landscapes, she combines data-driven insight with a client-focused approach to deliver results in accounting, financial planning, operational efficiency, and business growth.
Claire holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Over her career, she has partnered with startups, scale-ups, and long-established multi-state enterprises, guiding them through transitions -- from M&A due diligence and accounting system overhauls to investment planning, and financial forecasting.
Whether optimizing cash flow or designing long-term strategic roadmaps, Claire thrives on turning financial uncertainty into strategic clarity and confidence. She believes that smart financial strategies create meaningful impact—not only in business performance but also in leadership and life.
Through her fractional CFO services and executive-level consulting, Claire helps organizations make smarter, faster, and more financially sound decisions at every stage of growth.