Music Mission Kiev

Darrell Booher
Andy and Betsy Brock
Helen Harrison
Robert & Carole Gray
Richard & Cecily Jaynes
Ben and Lynda McCarty
Charles and Ruth Ann McChesney
Roger and Diane McMurrin
Nancy McNeal
Bob and Kitty Neil
Robert (Bob) & Frances Neill
Paul and Cherry Palma
Ria Springer
Rosemarie Voyles

Darrell Booher
Darrell was born and grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and has an Accounting degree. He was drafted into the army for 2 years and while there he toured Western Europe. After that time, he spent 4 years working for the Internal Auditing Department at Penn State University before moving to Arlington, VA where we worked for the Federal Government in the Department of Treasury, until his retirement in 1991. Currently, Darrell works in real estate sales, and attends 4th Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland. He and his wife Darlene met and were married at 4th Pres. They have two married children, Brett and Heidi and a granddaughter, Faith.

Darrell first heard of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus four years ago when they came to his church. The experience left a lasting impression because of the quality of music and the enthusiasm of the musicians. Since Darrell had studied classical piano for many years, this was a mission that had great interest to him. This interest continued to grow as he learned more about the various ministries of Music Mission Kiev, how they minister and help the Ukrainian people. Being apart of this mission has been a great blessing to him.

Andy and Betsy Brock
Andy has an engineering degree and is currently a Sales Engineer with Texas Air Systems, Inc., a Commercial Air Conditioning Manufacturers Representative Firm located in Irving, Texas. Betsy has an electrical engineering degree and previously worked as a software engineer. She is currently a stay at home mother and is home schooling their three children - Irina, Anna and Peter. Andy and Betsy developed a heart for reaching the people of Eastern Europe through their involvement with international student ministries at Highland Park Presbyterian Church and trips to Moldova and Russia.

Their association and involvement with MMK began through KSOC concerts at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. They reside just outside of Dallas in Coppell, Texas and are members of Coppell Bible Fellowship.

Robert & Carole Gray

Bob was born in Woodville, Florida and spent his

childhood traveling with his military family to many parts of the globe, which included attending High School in Ismir, Turkey and Ireland. Bob has a Science degree from St. Petersburg, Florida. He worked as a Senior Technical Writer for Western Electric, Winston-Salem, NC and retired with Siemens Corporation in Boca Raton, Florida. Carole was born in Evanston, IL and is an RN with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Administration.
She has recently retired after a career in nursing which included Neontatal Nursing, Home Health, and Director of Case Management for TRICARE Military Healthcare in Louisville, KY.

They have two children, Deborah and Robert, and 9 grandchildren. They met Roger and Diane at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and participated in the Chancel and Concert Choirs, a tour to Europe, and chaperoned the Coral Ambassadors to South America, which their daughter Debbie was a member. Carole and Bob are members of Praise Chapel in Crandon, WI and are very active as leaders of the Senior's Program and are also working with the church building program. They have been members of the MMK Board of Directors since the mid 90's.

Helen Harrison
Helen is a graduate of Duke University with a degree in Computer Science, and has spent her career in various computer support roles in the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina. She is presently an IT Manager at SAS Institute in Cary, NC. She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, Tom Truscott and young son, Harrison Truscott. A member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham where Helen and Tom sing in the chancel choir, she has participated in many church volunteer projects, has served as a Deacon and is a member of the WPC Global Missions committee . She has also been on the board of local non-profits including The Community Shelter for HOPE and Urban Ministries of Durham.

Helen first met the McMurrins when they came to Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX in the 70's where Helen grew up. Helen sang in Roger's youth choir and participated in choir tours in the US, Europe and Asia. Helen renewed her friendship with the McMurrins at a 20 year reunion of the choir tour to Europe. After hearing about the wonderful work that the McMurrins were doing in Kiev, Helen agreed to lead the project to bring the KSOC to Durham in 1998 and then again in 2000. She has been a member of the MMK Board of Directors since 1999. Helen is currently serving as Treasurer of the Board.

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Rick and Cecily Jaynes

Rick was born in Michigan. Having grown up in a music

loving family and singing in church choirs of different age groups, music is a very important part of his life. Cecily was born and grew up in Hong Kong. However, she has spent most of her life in Southern California. They met on a music tour of Spain, she in the soprano section and he playing the oboe in the orchestra. Rick and Cecily have been married for 25 years and currently attend Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, where they are members of the Chancel Choir and active in various ministries. In 2000, they hosted several members of the MMK choir. However, their real enthusiasm for the MMK
ministry didn't begin until they went on a Vision Trip in the spring of 2006.

At this stage of their lives they want to be involved with outreach and missions, including ministry to the Afar people group in Ethiopia and Floresta, a Chrisitian Organization that works to reverse deforestation and poverty in different parts of the world. They have three grown sons and 3 grandchildren, whom they absolutely adore.

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Ben and Lynda McCarty
Lynda Graham McCarty grew up in Memphis, TN and Ben McCarty in Jackson MS. They met while he was an ophthalmology resident in Memphis and they lived in Jackson, MS where he practiced general ophthalmology until his retirement in 1998 when they moved to Black Mountain, NC. Lynda was a school teacher in the Memphis public schools until their move to Jackson where she was a full time mother and homemaker. Since retirement they have participated in several volunteer mission programs thru World Medical Missions. Today they are members of Montreat Presbyterian Church where Lynda is an elder. They became acquainted with Music Mission Kiev thru the concerts presented by both of the orchestras and choirs in the Asheville area. On a Vision Trip to Kiev in May of 2005 they became further acquainted with the activities and goals of MMK through not only music, but also the orphans, widows and after school programs in the public schools. They are looking forward to participation in this ongoing effort.

Charles and Ruth Ann McChesney
Charlie McChesney is a recent transplant to western PA from NJ. He earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a Ph. D. from Princeton. He is retired from a career in engineering, design and marketing in the high performance plastics industry. He currently serves on the board of the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale. Ruth Ann McChesney is a Pennsylvania native and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked in long-term care administration and consulting after her two sons were in school. Her other passion is music, having taught piano for 30 years, and singing in volunteer choral groups all her life. She is currently active in her church music ministry, sings with the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, and holds local, state and regional offices in the National Federation of Music Clubs. Charlie and Ruth Ann were married in February 2000 after the loss of both of their spouses.

They enjoy traveling, skiing, reading, concerts and lectures, and especially their 6 grandchildren. They became involved with Music Mission Kiev after visiting the ministry in Kiev and seeing what amazing things God has done through two willing servants. They also have been involved with hosting the KSOC as well as the first visit that the KYOC made to America in 2003. Both are active in the local Christian and Missionary Alliance Church they attend.

Roger and Diane McMurrin
Roger McMurrin is a graduate of Ohio State University, has since served as an educator, and the Director of Music at various Presbyterian Churches in Florida and Texas. He has been responsible for developing two of the largest programs of church music in the United States. Diane is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, has since served as an educator and writer. They founded Music Mission Kiev in 1993. Roger is the President/CEO of Music Mission Kiev and the Conductor of the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Diane is Secretary of the Board and serves as Director of Ministries to MMK. She has written three books on their many adventures in ministry from Ukraine. Roger and Diane received their calling to leave everything they knew, lifestyle, career, security. To move to Kiev with next to nothing, except the knowledge that God wanted them to be disciples to the Ukrainian people. This calling came after an invitation by an Episcopal priest to come and perform Handel’s Messiah in 1992, which had not been performed in over a generation. They saw the great need in the people’s eyes, and the yearning to know more about this “Jesus”. In less than a year, Roger and Diane sold heir possessions, packed their bags, and started a journey that only God could lead. The McMurrins have two married sons, Marc (wife -Sharilyn) and Matthew (wife -Trish) and are blessed with five grand-children.

Nancy McNeal
Nancy lives in Medina, Ohio with her dog Smokey. She taught instrumental music for 30 years and was music department chair for 15 of those years, retiring in 1999. Since retirement she has become very involved in community activities and volunteering in many different capacities. She is a member of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medina and is very active as leader of the worship team, member of choir and altar guild and is soon to be commissioned as a Stephen Minister. Nancy's association with Roger and Diane goes back many years. She has hosted the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on three of their tours and is a supporter of Music Mission Kiev.

Bob and Kitty Neil
Katherine (Kitty) Currie Neil was born in Carthage, NC, graduated from Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA and received a Masters degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. She served as Minster of Music in churches in Martinsville, VA, and recently retired from the First Presbyterian Church there. Kitty also taught music in college and in private studio, directed community choruses, founded and directed a Male Chorus, and has been a featured soprano soloist in many major works. She has three daughters and three grandchildren. Bobby (Bob) J. Neil was born in Athens, TN and graduated from Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN. He received a Master of Sacred Music degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY and a Doctor of Education degree in music from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA.

Bob served various churches as Minister of Music, directed choirs and taught music courses in colleges, as well as in private studio. He recently retired from the music department of Montreat College, Montreat, NC. Bob has two sons, four grandchildren, and two great grandsons. Kitty and Bob were married on November 29, 2003, and they now make their home in Montreat, NC. They have been active supporters of Music Mission Kiev since first becoming acquainted with the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in 2000.

Robert (Bob) and Frances Neill
Bob received his Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Business

from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He has worked for MTC, a large manufacturing plant in Temple, Texas for the past 29 years. He is now President, general partner and a member of the Board of Directors for MTC. He has always been involved in production management in all of his work experiences. Frances worked in the computer information department for a major defense contractor for 33 years before retiring in 1995.

Bob and Frances both grew up in Waco and attended High School together where they became sweethearts. They
were married in 1961 and have two children. Both their
children and their spouses reside in Waco. Bob and
Frances are members of First Baptist Church of Woodway. They both support the church's world missions programs and have participated in mission trips to various
countries in Europe, Central and East Asia.

Bob and Frances became associated with Music Mission Kiev in 2000 when the KSOC performed in Waco. They have hosted members in their home and traveled to various cities in several states to attend performances of the KSOC.

Bob and Frances have maintained a close relationship with the couple they first hosted and have visited in their home on each return trip to Kiev. It has been their pleasure to support Roger and Diane in the work God is doing in the great land of Kiev, Ukraine.

Paul and Cherry Palma
The Palmas met thirty years ago when he was a pediatric resident, and she, head nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. For the last 20 years, Paul has been a Senior Neonatologist at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women in Orlando, Florida. Paul is the Chairman of the Board and Vice President for Music Mission Kiev. Cherry, having translated her nursing skills to the nurturing of their four sons has, in recent years, returned to her love of sewing. She creates elegant children's garments and teaches heirloom sewing techniques out of their home.

Paul and Cherry are members of First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, where the McMurrins served in music ministry in the early 1990's. They accompanied the Boy Choir, led by Roger McMurrin, on summer tours of Colorado, Washington, D. C. and New York. It was on these tours they gained respect for the boundless energy and faith that marked the McMurrins' leadership of music and worship. They have enthusiastically supported the work of Music Mission Kiev since its beginnings.

Ria Springer

Ria was married for 46 years to her beloved husband George, who went to be with the Lord in the spring of 2007. Ria has two daughters, Martha and Krista Elisabeth who were born in Rochester, N.Y. Ria obtained her Bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York at Brockport and a Master’s degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She retired in 2002 after teaching for over 45 years. Ria is a member of The Gayton Kirk Presbyterian Church and serves on their mission’s committee. Ria was introduced to MMK in October 2000, when she attended a KSOC concert in Richmond. She was so blessed and touched by the wonderful music, and in 2004 joined the very first “Vision Trip” where they experienced all the phenomenal aspects and ministries of Music Mission Kiev. We are so grateful for the years George served on the MMK board, and appreciate Ria’s commitment to continue to be used by God in this ministry.

Rosmarie Voyles
Rosemarie was born in White Plains, New York and raised in Reno, Nevada. She sang in Sunday School and school choirs through college at the University of Nevada. When visiting relatives in East Germany in 1966 she became familiar with Eastern Europe. Rosemarie earned an M.A. degree in German at the University of Washington. Her husband Joe teaches German and linguistics courses at the University of Washington. Other places they have lived include by Berkeley, California; in Cologne, Germany and in Princeton, New Jersey. Rosemarie taught foreign languages in high schools before their two children were born. They are members of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Presently they teach preschoolers in Sunday School and participate on a Ukraine task force.

Rosemarie and Joe have hosted two musicians from the KSOC orchestra since 2000, and the inspiring sharing of the gospel by the ministries of Music Mission Kiev touched their hearts. Rosemarie went on a short-term mission trip to Kiev March 2002. In March 2005 both she and Joe visited Kiev. They have a young grandson.