Virginia Johnston   Executive Director                       email: ginny@DiscoveryOrchestra.org
Virginia Johnston received her Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude, University Scholar) from Syracuse University and her Master of Music (with Honors) from Boston University in both composition and clarinet performance. She has also studied choral conducting at Westminster Choir College through their Continuing Education department.

Starting as an Administrator with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey (TDO’s predecessor organization) in 1992, she assumed the responsibilities of Managing Director in 1999 and Executive Director in June, 2009. She brings strong organizational, problem-solving and grant writing skills to The Discovery Orchestra.

Virginia worked as Music Director at the Springfield Emanuel United Methodist Church for 7 years and is a professional free-lance clarinetist, conductor and composer in the tri-state area. Her works have been performed by the Society for New Music, the Tunnel Vision Writer’s Project of Montclair and the New Jersey Youth Symphony at Alice Tully Hall, among others. Several of her compositions have been published by Ethos Publications and Earnestly Music. In 1992, she co-founded Triad Arts Ensemble, a non-profit performing arts organization. Through Triad, Virginia has co-chaired the annual Canticles for Life AIDS Benefit Concerts in New Jersey since 1997. To date, over $70,000 has been raised in this effort.

Since 1995, she has been Conductor of the Triad Vocal Ensemble, a mixed adult community choir specializing in accessible contemporary repertoire as well as traditional works, with a focus on female composers and New Jersey composers. Through the Triad Vocal Ensemble, Virginia has commissioned several new works from emerging New Jersey composers. Additionally, Ms. Johnston performs locally as a singer-songwriter in folk/rock and jazz styles and has released two CD’s of original material.

Virginia currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Newark Boys Chorus School and lives in Maplewood NJ with her husband and two young sons.

Jeanne Maass   Events Director

Diane Lester   Administrative Director
Administrator Diane Lester received her BS from Bucknell University majoring in mathematics with a minor in computer science and accounting. She spent the next 15 years in the corporate world (Travelers and Crum & Forster) in Information Systems/Technical Services Management. Taking time off when her children were young, she joined The Discovery Orchestra in 2003 as Administrator.

Judith Sugarman   Personnel Manager
Personnel Manager Judith Sugarman is one of the pre-eminent professional bassists in the tri-state area, regularly performing as Principal Bass with Solisti New York, Stanford Symphony, New York Virtuosi and The Discovery Orchestra. She has performed in chamber music concerts with the members of The Guarnieri and Colorado String Quartets.  She has played on the soundtracks of many feature motion pictures, including Kramer vs. Kramer, You've Got Mail, and Carlito's Way. She was formerly on the faculty of The Juilliard School Pre College Division, and currently is a member of the faculty of the Mannes College of Music Preparatory Division.