CABOMA is a member-run organization. Members elect our board to a one-year term at the annual meeting, held on the second Sunday of December. The board meets immediately after that election to choose officers. Here are the leaders chosen at our annual meeting on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.
PRESIDENT
Brandon Lindley, an Alexandria, VA, resident who plays guitar and some mandolin, was exposed as a child to bluegrass, folk, and gospel music in his native Arkansas. He took up guitar during his early teens to play at church. Although his musical interests have since expanded, he used the Covid lockdown to work on flatpicking and learn mandolin. He works as a Ph.D. mathematician.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Andrew Tontala, who lives in Silver Spring, MD, developed a passion for bluegrass after taking up guitar about two years ago. A long-time music lover, he has played a variety of wind instruments. Andrew joined CABOMA in March 2022, quickly grew to love the organization, and has attended almost every jam since. He works in healthcare IT security.
SECRETARY
Hunter Jones lives in Arlington, VA, and plays banjo and dobro. He has participated in CABOMA jams off and on over the past 20 years. He plays mostly piano with the worship band at his church in Vienna, VA. He has had leadership positions there too, including on the board. He is a lawyer and works on financial regulation.
TREASURER
Rebecca Krafft, a banjo player, lives in Arlington, VA. She ran Arlington’s Firehouse Jam for a while and helps with the Arlington Acoustic Café at Walter Reed Community Center. She was part of a trio with dearly missed CABOMA member DeWayne Thompson, and has participated in CABOMA since the early 2000s. Rebecca is retired from the US Small Business Administration.
At-Large Members
Steve Barrett. Steve Barrett, a longtime CABOMA is a professional photographer living in Alexandria, VA. He plays mandolin and upright bass, and, as he puts it, “dabbles in dobro.” He performs regularly with Djangolaya (jazz manouche) and BIG FUN Bluegrass in addition to having many freelance gigs playing bass.
Esther Haynes, a native Arlingtonian living in Takoma Park, MD,has recorded 4 CDs and won 14 Washington-area music awards (Wammies) for jazz/big band vocals. At 15, she took banjo lessons from CABOMA co-founder Don Rusnak. At Virginia Tech, she played for clog dances and in jams. She teaches voice, guitar, and beginning banjo, and holds an M.Ed. in teaching English as a second language.
Don Rusnak and his then-wife, Terry, founded CABOMA in 1978. Now a devoted grandfather, Don taught bluegrass, old-time, and hybrid styles of banjo picking to thousands, many of whom regard him as a friend and mentor. His videos of two-finger picking attract numerous viewers. He owned an Arlington music store, and is well known as a banjo builder and collector.
Paul Zoccola is a guitar player and singer who lives in Gaithersburg, MD. He has been participating in CABOMA since 2014. He also sings in the National Institutes of Health Community Chorus. He is an engineer, working in acoustics and noise control for the US Navy.