Lakeside welcomes new programming staff

LAKESIDE-MARBLEHEAD — Prior to the 2024 summer season beginning, Lakeside Chautauqua recently announced its new programming staff. Karyn Torigoe — programming vice president "As senior manager of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs and evaluation at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Torigoe played an integral role in bringing the museum's eclipse ambassador program to Lakeside," according to an organizational statement. "She was assisting and answering questions at different locations around Lakeside during the eclipse weekend — not for the science center but as Lakeside's new vice president of programming." "It was such a wonderful way to end my journey with the science center," Torigoe said. "To be able to start at Lakeside with the eclipse program that I worked on with both organizations, it was full circle." Born and raised in Berea, Ohio, Torigoe received a bachelor's degree from Fordham University in theater. Before her time at the science center, she worked in K-12 schools for more than 10 years as a secretary, program coordinator and administrative assistant. She also worked in New York City, Los Angeles, Westerville and Farmville, Virginia. During her 10 years at the science center, Torigoe managed the educational programs, including budgets, recruitment and evaluation; school and community partnerships; and new program models. She also led both revenue-based and grant-funded programs. For the past eight summers, Torigoe has been spending a week with her daughters, ages 11 and 14, and parents in Lakeside, which has turned into their favorite vacation place. They often made the hour-long drive from Lakewood more than once during the summer for day or weekend trips. When she saw the programming vice president job opening, it didn't take her long to submit her resume. "I barely hesitated to apply," Torigoe said. "I thought, 'How cool would it be to work in my happy place?'" Matt Charboneau — performing arts and entertainment director It's never an easy task for an organization to fill a vacant role. It's more difficult to replace a person who is so respected in the community like Shirley Stary in Lakeside. Matt Charboneau is experienced, qualified and ready for the challenge. Charboneau is Lakeside's new director of performing arts and entertainment. Stary has served in the position for the past 19 years and will have a part-time programming consultant role with Lakeside for a few months before retiring. Charboneau said he's repeatedly heard the phrase "big shoes to fill," but it's something he's ready to take on. "Nearly 20 years anywhere is remarkable, especially in the nonprofit and art sectors where people move around every three years or so," Charboneau said. "Shirley is training me well. She has laid a good foundation to where all the pieces are going to be in place when she moves on. It won't be easy, but it'll be manageable to take over." Charboneau comes to Lakeside having recently served as chair for the Center for Music at The Music Settlement in Cleveland. He has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, management, programming and education throughout Northeast Ohio at organizations such as the Beck Center for the Arts, the COSE Arts Network and the Roots of American Music. Charboneau has always been drawn to music. He got an early start to playing when he joined the band in middle school. In his teens, he started listening to more rock and pop music, so the bass guitar was his instrument of choice. That eventually led to him earning a bachelor's degree in music for double bass performance from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He freelanced professionally for 25 years and has performed regionally, nationally and internationally playing jazz, folk, bluegrass, Americana, salsa, bossa nova and Afro-Cuban music. Charboneau was featured numerous times on NPR and PBS's "Applause," which used his jazz trio's music as the show's theme song. He got involved with the arts management program at Case Western Reserve University, where he earned a master's degree in nonprofit organization from the university's Weatherhead School of Management in 2005 and has been working in nonprofit arts since.