The Encore Effect

Jeff Dokken

Jeff Dokken, Encore ROCKS conductor, has been with Encore since 2013. During that time he has conducted numerous chorales in the Washington DC region, and currently conducts Alexandria Chorale and ROCKS, Annapolis ROCKS, Glen Echo ROCKS, and DC Rocks. In addition to his responsibilities at Encore, Maestro Dokken is the Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia and Music Director and Conductor of the Rome Symphony Orchestra. He is a frequent guest conductor of orchestras and choirs across the United States, Europe, and South America. Recent highlights include conducting the world premiere of the Philip Glass Flute Concerto in Florence, Italy, guest conducting the National Symphony of Brazil, and return engagements with several orchestras in Ecuador.

Catherine Dehoney

Catherine Dehoney’s 40-year career has centered in arts management and fundraising, particularly in the choral field. In 2024, she concluded nearly ten years as president of Chorus America, the service association for choruses in the U.S. and Canada. Dehoney also served as the chief development officer at Chorus America for more than 10 years. Her work led to ground-breaking research and essential resources for chorus professionals, along with greater recognition for the field in the performing arts ecosystem. Prior to Chorus America, she was senior director of development at Gallaudet University. During her nine-years there, she served as a member of the president’s management team and the institutional advancement team. Her other experience includes capital campaign management, development consulting for a variety of arts nonprofits, and fundraising positions at the Castleton Festival, League of American Orchestras, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the Friends of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She currently serves on the City of Alexandria (VA) Commission for the Arts. Dehoney received her BA in music from the College of William and Mary and continues to be an avid singer, having sung professionally in church choirs and with a jazz band.

Ann Johnson

Ann has been singing and dancing for as long as she can remember.  Growing up in Oklahoma, she never considered the performing arts as a way to make a living, but she sang and danced throughout her life, enjoying every moment.  She won a dance scholarship to study with her mentor, a jazz choreographer just outside of Chicago.  And at the age of 21, she had her first professional job and joined Actor’s Equity.  Ann returned to Oklahoma and got married and as a newlywed, moved to the DC area in 1969. 
 
After birthing her daughter in 1973, she returned to dance, teaching at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop and performing in community theater and musical reviews.  Like most actors, she had a day job, but also started performing in cabarets at DC Space, along with special performances for the Smithsonian Performing Arts Division, focusing on American composers and lyricists.  She performed for the National Archives when they were celebrating Irving Berlin’s 100th birthday and she joined a big band traveling show entitled “String of Pearls” where she sang both as a soloist and as part of an Andrew Sisters trio.  Ann then started working with professional theaters in the area, the highlight of which was receiving two Helen Hayes Award nominations as best actress in a musical for her work in March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland at Studio Theater. 
 
At the age of 46, Ann decided to consult with a career counselor to figure out what she was going to do when she grew up.  Around that same time, she received a call from the political satire group, The Capitol Steps.  They needed a woman to fill in for a member of their group on maternity leave.  Ann was hired and remained with The Capitol Steps for twenty years, during which time she had an opportunity to perform in every state of the union.  One of her most memorable performances was for the OJ Jury during their extended time of sequestration.  And so, at mid-life, Ann was able to support herself as a performing artist, with a 401-K no less.  Who could have imagined that happening in a place like Washington, DC?
 
After retiring from singing as a profession, Ann wondered how to keep those vocal cords active.  Enter “Encore Creativity for Older Adults.”

Suzanne LaFollette-Black

Learn more about Encore: https://encorecreativity.org/
 
Suzanne LaFollette-Black has been a gerontologist for the past 40+ years. Suzanne’s career has been in the aging network as a non-profit nursing home administrator, Area Agency on Aging Director, Executive Director of Moore County Department of Aging, AARP Georgia State Director, AARP NC Associate State Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach and aging network volunteer. 
She recently retired and serves as a lead AARP volunteer with the national DIY/DWG, Driver Safety, AARP Coastal region, Disaster preparedness for older adult’s task force, Memory Partners, Powerful Tools for Caregivers class leader, New Hanover County Master Aging Plan committee, Food Bank, Grandparent Support Network, and other various organizations. Co-founded ENCORE Sentimental Journey Singers of the Cape Fear for caregivers and their loved ones with dementia.
Suzanne is originally from Window Rock, Arizona (Navajo Indian reservation). Suzanne has a BS in Sociology and minor in Zoology/ Music from NAU and graduate studies at USC Ethel Andrus Percy Gerontology program and MASA from University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.
She serves on the national AARP Driver Safety Advisory Council; NCAOA (NC Association on Aging, Inc.) Board and was President from 2018-2020; past Pinehurst Rotary President; Women’s Impact Network; Assistance League of Greater Wilmington, past NCIOM Deaf and Hearing committee; Governor’s Highway Safety Executive Committee; 2022-2023 NCIOM Healthy Aging Task Force; and works with other community organizations.
Suzanne received the 2025 NCAOA Distinguished Service in Aging Award; 2021 NCPTA Transit Advocate of the Year, 2021 NCCOA Pioneer of Aging award; 2018 NCAOA Star award; CMS Innovation award for Caregiving in the Workplace. She hosted and produced the AARP Meet Nannie and Grammy: The Joys and Blessings of Grandparenting FB Live show.
Suzanne loves music which she sings in two chorale groups. She serves as the Chr of the Music and Fine Arts Committee of Community Congregational church. She loves to travel and spend time with her grandkids. She serves as the Moore County delegate to the NC Senior Tar Heel legislator and Moore County Community Advisory Committee (volunteer ombudsman).

Jeanne Kelly (Founder of Encore Creativity)

Learn more about Encore: https://encorecreativity.org/
Jeanne Kelly is the founder of Encore Creativity for Older Adults, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an excellent, accessible, and sustainable artistic environment for older adults over 55 years of age, either beginning, intermediate or advanced levels, who seek arts education and performance opportunities under a professional artist.
Jeanne Kelly’s career of over forty years has produced a unique blend of experience as a vocal performer, teacher, conductor and music administrator. She earned an undergraduate degree in voice performance and piano from the University of Findlay and a master’s degree in voice performance from the Peabody Conservatory.
As a performer, Ms. Kelly made her professional operatic debut with the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center as Elizabetta in L’elisir d’amore. She has also performed major roles with the Baltimore Opera, Opera Delaware, Central City Opera, Tulsa Opera, Annapolis Opera where she performed the first opera the company produced, The Medium, and the New York City Opera Education Department. She appeared in the world premiere of Rappaccini’s Daughter with the Pennsylvania Opera Theater. Ms. Kelly has sung on the concert stage with the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Delaware Symphony, Allentown Symphony and Annapolis Symphony. Additionally, she has sung with the Berlin Brass Quintet, Bach Aria Group, St. Louis Bach Society, Bethlehem Bach Festival, Richmond Choral Arts Society, Annapolis Brass Quintet, Washington Bach Consort and the Monumental Brass Quintet.
Ms. Kelly’s expertise in vocal technique has been of benefit to students ranging from those preparing for professional vocal careers to those who simply enjoy music as a hobby. Ms. Kelly has served on the faculties of the Baltimore School for the Arts; Hood College in Frederick, MD; the United States Naval Academy and the Levine School of Music in Washington, DC. Ms. Kelly has also conducted workshops for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

Welcome to the Encore Effect!

Join Encore Creativity CEO Joshua Vickery as he introduces our new podcast, celebrating the power of music and its influence on life after retirement. Discover inspiring stories, expert insights, and the joy of creativity at every age!