Gotham Leadership Team
Anna Chelak, Artistic Director
Anna has been a member of Sirens of Gotham for the last 10 years and consistently held a variety of artistic and managerial leadership positions. Before being appointed Artistic Director in April 2023, her contributions included a rebranding and Core Values initiative as well as a logo redesign in early 2017 as VP of Marketing, costume and staging design for the chorus's international competition debut and first place win at the 2018 SAI Harmony Classic as Associate Visual Director, and establishing Sirens of Gotham's dual charter with the Hell's Kitchen Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society in the Spring of 2020 as Chapter President. Anna also co-directed the BHS Hell’s Kitchen Chapter SATB ensemble GOTHAM to an 8th place finish at the 2022 BHS International Chorus Contest in Charlotte, NC. Anna currently sings Lead in the SSAA quartet Breakfast for Dinner (M-AD, NED).
Always a fan of the stage, Anna began studying Ukrainian folk dance as a child and went on to perform professionally with multiple ensembles in the tristate area through college. She began studying music and singing more seriously in middle school and was introduced to barbershop music by her high school choir teacher, music educator Patty Danner (Hickory Tree Chorus, Baritone of 2013 Region 15 Champion quartet, Drive!), who organized and encouraged multiple barbershop quartets and a show choir.
Anna grew up in New Jersey and lived in New York City for the last 15 years before recently moving into a new home in Westchester, NY with her partner (and fellow barbershopper) Braden Lynk, along with their two cats Otto and Windsor. She is a graduate of Barnard College at Columbia University and also works as a marketing strategy director at an advertising agency in Manhattan.
Larry Bomback, CEO
Over the past two decades, Larry has honed a robust leadership profile marked by successful fundraising, organizational expansion, and data-driven decision-making, across various nonprofit sectors. With extensive experience managing complex national and international organizations, Larry excels in strategic thinking and uniting diverse stakeholders to achieve institutional goals.
Larry was the former Senior Vice President of Administration & Treasurer at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, one of the top music conservatories in the world. Before that appointment, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at DataArts. Previously, Larry was Director of Finance and Operations at OPERA America, and Operations Manager at the award-winning New York Youth Symphony.
Larry's empathetic approach and industry expertise have made him a sought-after advisor and speaker, serving on boards and committees of national nonprofit arts institutions.
Larry earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with high honors from Haverford College and a Master of Arts in Historical Musicology from the City College of New York. He also holds an MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Larry is deeply involved in music as a performer and educator. He sings tenor with 'Round Midnight, a renowned quartet, and has been involved in launching several vocal ensembles, including the Voices of Gotham in 2008.
Larry resides in Philadelphia with his wife, Coren, an architect, their two children, Baylee and Salem, and their rescue puppy, Mare.
Mika Nagashima, VP Events
Mika's musical journey began at the age of 4, singing with a local kids' chorus. She continued to pursue her passion through school musical clubs, and participated in “The Music Man” where she discovered her love for barbershop-style music in college.
After moving to New York City, Mika joined Sirens of Gotham in 2019. Currently she sings baritone in Sirens, GOTHAM, and Off The Record quartet. Alongside her singing roles, she takes on the responsibility of “event person”, always seeking new ways to share her love for music.
Believing strongly in music's educational power, Mika hosts workshops "Let's sing Japanese songs!!" at conventions in Washington D.C. and “Story & Music Time for Babies” in NYC. She organized one of the most lively warm-ups like "Let's sing Do-re-mi in 8 languages" in Sirens rehearsals.
Off-stage, Mika works for a custody bank as a foreign currency exchange professional, and before that role, she worked in the financial service industry. Mika enjoys simple pleasures like sharing ice cream with her family and playing with her black cats. Her New Year’s resolution in 2024 is to learn Spanish and return to mixed martial Arts training.
Sammy Lai, Treasurer
Sammy joined Gotham in 2020 and currently serves as Treasurer. Previously, Sammy served as Treasurer for the Santa Monica Oceanaires, where he was honored with the President’s Award for his contributions.
Professionally, Sammy is a finance and investment banking executive with a track record in corporate development and over $1B in completed private equity transactions. He holds a degree in Economics from Harvard University and is a CFA Charterholder.
Rachel Graf Evans, VP Membership
Kara McGee, VP Development
Don Pflaster, Secretary
Jackie Sunderland, Chorus Manager
Stephanie Taglianetti, VP Marketing