Meet Our Staff
Jay Conard
Music DirectorJay Conard has deep roots in the musical life of the Eaton area. A lifelong resident of Preble County, he studied piano with Mary Ziegel until majoring in music at Miami University. Jay worked with Gene Chatfield with the Eaton HS Band and taught at both Eaton and Lewisburg back in the 1980's. He continues to accompany the Eaton High School Choir along with student soloist and small groups. Robert Walsh mentored Jay and asked him to continue on as music director of the EACC. Besides the choir, he plays in the Eaton Area Community Band, directs a church choir and is the founding Music Director of the Richmond Community Orchestra.
Janet Sikora
AccompanistJanet began piano lessons at the age of 5 under Mrs. Pauline Kaufman. At 15, she was accompanist for the Concert Choir at Eaton High School under the direction of Robert Walsh. Janet attended Miami University in 1970 enrolled as a piano performance major before switching to chemistry. In 1995, Mr. Walsh began the Eaton Area Community Chorus and Janet was with him from the beginning. Janet spent many years playing the piano for EHS musicals and for the choirs and student’s music contests. The singing group Something Good was started in 1995 with the beginning of the EACC and Janet has accompanied Something Good for 30 years. She also serves as accompanist for First Presbyterian Church of Eaton.
Janet worked as office manager of her husband David’s dental practice until his retirement in 2021. David and Janet have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. They will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in June 2026.
Sheryl Mabry
Associate ConductorBiography incoming…
Matthew Duffie
Associate ConductorA trombonist by trade, Matthew joined the EACC in 2010 when he was a student at Eaton High School. After graduation, he attended Anderson University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music Business and Worship Ministry. He has served in ministry in Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina and his professional music experience includes being a recording vocalist for Hope Publishing with the Lodge Recording Studio in Indianapolis, and was a featured soloist with the Hickory Choral Society in Hickory, NC.
Matthew now works for Preble County and is the Worship Pastor & Choir Director at Eaton First Church of God while also serving as a substitute teacher and guest clinician for school and church music programs. He and his wife, Roseanna, have 2 beautiful children, Emma and Luke.