Administration

Music For All Seasons, Inc.

Brian F. Dallow
Co-Founder and
Executive Director

Brian Dallow, composer, studied at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the London School of Economics, Brandeis University, and Rutgers University.  He holds degrees in performance, composition and theory, and musicology. Brian taught music theory and composition at Rutgers University in New Jersey and at Temple University in Philadelphia.  He is the co-author of “Elemental Music Craft.,” a music theory textbook published by Rutgers University Press and his compositions include chamber music, incidental music for theatre and film, as well as musical scores for four musicals. Brian is the President and Executive Director of Music For All Seasons, Inc.®, an organization created to bring the therapeutic power of live music to underserved audiences, which he and his wife, Artistic Director Rena Fruchter, founded in 1991.  Brian was instrumental in launching an innovative new MFAS program, Voices of Valor®, which uses the writing of lyrics and music to address issues of trauma and stress in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Voices of Valor, has received major grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, the Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, and PNC Bank. He was a founding co-chair of the Alliance for Arts and Health New Jersey, and serves on the Research Committee of the Global Alliance for Arts and Health. In addition to Music For All Seasons, Brian is the co-founder of two orchestras, the New York Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey (now The Discovery Orchestra).  In April of 1997 he was awarded a Certificate for “Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community” by the United States Congress.

Brian F. Dallow
Co-Founder and
Executive Director

Rena H. Fruchter
Co-Founder and
Artistic Director

Rena Fruchter is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Music For All Seasons, an organization that presents musical programs for people confined in institutions including hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and special facilities for children. The organization runs the acclaimed “Voices of Valor” project. Music For All Seasons was co-founded by Rena and her husband, Brian Dallow, in 1991.

Ms. Fruchter is a distinguished pianist, writer and educator. Her performances have taken her throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and the Far East in both solo and ensemble appearances.  With long-time friend and colleague Dudley Moore, Rena toured the United States and Australia in duo-piano performances.

A Philadelphia native, she made her solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of six, performing the Haydn Piano Concerto in D Major.  At age eleven, she gave her first performance with the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler at the Esplanade, later returning to perform the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Boston Pops in Symphony Hall.

A graduate of Brandeis University, Rena also holds degrees in both piano performance and pedagogy from the Royal College of Music in London, England, where she studied with Louis Kentner and Lamar Crowson.

For twelve years, Rena Fruchter was a music columnist for The New York Times/NJ Weekly, and music critic of the Central New Jersey Home News. She was also a music critic and an arts commentator for New Jersey Public Television, a critic and London Music Correspondent for the Boston Herald and a contributor to many other publications.  She hosted the radio interview program, “Backstage Portraits.”

Ms. Fruchter is the author of three critically acclaimed books—two in the biographical genre—Dudley Moore—An Intimate Portrait, and I’m Chevy Chase…and you’re not.  Her most recent book, The Orchestra Murders—A Cynthia Masters Mystery, was released the United States and throughout the world.

Rena H. Fruchter
Co-Founder and
Artistic Director

Dana Daddio
Director of Operations

Dana Daddio is Administrative Assistant at Music For All Seasons. Dana is a graduate of Montclair State University, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Studies with a minor in Vocal Performance. Dana has been recognized by The Paper Mill Playhouse of Milburn, New Jersey as a nominee of their Rising Star award program as a young theatre artist.

Dana is excited to be working with Montclair State University once again through MFAS’ new partnership with the John J. Cali School of Music’s new Cali Collective Ensemble program. The program mentors MSU graduate students in live MFAS programs in various facilities.

In addition to her administrative duties, Dana is currently a working vocalist who tours New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire with several bands and tribute acts. She is represented by leading New Jersey talent agencies  Monte Entertainment and Beatgig, which has presented her performances at Met Life Stadium for NFL game pre-shows, Penn State University, Rutgers University, and theatres and casinos across the East Coast, including Caesar’s Palace, The Larcom and Majestic Theatre of Massachusetts. Her other passions include reading, attending Broadway shows, and being an active donor and member of the ASPCA guardian program, assisting adoptions and securing foster homes for animals in need of FURever homes. 

Dana Daddio
Director of Operations

Susan Koblin Schear
Interim Executive Director

A dynamic, creative business leader and entrepreneur, Susan Koblin Schear recently joined Music For All
Seasons® (MFAS) as Interim Executive Director. She is working closely with the Board of Trustees to
establish a plan to ensure stability and sustainability as the organization transitions to new leadership.
With a focus on fiscal responsibility, Ms. Schear oversees and manages the organization’s budget,
accounting systems, and growth opportunities through increasing and diversifying funding. With an eye
toward the future development of the organization, she is co-developing a long-term strategic plan with
the Board of Trustees.
Ms. Schear founded ARTISIN, LLC in 1995, to offer comprehensive business development services to the
arts and cultural sectors, after enjoying a successful corporate career. Consistently evolving her business
to meet the needs of the communities and businesses served by ARTISIN, she now specializes in
management consulting, community engagement, and economic development through establishing and
nurturing sustainable cross-sector/cross-agency collaborations. She also works with several
organizations to develop collaborative programs to benefit the organizations’ bottom lines; has
developed earned-income programs, and managed marketing and branding strategies for non-profits.
She is a board trustee and serves on several community advisory committees. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
and Access (DEIA) is foundational to her work.
An established speaker, moderator, and trainer, Ms. Schear has facilitated board retreats, town hall
meetings and community conversations as well as workshops and coaching programs for individuals and
organizations. She has researched and co-written grants and served on grant review committees.
Her clients, both nationally and within the New York/Metro region, include educational institutions,
economic development corporations, community-based organizations, service organizations,
foundations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, start-ups, hybrid practices, and government agencies.
She previously served as Deputy Director of Newark Arts. During her tenure, she was responsible for the
planning, management, completion, and public announcement of Newark Creates, an 18-month, cross-
sector, inclusive, community cultural plan with an outcome focused on economic development,
conducted on behalf of the City of Newark Mayor’s office. She also developed and launched a
collaborative earned-income program where artists and arts organizations were hired to work on
community-advancing and economic development.
Schear has received many awards and honors which include being named a Lead NJ Fellow and being
recognized as one of the top 50 Women Business Owners in New Jersey.

Susan Koblin Schear
Interim Executive Director