Salon Concerts Board of Directors

Joe Hart

Joe Hart is a fifth generation Austinite. He is a lifetime lap swimmer and rock sitter at Barton Springs. He is a guitar player and folk singer. He studied cello many years ago with UT’s Junior String Project. He is a student of the Spanish language; an avid cook; a very amateur pool player; a woodworker; an enthusiastic bird watcher and lover of all things musical. Joe was a founding director of Austin Lyric Opera and served as president of the Heritage Society of Austin (now Preservation Austin). Joe is an attorney and started his legal career with his father and grandfather. He is a former judge of the 126 th District Court of Travis, County, Texas. For several years he served as the presiding judge of all of the Travis County District Courts. While judge, Joe helped establish the alternative dispute resolution program in Travis County, served as a director of Volunteer Legal Services of Travis County and was a founding director of CASA of Travis County. After his 17-year tenure on the bench he worked as a mediator and arbitrator and when requested returned to the bench around the state as a visiting judge.

Mary McLeod

Mary has been involved with music and dance since her youth in Madison, Wisconsin. She had her own dance school, accompanied classes and performed with the Wisconsin Ballet, and after moving to Austin, with Austin Ballet Theater under Stanley Hall. She taught dance and German at St. Edward’s University.

After completing several construction courses at Austin Community College, Mary made a major career shift to home designer and builder, eventually forming the partnership McLeod & Moore Builders. She served as the residential coordinator for the City of Austin’s Green Building Program.

As a result of adding a music studio to the home of Robert Rudie and Kathryn Mishell, Mary was inspired to begin piano lessons after a hiatus of many years. Through Robert and Kathryn, she fell in love with chamber music and has enthusiastically attended and supported Salon Concerts since the beginning.

In addition to supporting other music organizations in Austin, Mary is a Home Builder with Foundation Communities.

Karen Blizzard

Karen Hoffman Blizzard is a consultant, freelance writer, and avocational musician. Previously she worked in communications and management for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and other state agencies. As a writer, she has published articles on parks, recreation, and conservation for Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, Texas Highways, and Austin Monthly. She is a returning singer with Conspirare Symphonic Choir and former singer with several other Austin and NYC choral groups. During the pandemic, her Brazilian music duo, "Bossa Bom," produced a series of virtual shows in outdoor settings and was awarded a grant by the Austin Artists Project. A former student of Kathryn Mishell, Karen enjoys playing her Mason & Hamlin baby grand. She is a native Austinite and lifelong Barton Springs swimmer. She lives in South Austin with her husband, Mike Blizzard.

Sylvia Arabian, Board Secretary

Sylvia produces art in a number of mediums. She has sold works in pencil, watercolor, paper (origami), crochet, and phototography. Sylvia also has extensive experience in event planning for the arts, businesses and realtors. Her public service in the arts includes founding board member of the Symphony Bats, past board member Austin Lyric Opera Guild and Symphony Bats liason to the Women's Symphony League.

Andrew schwartz, Treasurer

Andrew Schwartz is a partner with Hart Financial Group where his focus is financial and estate planning. His public service includes 2 terms as a city councilman for West Lake Hills, 10+ years with Big Brothers Big Sisters, former board member of Austin Lyric Opera and founding board member of the Symphony Bats.