The Women of Chateau Lafayette

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Renowned for her captivating storytelling and detailed historical narratives, Stephanie has written acclaimed works such as America’s First Daughter, My Dear Hamilton, The Women of Chateau Lafayette, and Becoming Madam Secretary. These novels have cemented her reputation as a leading voice in historical fiction, bringing to life the stories of America’s founding mothers, and influential women beyond the revolutionary era.

Stephanie’s award-winning work consistently tops lists of the most anticipated reads of the year. Widely praised by colleagues, recommended on the TODAY show, and translated into many languages, her work resonates with readers around the world. Living in Maryland with her supportive husband, an extensive library of history books, and the inevitable basket of cats or foster kittens, Stephanie continues to write and share the powerful stories of women who have shaped history.

Lafayette at Brandywine

Bruce E. Mowday is an award-winning author and newspaper reporter, authoring more than 20 books on history, sports, business and true crime. Bruce has appeared on television and radio shows, including Counter Culture, a PBS Emmy-winning show, Discovery ID, ReelZ network, C-SPAN and the Pennsylvania Cable Network. He was a guest on the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Revolution 250. Twice he was invited to be part of the Authors of the American Revolution Congress hosted by Nathan’s Papers. Bruce is a frequent speaker at various civic and historical groups. The Congress of Civil War Round Tables named Bruce a “5-Star” speaker. A member of the American Friends of Lafayette, Bruce is the Chester County Coordinator for the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration in 2024 and 2025. He is also a member of the Chester County’s 250th committee planning for a celebration of our nation’s founding.

Marquis de Lafayette Returns

Elizabeth M. Reese is a historian in the Washington, D.C. area whose research is focused on public memory, family ties, and grief.

Elizabeth has spent over a decade as an interpreter at historic sites on the East Coast and her work has also appeared in TIME, the New York Times, and on C-SPAN. Elizabeth was awarded the Scott Hartwig Public History Fellowship at the Civil War Institute in 2015 and the America 250! Commendation Medal in 2024.

Elizabeth is currently the Senior Manager of Public Programs & Interpretation at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House and is completing her Master of Arts in American History from Gettysburg College.

Her first book, Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America’s National Capital Region, was published by The History Press (imprint of Arcadia Publishing) in 2024.

Chairperson of the AFL’s Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour 2024-2025

Chuck’s unwavering passion for both his professional career as an account executive and his work with The American Friends of Lafayette has been a driving force in the organization’s transformation. From the moment he discovered the association in 2009, he became deeply engaged. By 2011, he had already joined the Board of Governors as Treasurer, and over time, his leadership role expanded to Executive Director, where he also took on the responsibilities of Event Planning for the annual conference and publishing the quarterly Gazette.

What began as a personal interest in history soon evolved into a profound appreciation for the Marquis de Lafayette and his embodiment of the enduring, positive relationship between France and America. This admiration resonated deeply with Chuck, and over the past 15 years, he has dedicated himself to sharing Lafayette’s legacy and the importance of Franco-American friendship with the broader public. His commitment to education and advocacy has fostered a sense of community and passion among fellow members of the association.

Max Caplan is a classical and jazz composer and pianist based in the New York State Capital Region. He holds a Master of Music in Composition from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Classics from Union College in Schenectady, NY. His compositional instructors have included Hilary Tann, Robert Carl, and Larry Alan Smith.

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Max has performed with numerous Capital Region groups including the Musicians of Ma'alwyck, Quintocracy, the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, and Albany Pro Musica. He is a frequent guest on the Eddie-Award-winning "Jazz Vespers" series at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady.

Max's compositional works have included several commissions by the Musicians of Ma’alwyck, including a one-act chamber opera, Aleda: The Flight of the Suff Birdwomen (2018), for which he wrote both the music and libretto. The opera’s score was praised in the Albany Times Union as “invigorating and inspiring” and the libretto as “highly effective.”

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Max holds instructor and accompanist positions at several Capital Region institutions. He is an Affiliated Artist at Union College, providing piano instruction to undergraduate students, and an Adjunct Instructor of piano and composition at SUNY Schenectady. He is an accompanist at Union College, SUNY Schenectady, Congregation Gates of Heaven in Niskayuna, and First Reformed Church in Schenectady.

Norman Thibodeau has been a member of Musicians of Ma'alwyck since 2006. He also performs with the wind quintet Fünf and Vermont Virtuosi, and has performed with the Maverick Chamber Players. He was assistant principal flutist of the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México, and has played with almost all the professional orchestras in and near the Capital Region of New York State. In 2008, he was guest solo artist for the Skidmore College Flute Festival. He has recorded solo flute works of Anthony Holland for Albany Records, and has had both live and recorded performances broadcast on NPR.

He embraces variety and versatility in his performing life, having performed on a range of flutes from baroque traverso to contrabass flute, plus a quarter-tone flute including a sliding headjoint.

Also a composer, Norman has works published and recorded by ALRY Publications and Albany Records. Norman was trained at Peabody Conservatory and the University at Albany. His teachers include Irvin Gilman, Robert Dick, Stephen Preston, and Britton Johnson.

Norman teaches flute at Schenectady Community College and the Berkshire Music School. He also teaches extended flute techniques each summer at the Wildacres Flute Retreat, and has taught flute at Colgate University, the College of St. Rose, and the University at Albany.

Additionally, Norman is a trained practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method, an approach to movement education that musicians in particular have found highly beneficial to their performance level and comfort.