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Global MBA Cohort

2021 Cohort

Following a global review process involving hundreds of highly accomplished candidates from around the world, a Cohort of 60 rising change-makers in music was selected to take part in the 2021 GLI Journey. The 2021 Cohort comprises 26 nations, spanning six continents, and includes project founders, social entrepreneurs, teaching artists, concert presenters, professional orchestra musicians, university & conservatory professors, record producers, engineers & doctoral researchers. 2021 Cohort Members represent Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Panama, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States & Uruguay.

Mariana Atamas is a professional violinist, pedagogue and Tango expert. She holds Masters from the National University of Buenos Aires and a Certificate in Performance from DePaul University, Chicago.

Argentina
National Tango Orchestra
Violin

Mariana Aun is Adjunct Instructor of Music Theory at Lone Star College-Montgomery and an Assistant Production Manager at Rice University. She holds degrees from Royal Northern College of Music and University of Texas at El Paso.
USA
Lone Star College-Montgomery
Adjunct Instructor
Uruguayan conductor, violinist and violist, Juan Ignacio is the Chief conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of Minas. In 2019, was selected by the artistic committee of the Orchestra of the Americas, to be Resident Conductor of the orchestra.
Uruguay
Chamber Orchestra of Minas
Orchestra Conductor
Joana Boechat is a professor of Popular Music and Career Management at UniBH, where she also coordinates the Sound Map Project, runs the company Battito – music and development, and coordinates the Grupo Quinto and Duo Lumia ensembles.
Brazil
Battito
Founding Director
Violist with the Pittsburgh Symphony since 1980, Penny Brill is known for her work of music in health care, providing resources on residences for special needs children and adults, seniors, dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, veterans and refugees.
USA
Pittsburgh Symphony
Violist
A dramatic mezzo known for her riveting operatic and concert performances, Leah Brown holds a DMA from the University of Connecticut. Research interests include the music of African derived religions in the Caribbean and Community Arts Engagement.
Trinidad & Tobago
University of Trinidad & Tobago
Asst. Professor
Dorothy Bulinda founder of Amba na Marimba!, which inspires social change using the marimba, educating the community, and preserving the music & cultures of Africa. She is pursuing graduate studies at The Technical University of Kenya.
Kenya
Technical University of Kenya
Graduate Scholar
Emily Burt is an active freelancer in Montreal. She is oboist, administrator, and artistic advisor of Bach Before Bedtime and has a private studio in addition to teaching in schools. She holds degrees from the Hartt School of Music and her McGill University.
Canada
The Allegra Foundation
Operations Manager
Lynsey Callaghan is completing a PhD in medieval musicology in Trinity College Dublin. She is a member of the Musicianship Faculty of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Artistic Director and Founder of Cross Border Youth Choir.
Ireland
Cross Border Youth Choir
Artistic Director & Founder
Caroline Campos holds a Master’s from Azusa Pacific University and Longy School of Music of Bard College. She works as a Teaching Artist and Conductor at the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.
Brazil
Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles
Teaching Artist & Conductor
Chelsea holds a DMA from Michigan State University and MM from the Royal Academy of Music in London. An avid traveler, she completed her dissertation in India and currently works at University of Texas at Austin in the education abroad community.
USA
University of Texas at Austin
Education Abroad Coordinator
Rebecca is a New Orleans based educator/musician. She currently acts as the Music for Life Consultant for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, coordinating after school and Saturday youth programming.
USA
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Education Consultant
Borned in Mexico City, Claudia is the Vice Principal of Special Projects at the UNAM ́s Music Direction which beholds two orchestras OFUNAM and OJUEM and AMA–UNAM, a special education and researching program.
Mexico
Mexico
Minister of Culture
Abigail is a violinist, teacher and workshop leader. In addition, she co-leads collaborations with dancers to create performances with patients following Stroke and brain injury to aid in their recovery and well being.
United Kingdom
In Harmony Lambeth
Music Teacher
A native of Reynosa, Mexico, Baltazar is principal flute of the Oaxaca Symphony and co-principal flute of Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad de Guanajuato. He holds degrees from University of Texas RGV & University of Missouri Kansas City.
Mexico
Guanajuato Symphony
Co-Principal Flute
Cellist Drake Driscoll is Executive Director and Co-founder of the VISION Collective, sharing music between diverse communities of refugees and new Americans. She is completing her Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School.
USA
Carnegie Hall
Learning & Engagement
Erivan holds degrees in Music and Computer Science. He is completing his PhD in Music Education at McGill’s Schulich School of Music. Since 2015, he has been developing research on the inclusion of deaf people in music education.
Brazil & Canada
McGill University
Doctoral Scholar
Originally from Puerto Rico, Gisela Escobar Díaz is Orchestra Director at Stockdick Junior High in Texas. She holds degrees from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston and Boyer College of Music & Dance at Temple University.
Puerto Rico
Coda Music Program
Lead Instructor
Christiana is a multi-faceted musician, passionate about the intersection of teaching, performing, community building, & advocacy. She is Asst. Professor & College Orchestra Director at the State University of New York New Paltz.
Germany
State University of New York
Asst. Professor
Arts leader, educator & creative producer, Emily founded Connecting the Dots in Music & established Lullaby Project Australia. She collaboratively builds cutting-edge music projects that seek to empower & connect communities.
Australia
Connecting the Dots in Music
Director
Elizabeth Gex is a multi-genre artist, performing on the viola in a number of styles, including classical, period instrument, flamenco, jazz, contemporary fusions, and improvisations with visual artists and dancers.
France
ESM Catalunya
Professor of Flamenco
Miami-based oboist Carly Gordon is a writer, educator, & arts administrator whose practice focuses on storytelling through music and words. She is Special Assistant to the President of national music education nonprofit Guitars Over Guns.
USA
Guitars Over Guns
Special Assistant to the President
Christy is a multi-faceted cultural ambassador from Jakarta who has traveled across the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Asia. She holds a performance degree from Indiana University and is passionate about creating change and peace initiatives through music.
Indonesia
OrchKids
Academy Program Coordinator
Canadian violinist Sarah Harrigan studied at Dalhousie University, the Royal Academy of Music, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She recently completed an Emerging Artist Residency at the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance.
Canada
Sistema New Brunswick
Teaching Artist
Shumaila received her Ph.D. in Music from the University of Alberta and is an expert in ethnomusicology with an emphasis on religion. She crosses gender boundaries while singing Pakistani songs of Muslim heritage which are typically performed by men.
Pakistan
University of Alberta
Instructor
A graduate of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory (Singapore) and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (Netherlands), Rachel is passionate about performance art, education, and using music as a tool to impact the community.
Singapore
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory
Teaching Assistant
Heidy Huwiler studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Zürich and at the Hochschule Luzern – Musik. She performs in a duo with pianist Andrea Isch and is founder of the German-Swiss klezmer ensemble Freilach Trio.
Switzerland
Freilach Trio
Founder
Emlyn is co-director of Music in the American Wild and an Instructor of Music at Missouri State University. She received her doctorate from Eastman School of Music, with additional degrees from Eastman & University of Michigan.
USA
Music in the American Wild
Co-Director & Flutist
Caitlyn is Assistant Professor of Double Bass and Project Leader of Searchlight Schools at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She has performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Trinidad & Tobago
Searchlight International
Schools Project Leader
Rose is a freelance clarinetist based in Rochester, NY. She holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She is an active performer in orchestral and chamber ensembles, as well as a passionate educator.
USA
Eastman School of Music
Freelance Artist
Shoshana is an oboist currently living in Montreal while pursuing her master’s degree at McGill University. She has worked on the administration and production side of the music industry with CityMusic Cleveland, El Sistema Global, among others.
USA
McGill University
Graduate Scholar & Teaching Artist
Hilary Kleinig is a multidisciplinary musician who works as a cellist, composer, creative producer, & educator. She is passionate about creating new work with artists/communities that tell vital & courageous stories important to us today.
Australia
Connecting the Dots in Music
Producer
Claire is pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Performance from the Université de Montreal. A freelance performer and flutist in the Orchestre Fidelio, Claire maintains a private flute studio,is a teacher at the Montreal Academy of Music.
Canada
Université de Montréal
Teaching Artist
Toufic Maatouk is Artistic Director of the Beirut Chants Festival, and has been a guest conductor with the Lebanese Philharmonic and Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra. He holds a PhD in Musicology from the Istituto Pontificio di Musica sacra (Pims) in Rome.
Lebanon
Abu Dhabi Festival
Artistic Director
Patricia holds degrees from the Conservatorio Superior de Música del Principado de Asturias and The Royal Academy of Music. She has performed as soloist, in a number of festivals, and has collaborated with professional orchestras across Europe.
Spain & Denmark
Skanderborg Kulturskolen
Instructor
Linda is an arts administrator, educator, and performer. In 2016, she developed and began directing the Schmidt Vocal Institute, and in 2019, assumed the newly created role of Executive Director for Schmidt Vocal Arts.
USA
Schmidt Vocal Arts
Executive Director
Marie Medina Trindade is founder of the Caribbean Youth Music Foundation, a non-profit created to support Caribbean and Latin American youth in pursuit of establishing sustainable social music programs in local communities.
USA
Caribbean Youth Music Foundation
Founder & Executive Director
Alejandro is a violist based in Bolivia. He has played in different ensembles and orchestras including the UMSA Choir and Orchestra, Sinfonietta Loyola and the National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia among others.
Bolivia
Bolivia Clasica
Strings Instructor & Luthier
A graduate of USC, Karoline has a diverse path that intersects being a chamber musician, recording artist and an advocate for music education. She has appeared in venues across the globe such as the Walt Disney Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Brazil & USA
Harmony Project & YOLA
Teaching & Performing Artist
Machele is an educator, actor, director, and playwright. She is the Musical Theatre Program Director at the University of Tulsa and a member of Actor’s Equity Association and of the American Guild of Variety Artists.
USA
The University of Tulsa
Musical Theatre Program Director
Nadia is a Canadian violinist of Polish origin. Since 2012, she has been director of the Chopin Music Society of Montreal and Artistic Director of concerts at Weill Hall (Carnegie Hall). As a soloist, she has extensive international experience.
Canada
Encore! Sistema Québec
Performing & Teaching Artist
Lollie Newsome holds a Bachelor’s from Rhodes College (Tenn.), and completed studies at Conservatorium van Amsterdam & the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is Youth Orchestra Program Associate at Atlanta Music Project.
USA
Atlanta Music Project
Program Associate
Stephen is Congressional & Intergovernmental Affairs Director for US governors. He is an advocate for musicians and music education and has advised the Country Music Association, among others.
USA
National Governors Association
Director
Colombian violist Carlos Parra studied at the National University of Colombia and Boston University. Mr. Parra is a founding member of Bogotá Chamber Orchestra and is also member of the Baroque Ensemble of Bogotá.
Colombia
Filarmónica Jóven de Colombia
Fundación Bolívar Davivienda
Rachel is a violinist & music educator. She teaches privately and at studios, in addition to group lessons with Sphinx Overture program. She is passionate about investing in local communities by bringing equity & excellence to music education.
USA
El Ballet Folkórico Estudiantil
Violin Instructor
Diana Ramírez is a member of the Abilene Philharmonic, Richardson Symphony, and McKinney Philharmonic, as well as a faculty member of Accent Music Academy. She holds a Master’s from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
Costa Rica
Accent Music Academy
Teaching Artist
Liliana is a performer & educator pursuing a Master’s at George State University. She founded Anacrusa, which trains musicians to improve musical expression, overcome anxiety, and generate confidence through movement techniques.
Mexico
Atlanta All-Stars Project
Instructor
Michael is a freelance musician, linguist, and teacher who holds degrees in music and biological science. His published thesis explores the role of music performance and production in communicating health information throughout West Africa.
USA
Americorps
VISTA Member
Alexandra is an adjunct instructor of music at Millikin University and teaches grades 6-12 at St. Teresa High School and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School. She is founder and director of the Prelude Orchestra and Jumpstart Summer Band.
USA
Millikin University
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Maria is a cultural project manager, technical producer, and sound engineer. Through music and science, her career has focused on delivering meaningful experiences to audiences through guided listening and the expression of art through technology.
Colombia
McGill University
Graduate Scholar
Mariana directs the Music Development Center, the Suzuki Method Music School of Guatemala founded in 2015. She is also a violin teacher and music early childhood educator there, accredited by the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Guatemala
Development Center of Guatemala
Academic Director & Instructor
A Fulbright-Spain grantee, Adriana is an active member of several youth orchestras and ensembles, such as Orquestra Camera Musicae, Orquesta Simfònica del Vallès, among others.
Spain
Butler University
Fulbright Awardee
Ely grew up on a dairy farm in Western Australia, later moving to Perth to study music and Melbourne for an undergraduate degree in viola. He has worked in concerts and is studying for a Master’s in Arts and Cultural Management.
Australia
University of Melbourne
Production Officer
Jason enjoys an international career as a concert violist and string pedagogue, having performed in the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. He has served on university music faculties, and most recently as Director of Orchestras at Woodstock School in India.
USA
Norwalk Public Schools
Elementary String Instructor
Originally from Gualaca, Panama, Gustavo Samudio is a music educator & guitarist based in Arkansas, where he is pursuing an MM at University of Arkansas. His vision of a well-rounded musician inspires his teaching, performing, and arranging music.
Panama
University of Arkansas
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Shashank is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and music teacher based in Delhi. He runs his own music institute, the Tamboora Music Academy, which teaches music, empathy, and leadership to underprivileged youth in schools across Delhi-NCR.
India
Amani Project
Teaching Artist
Naomi is a teacher, program assistant, wedding DJ, and violinist. She studied International Political Economy and Music at the University of Puget Sound. Fall of 2020 marks her third year working with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies.
United States
GTC Youth Symphonies
Teaching Artist
A native of New Brunswick, Canada, clarinetist David Scott studied at McGill’s Schulich School of Music & Western University. A member of Tutta Musica Orchestra, he performs frequently with Atlantic Sinfonia & Symphony New Brunswick.
Canada
Sistema New Brunswick
Teaching Artist
Cleveland-based cellist Rebecca Shasberger founded Renovare Music, a nonprofit that bridges communities & creates restorative experiences through music. She holds degrees from Cleveland Institute of Music & Westmont College.
USA
Renovare Music
Founder & Director
Katharine holds degrees from University of Nevada Las Vegas and Denver University. She is a Teaching Artist with El Sistema Colorado in addition to maintaining a private studio. She has experience in repair and restoration of the violin family of instruments.
USA
El Sistema Colorado
Teaching Artist
Elijah works with composers to expand the repertoire for viola. He teaches at City College Academy of the Arts and P.S. 84 Lilian Weber School of the Arts. He also performs in homeless shelters and hospitals as part of Concerts in Motion.
United Kingdom
The Juilliard School
Teaching Artist Fellow
Dan is the senior music therapist at Nepean School in Melbourne and treasurer for the Victorian Branch of the Australian Music Therapy Association. He plays piano in bands in Melbourne and sings in choirs with whom he has toured internationally.
Australia
Victoria Dept. of Education
Senior Music Therapist
Dr. Nancy is Dean of the College of Fine Arts and presidential professor of music. She oversees seven departments, eight gallery spaces, including the Marjorie Barrick Museum; six theatre venues, & the UNLV Performing Arts Center.
USA
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Dean of Fine Arts
Maria del Valle is a music teacher and flute player based in New York City.She founded Shine on Kids NYC, a community music program for children and families, and Project Shine International, an arts education consulting company.
USA & Tanzania
Shine on Arts Initiative
Founding Director
Colombia
Filarmonicá Joven de Colombia
Fundación Bolívar Davivienda
Canadian pianist Tong has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. As Executive Director of “Zenkora Studios”, Tong leads a team of artists across genres to produce interdisciplinary orchestra concerts.
Canada
Lincoln Center Stage Resident Artist
RWS Entertainment Group
Joanne’s career has included music teaching & professional singing. She has been a member of the BBC Singers, with a special interest in Early Music. She is a member of Canty-a, a four female voice & medieval harp ensemble based in Glasgow.
United Kingdom
Canty – Cappella Nova
Freelance Artist