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2025 Cohort

After a thorough selection process involving exceptional candidates from across the globe, 70 remarkable arts leaders have been chosen for the 2025 MBA Journey. This year’s Cohort, representing 29 nations across six continents, brings together a dynamic group of innovators playing wide-ranging roles in the arts sector: founders, social entrepreneurs, curators, conservatory leaders, presenters, producers, performers, cultural policymakers, teaching artists, media consultants, instrument makers, professors, and researchers. The 2025 Cohort Members come from Argentina, Australia, Belize, Canada, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Global MBA Cohort

 

Giovanni Acquilino

Piccola Accademia dell’Arte

Giovanni Acquilino

Italy
Piccola Accademia dell’Arte
Board Member & Program Manager

Giovanni is a musician, educator, and cultural leader. Board Member and Program Manager at Piccola Accademia dell’Arte, where he develops inclusive music programs, artistic initiatives, and community projects across Liguria.

Kwame Alston

Y.K. Visions

Kwame Alston

United States
Y.K. Visions
Founder & CEO

Kwame Alston is a public service sales capture professional at Accenture, entrepreneur, and community advocate. He is also passionate about the arts and aspires to represent Maryland’s 7th district in Congress.

Nifemi Ashani

Styled by Nif, Inc.

Nifemi Ashani

Nigeria & Canada
Styled by Nif, Inc.
Founder & CEO

Nifemi, founder and CEO of Styled By Nif, Inc. in Edmonton, AB, Canada, champions diversity, sustainable development, and creative innovation in the fashion industry.

Emilia Atuesta

Liana Creativa

Emilia Atuesta

Colombia
Liana Creativa
Founder

Emilia is the Founder and Creative Director of LIANA, an organization promoting sustainable craft processes in indigenous communities in Colombia.

Steve Barry

Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Steve Barry

New Zealand & Australia
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Program Leader for Jazz

Steve is the Program Leader for Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Born & raised in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand), Barry is active in the music industry as a performer, accompanist, educator, and consultant.

Derek Beckvold

Portland Symphony

Derek Beckvold

United States
Portland Symphony
Executive Director
 
 

Derek is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Teach To Learn. He also serves on the faculty at the New England Conservatory and is a Development Officer for the Boston Philharmonic.

Alex Benn

English National Ballet

Alex Benn

United Kingdom
English National Ballet
Project Manager

Former member of the Halle Orchestra, Alex served in the British Army and now freelances as a project manager and producer for major arts organizations in the UK.

Angela Bilger

Musician's Well

Angela Bilger

United States
Musician's Well
Founder

Angela is the founder of Musician’s Well, a platform showcasing injury recovery stories. She frequently performs with The Philadelphia Orchestra and coaches chamber music at Northwestern University and Midwest Young Artists Conservatory.

Michael Bobbitt

Opera America

Michael Bobbitt

United States
Opera America
President

Michael is the Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, an independent state agency for the arts, humanities, and culture in Massachusetts. He is also a published playwright working on several new commissions.

Renata Borowska

Poznań Opera House

Renata Borowska

Poland
Poznań Opera House
General Manager

Renata is the General Director of the Opera House in Poznań, Poland, and a board member of Opera Europa Association.

Faith Carmichael

NEXT

Faith Carmichael

United States
NEXT
CEO

Faith is the Co-Founder and CEO of NEXT, a cultural branding organization that promotes emerging artists at the intersection of arts and social action.

Daniel Castro

Live Music Now Scotland

Daniel Castro

Spain
Live Music Now Scotland
Composer & Teaching Artist

Daniel is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Glasgow, UK. He moved from Spain to Scotland to study the folk traditions of the British Isles and now performs Celtic, Spanish, and Scandinavian music with Live Music Now Scotland.

Nicole Chan

McGill University

Nicole Chan

Canada
McGill University
Doctoral Scholar

Nicole, a Hong Kong-Canadian soprano and harpist, has received several international vocal awards and explores innovative management approaches to attract modern audiences to opera.

Jose Maria Condemi

San Francisco Opera

Jose Maria Condemi

Argentina & United States
San Francisco Opera
Director & Assistant Director

Jose Maria, a director of opera and musical theater, is a member of the San Francisco Opera. He previously served as the Artistic Director of Opera Santa Barbara and as the Chair of Opera at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jaylan Craig

Modern Dance Movement

Jaylan Craig

Belize
Modern Dance Movement
Founder & Creative Director

Jaylan, a Belizean dance educator, is the Founder of Modern Dance Movement, offering dance instruction to students of all ages. She serves as a board member at Belize’s National Institute of Culture and History.

Jennifer Dautermann

JDJK Consulting

Jennifer Dautermann

Germany & Canada
JDJK Consulting
Co-founder

Jennifer is an arts project architect and consultant with over 20 years of global experience. She founded Classical:NEXT, an international forum for art music professionals.

Sam Davies

The Untold Orchestra

Sam Davies

United Kingdom
The Untold Orchestra
Founder & Artistic Director

Sam is the founder and Artistic Director of The Untold Orchestra in Manchester, UK. With 15 years of experience in the creative sector, he focuses on using the orchestra as a tool for community building.

Arianna de la Cruz Lara

Pierre Boulez Saal

Arianna de la Cruz Lara

Costa Rica
Pierre Boulez Saal
Project Manager, Artistic Planning

Berlin-based Arianna is a Project Manager at the Pierre Boulez Saal. Previously, she worked in the Artistic Planning and Education departments at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Daniela Diaz Peter

Classical Music Institute

Daniela Diaz Peter

Venezuela
Classical Music Institute
VP of Artistic & Education Programs

Venezuelan violinist Daniela is the Vice President of Artistic & Education Programs at the Classical Music Institute. She is a former member of El Sistema’s Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela.

Jamie Ehrenfeld

Belongó

Jamie Ehrenfeld

United States
Belongó
Director of Education

Jamie, a Brooklyn-based creative, serves as Program Administrator and Academic Advisor for Music Education at NYU, focusing on bridging communities through the arts.

Amanda Ehst

Upper Darby A&E Foundation

Amanda Ehst

United States
Upper Darby A&E Foundation
Administrative Director

Amanda is the Administrative Director at the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation in Pennsylvania, USA. With a background in music education, she is leading the launch of the SPARC, a new community center based on arts and education for all.

Maria Gabriela Fals

Cartagena Music Festival

Maria Gabriela Fals

Colombia
Cartagena Music Festival
Administrative Director

María Gabriela is the Administrative Director of the Cartagena Symphony Orchestra in Colombia. Under her leadership, the CSO has expanded its impact through new partnerships, reaching more diverse audiences.

Jorge Féliz

Reina Sofía School of Music

Jorge Féliz

Spain
Reina Sofía School of Music
Strategic Development Manager

Leveraging his experience in opera and marketing, Jorge works at Reina Sofía School of Music as Sponsorship and Strategic Development Manager to drive impact through cross-sector collaborations.

María Angélica Franco Frías

Literatura para Todos

María Angélica Franco Frías

Colombia
Literatura para Todos
Executive Director

Colombian lawyer María Angélica is the Executive Director of the Corporación Literatura Para Todos, an organization focused on arts-based human development.

Tanya Gabrielian

Sound Bites

Tanya Gabrielian

United States
Sound Bites
Artistic Director

Tanya is an internationally recognized pianist and Artistic Director of Sound Bites, blending culinary, oenophile, and musical experiences.

Simón Gangotena Ortiz

Fundación InConcerto

Simón Gangotena Ortiz

Ecuador
Fundación InConcerto
Founder and Director

Simón is the Founder and Director of Fundación InConcerto and Festival MúsicaOcupa, advancing Ecuador's music scene. He was also de Music Director at Fundación Teatro Nacional Sucre.

Virginia Ghiggia

Teatro dell’Opera di Roma

Virginia Ghiggia

Italy
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma
Superintendence

Virginia is a lawyer specializing in Performing Arts Management at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala and the Business School of Politecnico di Milano.

Kathleen Gomes

Portugal Public Sector

Kathleen Gomes

Portugal
Portugal Public Sector
Cultural & Artistic Advisor

Kathleen, a former cultural advisor to Portugal’s Prime Minister, is a cultural manager and curator with a background in journalism, including work as an international correspondent in the US and Brazil.

Sarah Gordin

Philly Children’s Theatre

Sarah Gordin

United States
Philly Children’s Theatre
Founding Artistic Director

Sarah is the Founding Artistic Director of Philly Children’s Theatre, where she focuses on expanding arts accessibility for families through imaginative storytelling.

Adam Gurczak

Almanak Creative

Adam Gurczak

United States
Almanak Creative
Co-Founder

Adam is the co-founder of Almanak Creative—a production and consulting agency supporting artists—as well as a bassist and educator, performing across folk and classical styles and teaching at New England Conservatory Prep and Wayland School of Music.

Dafna Hemmendinger

Contact Improvisation

Dafna Hemmendinger

Israel
Contact Improvisation
Creative Producer

Dafna is a practitioner of Contact Improvisation Dance and Group Improvisation, leading programs and working with diverse groups in Israel.

Christopher Hotchkiss

The Julliard School

Christopher Hotchkiss

United States
The Julliard School
Registrar & Schedule Admin

Christopher is an NYC-based arts administrator working in Juilliard’s Registrar’s Office. He was a 2023 Essentials of Orchestra Management Fellow at the League of American Orchestras.

Benjamin Hunter

Northwest Folklife

Benjamin Hunter

United States
Northwest Folklife
Artistic Director

Seattle-based polymath Benjamin serves as the Artistic Director of Northwest Folklife, curating and coordinating concerts, exhibits, markets, and collaborative productions that elevate and expand the world of folk music.

Jennifer Irons

makeAMPLIFY

Jennifer Irons

Canada
makeAMPLIFY
Co-Artistic Director

Jennifer Irons is an award-winning choreographer based in the UK, creating dynamic works spanning large-scale outdoor festivals, commercial music videos, film, TV, and theatre.

Helena Jackson

Ruhrtriennale

Helena Jackson

United Kingdom & Germany
Ruhrtriennale
Theatre Director and Producer

Helena, winner of the University Women in the Arts Award, is a freelance international theatre director and producer. Her experience includes serving as Associate Director at Schauspiel Frankfurt and the Ruhrtriennale, as well as Artistic Director of Sleepless Theatre Company.

Zeina Jomaa

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

Zeina Jomaa

Lebanon
Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
Production Manager

Zeina is a seasoned production manager in the performing arts, with experience as a dancer, dance teacher, theatre producer, and former Head of Production at the Royal Opera House Muscat. She currently serves as Senior Production Manager at the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation.

Anselma Jones-Nembhard

Anselma Robin Music Studio at PSM

Anselma Jones-Nembhard

Belize
Anselma Robin Music Studio at PSM
Founder & Teaching Artist

Anselma Jones is a Violin & Viola Instructor at Pallotti School of Music, Interim Director of UB Steel, Steel Pannist of Omolewa Osain & Pantempters Steel Orchestra, and Principal Violist for Belize.

Jim Kuehn

Medicine Hat College

Jim Kuehn

Canada
Medicine Hat College
Senior Media Design Educator

Jim is an award-winning media designer specializing in film, generative art, and exhibitions, contributing to Alberta’s media arts community.

Venus-Tyané Kuya

Arts & Education Organization

Venus-Tyané Kuya

United States
Arts & Education Organization
Culture & Engagement Director

Venus-Tyané is the Co-Founder and Culture & Engagement Director of an arts-centered high school.

Sagan MacIsaac

Arts Consultants Canada

Sagan MacIsaac

Canada
Arts Consultants Canada
Curator & Cultural Strategist

Sagan is a curator and cultural strategist. As a member of Arts Consultants Canada, she contributes to advancing the arts through innovative programming and strategic advisory roles.

Herman Marigny

The Smithsonian, NMAAHC

Herman Marigny

United States
The Smithsonian, NMAAHC
Director, Visitor & Guest Services

Herman is the Director of Visitor and Guest Services at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, leading transformative initiatives that integrate museum innovation with social impact.

Cristian Martinez Vega

University of Auckland

Cristian Martinez Vega

Mexico
University of Auckland
Doctoral Scholar

Cristian is a PhD candidate in Historical Musicology at the University of Auckland, specializing in the socio-political dynamics of nineteenth-century chamber music. He is also a violinist with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.

Lorena Martínez

Europe Beyond Access

Lorena Martínez

Mexico & Sweden
Europe Beyond Access
Consortium Project Manager

Lorena is the Consortium Manager of Europe Beyond Access, advocating for disabled and Deaf artists through international collaborations.  She leads innovative and creative initiatives that enhance accessibility and sustainability.

Kirit Mascarenhas

Sistema Toronto

Kirit Mascarenhas

Canada
Sistema Toronto
Teaching Artist

Indian-Canadian violinist Kirit Mascarenhas is the Production and Development Coordinator with Ensemble Obiora. Along with his active career as a freelance violinist, he is dedicated to community engagement, creative collaboration, and advancing diversity within Canada’s classical music landscape.

Austin McFarland

New Works Project

Austin McFarland

United States
New Works Project
Executive Director

Austin McFarland is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, and arts entrepreneur with a portfolio career spanning nonprofit leadership, instrument manufacturing, community teaching, and business development.

Genevieve McGahey

DC Singer Collective

Genevieve McGahey

United States
DC Singer Collective
Founder & Chief Artistic Director

Genevieve, Founder of the DC Singer Collective, draws on her experience across nonprofits and the private sector to develop programming that contributes to artist and audience well-being.

Katherine Meade

The Watermill Center

Katherine Meade

United States
The Watermill Center
Education Manager

Katie is a freelance dramaturg specializing in new play development and applied theater. Her work focuses on teaching history, social justice, and activism through the arts in both classroom and non-traditional settings.

Nikki Naghavi

Glass Artists

Nikki Naghavi

United States
Glass Artists
Founder & CEO

Iranian-American violinist Nikki works in the New England Conservatory’s Expanded Education Department and is the founder of Glass Artists, a musician entertainment agency.

James Murathe Ngigi

Pichad

James Murathe Ngigi

Kenya
Pichad
Founder & CEO

Murathe is a poet, spoken word artist, and photographer based in Kenya. A winner of several poetry competitions held in Nairobi, he captures theatre performances and concerts under his brand, Pichad.

Terry Nguyen

TaikoMix

Terry Nguyen

United States
TaikoMix
Executive Director

Terry, a specialist in Japanese traditional music, lectures in the Department of Music at the University of California. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of TaikoMix, an organization preserving taiko cultural heritage through education and performance.

Yannick Nkoumou

Kayou Jazz Club

Yannick Nkoumou

Cameroon
Kayou Jazz Club
Managing Partner

Yannick is a social innovation consultant and co-founder of Kayou Jazz Club, which provides music education access to underprivileged Cameroon-based children while supporting local artists.

Daniel Pedraza

Kent State University Orchestra

Daniel Pedraza

Colombia
Kent State University Orchestra
Concertmaster & 2nd Violins Head

Daniel is a Colombian violinist and Concertmaster at the KSU Orchestra, teaching at Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and directing Arcosur, a festival connecting regional talent with educational opportunities.

Jacqueline Pickett

League of Women Bassplayers, Inc.

Jacqueline Pickett

United States
League of Women Bassplayers, Inc.
Founder & President

Jacqueline is the Principal Bassist of the LaGrange and Columbus Symphony Orchestras. She is a Double Bass Instructor at Spelman College in Atlanta, USA, and the Founder of the League of Women Bassplayers.

Matthew Principe

Principe Dynamics

Matthew Principe

United States
Principe Dynamics
Founder

US-based producer with a collaboration track record including Boston Baroque, Detroit Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera, Principe drives 21st-century classical arts conversations through transmedia storytelling.

Luke Riedlinger

McGill University

Luke Riedlinger

United Kingdom
McGill University
Researcher on Cultural Diplomacy

Luke is a PhD candidate in Musicology at McGill University, researching the historical role of cultural diplomacy in shaping the globalization of the popular music industry.

Diane Robertson

Leimert Park Jazz Festival

Diane Robertson

United States
Leimert Park Jazz Festival
Executive Director

Diane is an entertainment lawyer and community advocate dedicated to civic engagement. She is the Executive Producer of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, overseeing the festival’s production.

María Andrea Rodriguez

Sucre Merece Opera

María Andrea Rodriguez

Colombia
Sucre Merece Opera
Founder & Artistic Director

María Andrea is a multidisciplinary artist and Founder/Artistic Director of Sucre Mecere Opera, which aims to make opera more accessible in Colombia’s Caribbean Region.

Michael Salter

Carnegie Hall

Michael Salter

United States
Carnegie Hall
Summer Workshop Lead Teacher

GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Michael is on faculty at Carnegie Hall’s Summer Music Educators Workshop. He also works with students throughout the Chicago area as a teaching artist for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic.

Alyssa Santiváñez

Ears Wide Open at UofSC

Alyssa Santiváñez

Peru
Ears Wide Open at UofSC
Artistic Director

Alyssa is the Artistic Director of the Ears Wide Open concert series, leading a team to bring high-quality live music to community members through non-traditional venues, thoughtful programming, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Lisa Maria Schlinkmann

Daniel Barenboim Foundation

Lisa Maria Schlinkmann

Germany
Daniel Barenboim Foundation
Director of Development

Lisa is the Director of Development at the Daniel Barenboim Foundation for the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and other initiatives. She is also the Co-Founder of alma, a network uniting arts and music pioneers to drive cultural change in Germany

Adi Sha’al

Vertigo Dance Association

Adi Sha’al

Israel
Vertigo Dance Association
Co-Founder, CEO

Adi Sha’al is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vertigo Dance Association, a contemporary dance company based in Jerusalem that provides educational and performance opportunities to professional dancers.

Tiara Shafiq

Arts & Media, Technology & Games

Tiara Shafiq

Australia & Malaysia
Arts & Media, Technology & Games
Creative Professional

Creatrix Tiara is an artist who creates hybrid worlds to connect communities. They work across writing, performance, media, gaming, and arts, blending whimsy with current affairs and online/offline culture. As a director and producer, they now focus on bridging video games and performing arts through experiential and physical projects.

Christina Soriano

Wake Forest University

Christina Soriano

United States
Wake Forest University
Dance Educator

Christina is a dance educator, arts research interventionist, and higher education arts administrator studying the intersections of dance and health at Wake Forest University.

Jan Swierkowski

Instytut B61

Jan Swierkowski

Poland
Instytut B61
Director

Jan is the Founder of Instytut B61, a Polish initiative that bridges art and science through immersive experiences. Holding an MA in Astrophysics and a PhD in Culture Studies, he has curated numerous exhibitions, including the Polish Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020.

Joseph Taylor

Yehman Rekaad

Joseph Taylor

Colombia
Yehman Rekaad
Manager

Joe is a singer-songwriter, researcher, and cultural manager from the island of Old Providence. He manages Yehman Rekaad and Fire Band while also leading an active music career as an instrumentalist, composer, and producer.

Anthony Ty

The Frances Clark Center

Anthony Ty

United States
The Frances Clark Center
Social Media Coordinator

Anthony is the Social Media Coordinator for the Frances Clark Center. He is interested in exploring the intersection of technology and music education to unlock new opportunities in the field.

Sandra Viloria Garcés

Fundación Cultural Unísono

Sandra Viloria Garcés

Colombia
Fundación Cultural Unísono
Co-Founder

Sandra, a musician and sound engineer from San Andrés, Colombia, co-founded Fundación Cultura Unísono, offering teacher training and young artist development to enhance the local music scene.

Jacob West

GTCYS

Jacob West

United States
GTCYS
Development Coordinator

Jacob is the Development Coordinator at the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. An advocate of music education, he previously served on the board of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras.

Laurel Winton

DanceAspen

Laurel Winton

United States
DanceAspen
Founder & Executive Director

A former Joffrey Ballet touring dancer, Laurel represented the US in the 2015 International Ballet Competition and founded DanceAspen in 2021, where she continues to serve as Executive Director.

Laura Zarta Gutierrez

Banco de la República Art Museums

Laura Zarta Gutierrez

Colombia
Banco de la República Art Museums
Chief Curator

Laura is the Chief Curator of the Arts Unit at Banco de la República and the Founder of Global Warning Agency, bridging sustainability and creativity in Colombia.

Celina Zboromirska-Bienczak

Deputy Director

Celina Zboromirska-Bienczak

Poland
Deputy Director
Miniatura City Theatre

Celina is the Deputy Director of City Miniatura Theatre, a Polish cultural venue dedicated to nurturing creativity and imagination. With over 20 years of experience in the arts, including her role as Deputy Director in Gdańsk’s Mayor’s Office for Culture, she also coordinates the city’s Education for Culture program.