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Kyla Pitts-Zevin, Northeast Community Center Executive Director
Kyla Pitts-Zevin has spent the past decade advocating for and serving children and families. A bilingual Spanish speaker, Kyla has a background in program management and grant writing. Kyla has served as the Community Center's Development Director since 2018, and stepped into the Executive Director's role in July 2021. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from Arkansas State University, a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, and a Bachelors in Human Development & Social Relations and Spanish from Earlham College.
​Lauren Clifton-Thompson, Development Director
Lauren Clifton-Thompson states, “I am a product of music education having played the clarinet from 4th through 12th grade. It was a transformative experience and I believe every child deserves to have the option. I’ve long admired Harmony Project KC and am encouraged by the wrap-around services and deep impact created by Northeast Community Center. I love my hometown of Kansas City and find it to be a city filled with generosity and compassion.
I'm excited to amplify the great work being done here and connect the people and resources needed to help the children and families here thrive at NECC."
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As well as being an experienced development professional, Lauren holds a Bachelors in Business Marketing and a Masters in Business Administration. She also earned a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Park University.
Lauren and her husband are the proud parents of three children, plus one fur baby. In their leisure time, they enjoy traveling and cheering on the Chiefs.
James Westbrook, Harmony Project KC Artistic Program Manager
James Westbrook is a teacher, performer, and Kansas City native. With over ten years of teaching experience, Mr. Westbrook is dedicated to providing quality music education to learners of all ages. As a performer, he has had the pleasure of performing works from both the classical and contemporary canon alongside phenomenal colleagues and musicians. James holds degrees in clarinet performance and music education from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, the University of North Texas, and the University of Central Missouri, respectively. He is also an advocate for contemporary music and musicians in the Kansas City music community and served on the Board of Directors for newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble.
Liz Moreland, Harmony Project KC Music Therapy and Impact Manager
Liz is a certified Music Therapist with degrees in Psychology and Music Therapy from UMKC. Before her role as Music Therapy and Impact Manager, Liz served as a violin and viola Teaching Artist at HPKC for 3 and 1/2 years. She spent one of these years as the piano accompanist for the HPKC children's choir. She plays 6 instruments including accordion, piano, violin, viola, guitar, and ukulele. She also loves to sing. Currently, Liz is pursuing her MBA with a focus in Arts Innovation through the Global Leaders Institute. In her free time, Liz enjoys playing volleyball and spending time in nature. She is passionate about her family, her pets, data, and making an impact on others through music.
Macyory Calderon, Supportive Services Manager
Originally from Merida, Venezuela, Macyory has been an educator for the past 16 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching foreign languages, a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics and an Ed.S in teaching leadership. As a teacher, Macyory enjoyed encouraging students to achieve their personal and academic goals. She is very excited to be part of the Harmony Project and dedicate my time to help the community. On a personal note, Macyory loves being in nature. Her hobbies include hiking and backpacking with my family.
Adee Dancy, Harmony Project KC Program Operations Manager
Adee Dancy is excited to be joining the Harmony Project Staff as Program Assistant, after being a Teaching Artist for 3 years! Adee has an extensive background in performing arts and music education, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Adee has a passion for sharing the love of music with everyone they encounter- from students, to peers, to listeners. As a teacher, Adee has done everything from substitute teaching middle school strings, teaching private lessons, conducting ensembles, to starting an elementary music program. Adee has a deep love for songwriting, singing, and playing the cello, and performs with many local music groups. They pursue these artistic disciplines as a Studio Resident at the Charlotte Street Foundation. When they’re not working, Adee loves to be outside, ride bikes, read, and snuggle their kitties, and constantly change their hair!
Ray Callahan, Campus Aide
Ray is originally from the Historic Northeast, and serves on the Leadership Team at Cherith Brook. He keeps the campus in working order, and assists with keeping the campus a safe environment for all of our community members. His hobbies include putting car audio equipment together, and his favorite record is "Wonder What's Next" by Chevelle.
Can Balcik, Violin Teaching Artist
Turkish/Uruguayan violinist, Can "John" Balcik Moretti, holds a Bachelor's Degree from Dokuz Eylul University Conservatory in Izmir and a Master's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Iowa. He moved to Kansas City in 2018 to pursue his Doctoral Degree at UMKC, where he served as concertmaster for three years. As part of his musical journey, Can has attended numerous festivals, including the International Music Academy in France, Institute Eugene Ysaye in Belgium, Internationale Sommerakademie, and Beethovenfest Bonn in Germany. Through these opportunities, Can has given many solo, chamber, and orchestral concerts throughout Europe, the US, and South America. In addition to performing, Can's true passion has been teaching since 2014. Back in Izmir, he founded a violin ensemble, consisting of his high school level students, that toured all over the Aegean Region. A number of his students have won competitions in Turkey and Europe, and many of them pursue musical careers today. Can joined the Harmony Project team in January 2022 and has been thrilled to teach the incredibly talented students there.
Rachael Berg, Viola Teaching Artist
Rachael was born and raised in Georgia where she received her musical training and teaching credentials. She has been playing the violin for twenty years and teaching for nearly as long. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. Rachael was co-director of one of the largest high school orchestra programs in Georgia before switching gears to solely teaching private lessons for violin, viola, cello, and piano. Since moving to Missouri in 2018, Rachael has enjoyed playing with the KC Civic Orchestra and other local ensembles, teaching private lessons, and teaching online English lessons to children in China. When she isn’t teaching or playing she enjoys spending time with her husband and four boys. Sharing music with others has been one of the greatest joys of Rachael’s life and she is excited to be a part of the wonderful program at Harmony Project KC.
James Farquhar, Cello Teaching Artist
James Farquhar is formerly a student of Kurt Baldwin of the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Under Baldwin’s instruction, James attained 2019-20 UMSL Artist of the Year with the Rococo Variations by Tchaikovsky. During his time in his undergraduate, James also organized numerous Outreach recitals in the communities around St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, sharing his love for music with a variety of communities. He is currently continuing his studies, pursuing a Master’s of Music (Cello Performance) from Park University under Prof. Daniel Veis.
James has received invaluable instruction from the likes of the Arianna String Quartet, the Brooklyn Rider String Quartet, the Harlem String Quartet, the Rolston String Quartet, Dennis Parker, Jackie Lee (artistic director of Heartland Chamber Music KC), Lawrence Figg (KC Symphony), and Frank Huang (Concertmaster of the NY Philharmonic), among numerous others. He has also participated in various chamber music festivals including the Arianna Chamber Music Festival, Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival, Heartland Chamber Music Festival (as a festival scholar from the 2017-2021 seasons), and Chamber Music in the Mountains (Mt. Lemmon, Arizona).
His ultimate career goals are to be a concert cellist for a major symphony orchestra, continually give collaborative recitals, and teach privately. He also aspires to organize grant-funded outreach concerts for underserved elementary schools, hospitals and nursing home communities. James also plans to continue teaching as Cello Instructor for String Sprouts KC, a nonprofit that is specifically ‘designed for underserved children ages 3-8, and is a free music education program created to support school readiness.
Larry Hernandez, Cello Teaching Artist
Larry is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Cello Performance at the UMKC Conservatory studying under Michael Mermagen. He obtained a double degree in BM Cello Performance and Music Theory at the UMKC Conservatory 2018, cum laude. He was a participant at the Miami Music Festival (MMF), the Innsbrook Music Festival in St. Louis, and the Frostburg Summer Music Academy (Frostburg, MD) where he was a Fellow and coach for students. Hernandez has played in the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, the MMF Symphony and Opera orchestras, the Midwest Chamber Ensemble, and the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Hernandez has performed in master classes for Hans Jørgen Jensen, Michael Stern, Keith Robinson, Emilio Colón, and Nathan Cole. Other influential cello teachers include Carter Enyeart, Alexander East, and Emilio Colón.
​Selene Hernandez, Violin Teaching Artist/String Ensemble Conductor/
Advanced Technique Teaching Artist
Selene is currently a middle and high school Orchestra teacher for the Independence School District. In the past, Selene interned with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles at Heart of Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from William Jewell College.
​Kathryn Hilger, Viola Teaching Artist
Kathryn Hilger is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music (M.M.) and the University of Missouri—Kansas City Conservatory (B.M.), holding degrees in Viola Performance. Ms. Hilger is active in her community, performing and teaching with several local organizations in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. In this regard, she serves as Principal Viola and Chamber Music Coordinator for Midwest Chamber Ensemble, performs as a member of the Topeka and Lee’s Summit Symphonies, subs with the Kansas City Symphony and serves as a Teaching Artist for Harmony Project KC. Past notable achievements include positions with the National Repertory Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, where she sat principal. Ms. Hilger’s other interests include spending time outdoors (and bringing the outdoors in with an ever-growing collection of houseplants), rewatching the same five episodes of The Office, yoga, jogging, local history and fashion.
Adam Lundine, Wind Ensemble Teaching Artist
Adam is a Kansas City area native and has enjoyed teaching in the area for the past ten years. He holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Kansas and undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Kansas State University. Previously, Adam was the Director of Bands at Blue Valley Northwest High School. He is very excited to work with the students of the Harmony Project KC Wind Ensemble!
Joseph Panella, Bass Teaching Artist/Chamber Music Facilitator
Joseph Panella has been performing (double bass and electric bass) professionally for over a decade. He grew up in a musical family and was encouraged to study music from the earliest ages. He was trained in the Suzuki program and then switched to bass at age thirteen, upon hearing a series of recordings that inspired him to be more deeply immersed in Black American Music, including what is known as Swing, Bebop, Funk, Blues, and more.
He studied with Marcos Machado, classical virtuoso and author of “The Tao of Double Bass” at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has also studied with bassist and educator Dr. David Pellow, a Protege of Francois Rabbath and former professor at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as Bob Bowman, legendary bassist with the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra.
In 2012, he began working in Nashville as a session and touring musician with the Annie Moses Band, a group that fuses a broad range of influences, including folk, pop, and classical music. He is featured on their studio album, American Rhapsody. During that time, he also met, toured, and recorded with Joshua Carswell. His playing is featured on the albums Debonair and Joshua Carswell: Live in Long Beach, CA.
Currently, Panella resides in the Kansas City Area, performing as a freelance bassist and teaching clinics and private lessons. In the Midwest, he has performed with the likes of Mark Lowrey, Lisa Henry, Matt Otto, Will Matthews, Shay Estes, Stanton Kessler, Danny Embrey, Anthony Pinciotti, Pete Zimmer, Pamela Watson, Ensemble Iberica, Victor and Penny, Owen/Cox Dance Company and many more.
Kristen Nall, Musicianship Teaching Artist
Kristen received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. She currently teaches K-5 Music at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Liberty, MO. Kristen plays the trombone regularly with two ensembles in the Kansas City area - Moon City Big Band and the Northland Symphony Orchestra. Kristen is passionate about children receiving opportunities to make music and is thrilled to be a part of Harmony Project KC!
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Alberto Racanati, Brass Teaching Artist
Dr. Alberto Racanati is a freelance trumpet player and educator in the Kansas City area. Originally from Bari (Italy) Alberto has studied at the Piccinni Conservatory in Bari, the Moniuszko Music Academy in Gdansk (Poland), Western Illinois University and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Besides his activity as a classical musician, he is also active in the realms of contemporary and electronic music, having released three solo albums on streaming platforms with his project Alber, and collaborating with other local artists in a variety of projects.
Kayl Soukup, Camerata Conductor
Kayl Soukup is Orchestra Director at Liberty Middle School and Schumacher Elementary School in Liberty, MO. She believes that everyone can make music and the opportunity to make music with others is one of life’s greatest joys. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance degree from Northern Illinois University as well as Master of Music (again, cello performance) and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from UMKC. She has completed additional training in the Bornoff Approach to string education and Suzuki Units 1-3. Kayl was presented the MoASTA Outstanding Secondary Educator Award 2022.
Kristen Tourville, Violin Teaching Artist
Kristen Tourville is a clinician, performer and independent fiddle, Suzuki violin & viola teacher currently living in Blue Springs, Missouri. An Arizona transplant, she holds degrees from Vanderbilt University (BM) and Northern Arizona University (MM-violin performance/string pedagogy). She completed her long-term Suzuki training in all 10 books with several remarkable teacher trainers including Louise Scott, Karin Hallberg, Carol Tarr, & Carrie Reuning. Personal musical pursuits took her around the country on tour with major commercial performing artists, and to symphonies across the Midwest & Southwest. Offstage and outside the teaching studio, Kristen serves as a Music Mind Games Teacher Trainer, and as a clinician and creative workshop leader, working to engage children of all ages in cross-genre musical exploration. Previously, Kristen taught elementary strings for the School District of Clayton in Missouri, and at the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy teaching individual and group classes in violin, viola, and Music Mind Games. She also taught Suzuki violin and Music Mind Games to over 300 kids each year in grades K-5 at Marshall Magnet Elementary, a Title I school in Flagstaff, AZ. Kristen’s other interests include gardening, jogging, hiking, camping, and adventuring with her dogs Ophir and Jack.
Emily Trapani, Wind Ensemble Conductor
Emily is a Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society member and earned her bachelor's degree in music education from East Carolina University in 2015. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in wind conducting at UMKC. Emily is passionate about creating meaningful experiences through music with students and audiences alike. From the outskirts of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in the pacific northwest, to the inner city schools of Indianapolis, Emily has consistently been an advocate for providing high quality music education experiences for students in traditionally underserved communities. Ensembles under Emily’s direction consistently earned gold ratings at the Indiana State School Music Association’s Concert Band Organizational and State Finals events. In 2019 and 2022 the Lawrence Central Wind Ensemble was ranked 2nd and 3rd in the I.S.S.M.A. Concert Band State Finals Event respectively. Emily is looking forward to joining the Harmony Project Team!
​Brittany Wasko, String Ensemble Conductor
Brittany is a senior at the UMKC Conservatory of Music pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education. She is currently an intern with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and performs in several local ensembles including the Lee's Summit Symphony and the Midwest Chamber Ensemble.
Jason West, Cello Teaching Artist/String Ensemble Conductor
Jason recently finished his undergraduate studies with degrees in Cello Performance and Music Education at the UMKC Conservatory. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Cello Performance from the conservatory as well. He has a great devotion for both teaching and performing to help improve the lives of others through music. Jason has performed in various recitals and music festivals of solo and chamber music across the country, and locally with the Midwest Chamber Ensemble. He is delighted to be a part of Harmony Project KC to encourage growth and influence young musicians in this program.
Jennifer Hepp, Wind Ensemble Conductor
Jen Hepp is currently pursuing her masters degree in Wind Conducting at the UMKC Conservatory. She is currently the Director of the Beginning Band and assists with the Intermediate Band at Harmony Project KC. Prior to moving to Kansas City, Jen served as a high school band director in Houston, TX. During her time there, she worked with close to 300 students as the head director for two of the four performing ensembles, and assisted with all other ensembles and aspects of the program. Jen holds Bachelor’s degrees from Northwestern University in Music Education, Trumpet Performance and
Journalism. During her time at Northwestern, Jen was recognized as a Theodore Presser Scholar and performed regularly with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Jen has been active with the pageantry arts since marching with The Phantom Regiment, having served on the brass staffs of Phantom Regiment and The Santa Clara Vanguard. She is also currently on the faculty of the Crossroads Drum Major and Leadership Clinic.
Abbie Brown, Wind Ensemble Teaching Artist
Originally from Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Abbie Brown is a music educator and conductor working on her Interdisciplinary PhD in Music Education from the University of Missouri Kansas-City. This is her first year as a Wind Ensemble director and teaching artist for Harmony Project KC. Abbie received her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Oklahoma, and before starting her MM, Abbie taught in the public schools of Arkansas and Texas for six years. She began her teaching career in Hot Springs, Arkansas at Lakeside School District where she was the head band director at Lakeside Middle School. Abbie moved to Lubbock, Texas in 2017 and accepted the position of Director of Bands and O.L. Slaton Middle School, a Title I school in Lubbock Independent School District. While at O.L. Slaton, Abbie focused on integrating the band program into the rich and culturally diverse community that the school was a part of. No matter the setting, Abbie could be found leading inspiring rehearsals and challenging her students to find deeper meaning in the music they share.
Hope Romero, Harmony Together Leader
Born and raised in Kansas City, Hope is a full-time music therapist at KVC Niles, an adolescent psychiatric residential facility near the historic 18th and Vine neighborhood. Hope currently provides services to pre-teens and teens who have experienced complex trauma in school and residential settings. Her philosophy of music therapy involves a music centered approach, utilizing active music making to accomplish goals of treatment. Hope especially loves songwriting with her clients. In Spring of 2021, Hope completed her internship at Ozanam’s Cornerstones of Care and has been working in adolescent mental health since. Outside of music therapy Hope finds joy in music by song writing and leading worship at her local church.
Snow Zhang, Violin Teaching Artist
Yixue Snow Zhang-Probst, originally from China, is a violinist, conductor, and teacher. Snow first fell in love with orchestral music when she received a full scholarship at age 19 to play violin in the Asian Youth Orchestra, founded by Yehudi Menuhin and Richard Pontzious. Since then, she has performed with orchestras in numerous major concert halls throughout Asia. Snow also performed as a soloist in venues and won national and international prizes such as the first prize of the Concerto Competition in Shanghai and in Delaware, and third prize of the International Competition of Okiden Sugarhall in Japan.
Passionate about helping young musicians, Snow has taught hundreds of students in China and America. She holds the position as the Director and Conductor of Ottumwa Youth Symphony Orchestra and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Snow holds a bachelor’s degree as a Distinguished Alumna from East China Normal University and a master’s degree in music from the University of Delaware. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in music performance and pedagogy at the University of Iowa with the Iowa Performance Fellowship. Currently, she is working on recording a violin album of new Chinese-American compositions.
Aryana Nemati, Saxophone Teaching Artist
Kansas City native Aryana Nemati has a true passion for music. Aryana pursued her musical aspirations at UMKC’s conservatory where she received her bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance/Studio Music. In the spring of 2017, Nemati completed her teaching assistantship and received a master’s degree in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has been a featured artist for Kansas City’s Open Spaces festival, Columbia, Missouri’s We Always Swing jazz series, and Topeka’s Jazz Series and was a selected participant to represent Kansas City in a musical exchange to Chile through UNESCO. Along with performing a wide array of musical genres regularly, she takes pride in providing educational experiences, especially within the Kansas City community. She has had the honor of playing with the following: Harry Connick Jr., Bobby Watson, Mindi Abair, The Four Tops, Sister Carol, Father John Misty, Harold ‘Spike’ Bonhart, and Ernie Andrews.
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Felicia Paolercio, Cello Teaching Artist
Felicia Paolercio is a 22 year old cellist from Kansas City. She has been studying cello for over 11 years. Previously, Felicia performed in the Youth Symphony of Kansas City before becoming a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is studying music education at UMKC and has experience studying all of the other string orchestra instruments and piano as well. During her free time, Felicia works as the Shipping Manager at KC Strings and has been teaching violin, viola, cello, and bass to students over the past couple of years. Felicia also previously taught lessons through the UMKC Conservatory Academy and Bridges Program in the Kansas City Area. Now attending UMKC, she plans to graduate with her degree in music education so that she can teach music to more students. Felicia has also had the opportunity to study cello at UMKC under the instruction of Michael Mermagen.
Stefeny Jungbluth, Harmony Together Leader
Stefeny Jungbluth is a board certified music therapist currently living in Kansas City, Missouri. Stefeny currently works as a Special Education music therapist for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. Stefeny received her degree in music therapy and psychology at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Stefeny specializes in academic based music therapy and also has experience in providing social/emotional based music therapy services. Stefeny is active in the Kansas City Metro Music Therapists organization and in her spare time enjoys reading, crocheting, hiking, and spending time with her husband, friends, and pets.
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