Staff - The People's Music School

Staff

Henry Alloway, Student Coordinator

Hi my name is Henry! I have loved singing ever since I was a young child, and now I am both a music educator and performer! I have performed my original music across the Midwest, and have taught music at schools in both the Chicagoland area and Madison. I believe education is one of the most important tools we have to impart social change, and I think music is a fantastic medium to foster personal agency and empathy building skills. Singing is my biggest passion, but I also love writing, drawing, and reading!

Henry Alloway

Program Coordinator, Greater South Side

Manuela Alvarez, Program Coordinator

manuela.alvarez@peoplesmusicschool.org

Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Manuela Alvarez (she/her) is a performance artist, published playwright, and educator living in Chicago, IL. She fell in love with the stage at the age of eight, when she first learned how to play the electric bass. Her passion for music and storytelling lead her to pursue a BA in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago in 2024. Since graduating, she’s performed in the Greenhouse Theatre Center, Filament Theatre, The Labyrinth Club, and the Neo Futurist Theatre. She is also a teaching artist with Porchlight Theatre, and was a cast mentor for Tellin’ Tales Theatre.

Manuela Alvarez

Program Coordinator, Albany Park

3B14B564-78BA-4DCB-A08E-3EA57A600958 - Alejandra Aquino

Alejandra Aquino, Program Associate

alejandra.aquino@peoplesmusicschool.org

Alejandra graduated in 2020 with her Bachelors of Arts in general music with a concentration in Arts Administration from North Park University. She studied with flutist Dr. Ellen Huntington. At North Park University she was awarded an internship with The People’s Music School. In 2021, Alejandra became a coordinator at The People’s Music School. Her responsibilities have grown and is now working with SLAM honors and Albany Park as their program coordinator. In addition to the admin role, she teaches private flute classes as faculty.

Alejandra Aquino

Program Associate, SLAM

Chelsey Jones, Institutional Giving Manager

chelsey.jones@peoplesmusicschool.org

Chelsey Jones Bazuro, Institutional Giving Manager at The People’s Music School, brings to her role a passion for institutional grant writing, and arts advocacy. Chelsey has worked previously as a writer for Grenzebach Glier and Associates, a philanthropy consultancy firm, as well as the Corporate Giving Manager for ONETrack International, a child welfare nonprofit dedicated to home reunification. A lifelong musician and vocalist, Chelsey graduated from Berklee College of Music. Chelsey holds a master’s degree from the Universita di Bologna, specializing in arts and cultural heritage management, from which she graduated with full honors and publication by Carnegie Mellon University. Before relocating to the United States Chelsey lived in Italy for nearly five years, an experience from which she gained fluency in the Italian language as well as a passion for cultural diversity and the rights of immigrants.

Chelsey Bazuro

Institutional Giving Manager

Natalie Butler, Chief Program Officer

natalie.butler@peoplesmusicschool.org

Natalie Butler, Chief Program Officer, received her Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University, and shortly thereafter moved to Chicago to begin her career as a music educator. She took a hiatus from teaching to pursue and receive her Master of Music from Northwestern University and later successfully completed the process to become a Nationally Board Certiﬁed Teacher in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood Music. Natalie spent over thirteen years teaching general music and conducting bands for students in grades pre-K-12 in the Chicago Public Schools. In 2013 Natalie joined the team at The People’s Music School. She has been with The People’s Music School for over ten years and leads our team of 70+ teaching artists. Throughout her career, Natalie has conducted, presented, and published her research on the national and international levels. Natalie currently serves on the Advisory Board at VanderCook College of Music and is a Board Trustee for the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

Natalie Butler

Chief Program Officer

Kathryn Cederborg

kathryn.cederborg@peoplesmusicschool.org

Originally from Northern California, Kathryn is a clarinetist, flutist, saxophonist, and teacher currently working and performing throughout the Chicago area.
Her love for teaching and mentoring students of all levels emerged through a college internship with The People’s Music School – where she currently resides as the Program Coordinator for Uptown Academy, as well as a teaching artist in music theory, clarinet, and the Transform wind ensemble director at the Albany Park site. Additionally, she is an Instructor of Applied Woodwinds at South Suburban College in South Holland, IL.

In 2020, Kathryn completed a Master’s of Music in Clarinet Performance at Baylor University, where she studied with Jun Qian and Richard Shanley. She earned a Bachelor’s of Music Education with a certificate in Music for Social Change in 2017 at North Park University, studying with Ralph Wilder.

Kathryn currently lives in Chicago with her guinea pig, Peach. She enjoys running along Lake Michigan, and attending live concerts throughout the city.”

Kathryn Cederborg

Program Coordinator, Uptown Academy

Kelly Dennis, Senior Manager of Student Data and Systems

kelly.dennis@peoplesmusicschool.org

Kelly Dennis is a Chicago-land freelancer, music educator, and non-profit administrator who specializes in data analysis.

Kelly has been a lifelong musician and grew up playing the trumpet and piano. She studied trumpet at DePaul University School of Music and went on to pursue her masters in non-profit management at Roosevelt University. Kelly believes that music education should be accessible to all and is passionate about creating equity and inclusion in the music industry.

Kelly Dennis

Senior Manager of Student Data & Systems

Ellie DePastino, Marketing and Communications Manager

ellie.depastino@peoplesmusicschool.org

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Ellie is a passionate nonprofit marketer and lifelong musician. Her experience in non-profit work is wide-reaching, having previously worked as a marketing and media manager with several nonprofits local to her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA.

Ellie grew up playing the violin and piano. She studied violin at The College of Wooster in Ohio, where she received her B.A. in History and was awarded the Daniel and Clarice Parmelee Endowed Prize Fund for excellence in the Wooster Symphony Orchestra. In Chicago, Ellie taught violin and piano at the British International School in Lincoln Park and has performed with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Ellie believes in the power of storytelling and its unique ability to bring individuals and communities together.

Ellie DePastino

Marketing and Communications Manager

Jessica Esteves, HR Associate

jessica.esteves@peoplesmusicschool.org

Jessica Esteves is HR Associate at The People’s Music School.

Jessica Esteves

Human Resources and Technology Manager

Ariel Garcia, Senior Manager of Program Initiatives

ariel.garcia@peoplesmusicschool.org

Ariel Garcia was born and raised in Chicago’s La Villita neighborhood where at the tender age of eight, he began his formal training on the violin. Ariel holds degrees from DePaul University, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Wisconsin. He has had extensive performance experience with orchestras such as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Ariel is also an avid chamber musician. He is a founding member of the Music of the Americas Ensemble (MAE), a Chicago based ensemble consisting of classically trained Latino musicians from all over the Americas.

Ariel Garcia

Senior Manager of Program Initiatives

Caro Granner, Uptown Academy Program Associate

caro.granner@peoplesmusicschool.org

Caro Granner (she/her) is a musician living in Chicago. She graduated from Lawrence University with a degree in theatre, where she fell in love with music, movement, improvisation, and building creative community. As an educator and creative partner, she has worked with Girls Rock! Chicago, etc. Music School, Harbor House, and Bach to Rock, and is thrilled to be at TPMS! As a singer-songwriter, she makes and releases indie folk music (but her first love is choral singing.) As a person, she loves reading essays and watching every TV show imaginable.

Caro Granner

Program Associate, Uptown Academy

Miro Hernandez, Program Manager, SLAM

miro.hernandez@peoplesmusicschool.org

As a percussionist and teaching artist who moved to Chicago from North Texas, Miro Hernandez has performed with many groups of varying genres, from classical and jazz, to funk and Latin-fusion. Being new to the Midwest, he is now working with a few new groups and his own solo work which incorporates the vibraphone with a looper and various other percussion instruments. During his free time, Miro loves playing beach volleyball, camping, and taking his two bunnies to the park.

Degrees:

Bachelors of Music Education – University of North Texas

Work

Miro Hernandez

Program Manager, SLAM

Zach Jackson, Program Coordinator, Greater South Side

zach.jackson@peoplesmusicschool.org

Born and raised in Westchester County, NY, Zach Jackson earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Composition from SUNY Purchase in 2016. Since then, he has worked in music administration at companies like Broadcast Music, Inc. and The Music Sales Corporation, and as a freelance composer/arranger providing original music for projects like films, video games and podcasts. In addition to his background in composition and theory, Zach also plays piano, guitar, saxophone and clarinet and has been a member of various choral ensembles.

Zach Jackson

Program Coordinator, Greater South Side

Kasia Johnson, Director of Finance, HR, and Administration

kasia.johnson@peoplesmusicschool.org

Katharine “Kasia” Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, as well as Director of HR and Administration, believes arts and arts education make for a happier, well-rounded society. A performer her whole life, Kasia had an active freelance career as a violist in Chicago, performing with various orchestras including the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Forest Symphony and the Chicago Philharmonic and chamber groups including Artistrings and Meritage Ensemble. Prior to joining The People’s Music School, Kasia was the Chief Operating Officer for the mid-size Chicago law firm of HMB Legal Counsel. Kasia received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Music degree from Northern Illinois University, where she studied with Richard Young and the Vermeer Quartet. Kasia has been with The People’s Music School since May of 2022.

Kasia Johnson

Chief Financial Officer

Grecia Landin, Program Manager, Albany Park

grecia.landin@peoplesmusicschool.org

Grecia Landin is a native to Chicago, with a bachelors in Music Education. She is a woodwind player, and has been teaching for nine years in public and private schools in the US and Internationally.

Grecia is the Program Manager for Hibbard Elementary School in Albany Park. She strives to cultivate a positive learning environment for students that will allow them to be creative and awake to the beauty in the world through music. She is honored to be a part of The People’s Music School and represent her Mexican heritage for the community of Albany Park. Grecia enjoys reading, dancing, bubble tea, being in nature and traveling.

Grecia Landin

Program Manager, Albany Park

Stephanie Londoño, Uptown Academy Program Manager

stephanie.londono@peoplesmusicschool.org

Stephanie Londoño is Program Manager for The People’s Music School at Uptown Academy.

Stephanie Londoño

Program Manager, Uptown Academy

Alo Ochoa, Program Coordinator, Back of the Yards

alo.ochoa@peoplesmusicschool.org

Alo Ochoa graduated from Augustana College with degrees in French, Political Science, and History. Originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago, Alo spent four years playing clarinet during college and is passionate about music and inclusion. Alo is dedicated to fostering community and creativity through music

Alo Ochoa

Program Coordinator, Back of the Yards

Miriam Goldberg Owens, President & Chief Executive Officer

miriam.owens@peoplesmusicschool.org

Miriam Owens, President and Chief Executive Officer, has served on the organization’s leadership team since August 2021, joining as Chief Operating Officer. She became Chief of Development and Operations in April 2022, expanding the organization’s fundraising footprint while driving operational improvements. In December of 2022, Miriam was elected President and CEO of The People’s Music School. Prior to joining TPMS, Miriam was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. A leader in McKinsey’s Organization practice, she served clients on topics ranging from strategic planning to large- scale reorganization, talent management transformation, inclusion and diversity, and professional learning. Before joining McKinsey, Miriam focused her career on education; she was a 5th-grade science teacher with Teach for America and a Program Manager at Raise Your Hand Texas, an education advocacy organization. Miriam holds an AB from Harvard University, an MS in Education from Teacher U at Hunter College (now Relay Graduate School of Education), and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Miriam is a 2024 Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago, a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and serves as an Advisor for the Immersive Music Challenge in partnership with the D’Addario Foundation. Outside of work, she can be seen around Chicago as the frontwoman for her rock band, Model-J.

Miriam Goldberg Owens

President & Chief Executive Officer

Stephon Owens

stephon.owens@peoplesmusicschool.org

Stephon Owens is a Student Coordinator at The People’s Music School’s Greater South Side site.

Stephon Owens

Program Coordinator, Greater South Side

Jennifer Riskind, Director of Development

jennifer.riskind@peoplesmusicschool.org

Jennifer Riskind, Director of Development, joined The People’s Music School in September 2023, and in her role is responsible for overseeing all development operations and philanthropic revenue, resulting in a 15% overall increase in revenue in FY24. Jennifer brings over 20 years of experience in the Chicago philanthropic and nonprofit management sectors. Prior to joining The People’s Music School, she served as the lead development professional for a number of Chicago-area nonprofit agencies including the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, Accelerate Institute, Gads Hill Center, the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, Project Exploration, and Circle Family Care. Jennifer began her fundraising career as a grant writer at the Heartland Alliance. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, from the University of Minnesota and trained at the famed Guthrie Theater, working as a classical stage actor in Minneapolis and Chicago before segueing her career into philanthropy. Jennifer is a longtime member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and currently serves on the Board of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic. As a volunteer leader, Jennifer has likewise served on several nonprofit boards, including Mount Sinai Medical Institute Council and the Anti-Cruelty Society.

Jennifer Riskind

Director of Development

Megan Robbins, Sr Manager of Learning and Teaching

megan.robbins@peoplesmusicschool.org

Megan is passionately committed to sharing her love of music with young people through her work as a teaching artist and Senior Manager of Curriculum Support. Before joining The People’s Music School, Megan completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Northwestern University and held the position of principal oboist of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Megan Robbins

Senior Manager of Learning and Teaching

Ivory Stephenson, Program Manager, Greater South Side

Ivory is extremely excited to be joining the team at The People’s Music School this year! A native of Phoenix, Arizona, she received her Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance with a concentration in Music Education from the University of Arizona. She got her foundation in music through Arizona State University’s String Project program, a music education program with the mission of serving underrepresented communities in the greater Phoenix area. Since her start, she has become passionate about advocacy in the arts through representation and accessibility. Her previous work includes assisting in building a database (available on the American Viola Society website) to exclusively feature underrepresented composers of diverse identities and backgrounds, producing events to highlight BIPOC composers, and working at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as part of the Lyric Unlimited team. Ivory values the profound impact and prevalence of performing arts and hopes to continue to do so through her work at The People’s Music School. She is excited to continue to foster her relationships with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Music Festival to benefit the students at The People’s Music School. Ivory is also a freelance violist in the Chicago community during her free time. She is currently a substitute musician with the Elmhurst Symphony, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and plays with the Northwestern Baroque Ensemble. She also travels to Los Angeles for occasional studio work. Her favorite project was playing in the studio orchestra for the Netflix movie “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” Ivory cannot wait to share future memories and get to know this wonderful team!”

Ivory Stephenson

Program Manager, Greater South Side

Michael Thompson, Instrument Inventory Coordinator

michael.thompson@peoplesmusicschool.org

Clarinetist Michael Thompson currently serves as The People’s Music School’s Instrument Inventory Coordinator and as a clarinet faculty member. As a freelance performer and teacher in the Chicago area, Michael eagerly seeks out opportunities to share his music with audiences and students alike.

Though having grown up in Petersburg, KY, Michael has been a member of groups nationwide, including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the University of North Texas Wind Symphony, the Fillmore Wind Band, and the Hot Springs Festival Orchestra.

As a finalist in the 2019 George Papich Chamber Music Competition Competition, participant in the 2020 Fresh Inc contemporary music festival, and member of several international chamber music collaborations, Michael has had an equally varied career in small ensembles and solo performance.

With interests stretching outside of the realm of western classical music, Michael performed for two years with the UNT Chinese Music Ensemble, playing dizi (bamboo flutes), sheng, and Beijing Opera-style percussion.

Not only an accomplished performer, Michael served as an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the University of North Texas and received Second Prize in the 2019 North Texas Music Entrepreneurship Competition. He received his Bachelor of Music and minor in Spanish from the University of North Texas and Master of Music from DePaul University.

Michael Thompson

Development Coordinator

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Felipe Tobar, Learning and Teaching Associate

felipe.tobar@peoplesmusicschool.org

“Creativity is connected to the core of the arts, and it is a very important part of what inspires humanity to create objects, machines and solve practical problems.”

“Great ideas are born and developed through a creative process, and incorporating improvisation from early stages of music education can help students to develop that creativity. Playing and learning diverse repertoire can be a great way to engage with the students, when they see themselves represented and they identify with the composer, music can be more accessible for them.”

Felipe Tobar

Learning and Teaching Associate

Wes Woodward Marlboro Hi Res-1-2 - Wes Woodward

Wes Woodward, Development Associate, Individual Giving

wes.woodward@peoplesmusicschool.org

Wesley Woodward is a Chicago-based trumpet player, educator, and arts administrator whose work connects performance, teaching, and community engagement. A versatile freelance musician, he has performed with ensembles including the Peoria Symphony, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Kenosha Symphony, Plena Libre, the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition, and is a member of the Genuine Brass Quintet.

Wesley serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at South Suburban College, Affiliated Trumpet Instructor at the University of Chicago, and Trumpet Teaching Artist with The People’s Music School. Wesley was a recipient of the 2023 TPMS Excellence in Teaching Artistry Award. His teaching focuses on creativity, discipline, and equitable access to quality music education.

Currently, he is the Development Associate for Individual Giving at The People’s Music School, supporting its mission to provide tuition-free, transformative music education to Chicago’s underserved communities. , Wesley holds a Master of Music in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Outside of music, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Maria, and spending time with their Maine Coons, Maxine and Millie.

Wes Woodward

Development Associate, Individual Giving