National Advisory Team

Jessica Balboni
Director, Orchestra Leadership Academy, League of American Orchestras

Leni Isaacs Boorstin
Director of Community Affairs, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

Eric Booth
Leading teaching artist and trainer of teaching artists

Mark Churchill
Director, El Sistema USA
Dean and Artistic Director, Preparatory and Continuing Education, NEC

Anne Fitzgibbon
Executive Director, The Harmony Program, New York
Director of Operations and Deputy to the Senior University Dean for Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Professional Studies, CUNY

Charles Grode
Vice President for the Institute for Learning, Access and Training, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Sarah Johnson
Director, The Weill Music Institute, Carnegie Hall

Greg Kandel
Partner, Management Consultants for the Arts

Gretchen Nielsen
Director of Educational Initiatives, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

Steven Payne
Executive Director, Youth Orchestras of San Antonio

Stephanie Scherpf
Managing Director, El Sistema USA

Susan Siman
International Program Director, Attapallah Children and Youth Symphony, Miami Symphony Orchestra
Director, Montalban Nucleo, Caracas

Dalouge Smith
President & CEO
San Diego Youth Symphony & Conservatory

Dan Trahey
Artistic Director, OrchKids
Faculty, Peabody Conservatory/Preparatory

“The truth is, I have never felt so moved. Not only because of the emotion of the moment... but I must say because of the quality of the El Sistema musicians”