Leadership & Staff
Our staff and board of directors are composed of some of Boston’s most excellent musicians, teaching artists, radio and technology experts, and arts professionals. As a collective, we aim to inspire young people by acting as positive role models through our dedication to music and youth development.
Board of Directors
Jeremy Cole, President
CPA Nonprofit and Corporate Assurance and Tax Services, The Braver Group
Chrissy Holt, Treasurer
Director of Finance and Administration, Generations Incorporated
Doug Brenhouse, Clerk
Business Executive/Entrepreneur
Cristina Aspuru
Major Gifts Officer, Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard University
Jennifer Belli
Partner, Bello Black & Welsh LLP
Arthur Bom Conselho
Registered Private Wealth Associate, Merill Lynch
Katia Canenguez
Doctoral Candidate, Clinical Psychology
Sandy Downey
Departmental Accountant, FedEX Trade Networks
Christopher Habetler
Education Consultant
Julia Wang
Senior Financial Analyst, Smart Destinations
Administrative Staff
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- David Arias Administrative Assistant
- Kimberly Dawson Program Director
- Leigh Kaulbach Administrative Assistant
- Nancy Lagro Business Manager
- Stephanie Salinas Program Information Coordinator
- Sharon Small Grant Writer
- Madeleine Steczynski Co-Founder and Executive Director
- Nikki Stewart Development Manager
Artistic Staff
- Elena Botkin-Levy ZUMIX Radio Coordinator
- Michael Carey Brass and Woodwinds Instructor
- Tris Coffin Guitar and Piano Instructor
- Jeremy Cohen Percussion Instructor
- Leo Colon Guitar & Bass Instructor
- Marlene Del Rosario Piano Instructor
- Corey DePina Songwriting and Performance Coordinator
- Marta Dominguez Voice Instructor
- Daniel Fox Technical Director & Bass Instructor
- Nick Grondin Guitar Instructor
- Sentirenla Lucia Voice Instructor
- Laura Macias Sprouts Coordinator & Piano Instructor
- Ed Meradith Piano Instructor
- Ben Paulding Percussion Instructor
Michael Carey, Brass and Woodwinds Instructor, is a versatile player appearing in performances of classical, jazz, musical theater, pop and world music. He toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 2000 and has also played with popular bands including the Crystals, the Platters and Phil Woods. He currently serves as utility winds for Suffolk University, and appears with groups such as Improvelocity, Revolutionary Snake Ensemble and locally his own group "Eastie Jazz Snapshots." He also has played on several Holland America and Seabourn cruise ships in nine countries. Michael earned his bachelor of Music in African American Music Studies, with a minor in music theory from Umass Amherst. His teachers include Lynn Klock, Yusef Lateef, Jeff Holmes, Chris Mertz, and Adam Kolker. Michael teaches music history and band in the Brookline Public Schools and Jazz Saxophone at the Concord High School.
Elena Botkin-Levy, ZUMIX Radio Coordinator, is a radio producer, educator and enthusiast. She started producing radio as a teenager, co-founding RadioActive Youth— a youth run radio program in Western Massachusetts. Since then she has continued to deepen her love of radio. At WMUA 91.1FM in Amherst, she facilitated and engineered a local community radio-programming block. As a coordinator with the Prometheus Radio Project, Elena organized with community radio stations across the country and she traveled to Kenya to partner with international community radio organizers. She has produced radio documentaries and news for national broadcast. Her radio work has aired on Making Contact, Free Speech Radio News, and Crosscurrents. In Oakland, California, Elena coordinated and produced radio programs with the National Radio Project. She also taught radio production to youth at outLoud Radio in San Francisco. Elena believes radio can change the world!
Kimberly Dawson, Program Director, is a Boston native who has worked extensively in the performing arts as an artist, teacher, producer and workshop facilitator. She has developed artistic programs with both adults and youth in Boston, New York and Los Angeles, where she successfully founded and managed a professional theater company for five years. In addition to her work at ZUMIX, Kimberly facilitates workshops on building literacy through the arts with Harvard University’s Cultural Agents Initiative. Aside from her professional work, Kimberly has participated in humanitarian initiatives in Portugal, Colombia and Brazil. Her latest endeavor is to master the art of vegan cooking. She is an active resident in the community of East Boston and a frequent audience member of artistic events throughout the city. Kimberly holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Boston University and a Master's degree in Arts in Education from Harvard University.
Leigh Kaulbach, Administrative Assistant, is currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in Religious Studies at Stanford University in California where she sings in two musical groups. Originally from New Hampshire, Leigh came to Boston planning to spend a summer exploring the art world and gaining experience in youth arts non-profits as the 2011 ZUMIX Summer Concert Coordinator. Largely inspired by the drive and passion of youth, professional musicians, and educators in East Boston, Leigh now lives in Jamaica Plain on a one year leave of absence before completing her degree at Stanford in order to continue serving ZUMIX and pursue her passion for art. On the weekends Leigh loves playing field hockey in a Cambridge adult league after playing at the Division 1 level at Stanford, and she assists a visual artist whom she met at a ZUMIX Summer Concert.
Nancy Lagro, Business Manager, started with ZUMIX in February, 2007, and is responsible for office operations and assisting upper management with development of ZUMIX office support programs. Nancy has over 24 years of managerial experience as Vice President of Operations at American Computer, Inc. and as a Customer Service Representative at ComputerShare (formerly EquiServe). Nancy received several customer service awards while working at ComputerShare. Nancy also represented American Computer Group for five years with Executive Women International, both locally and at national conventions.
Stephanie Salinas, Program Information Coordinator, is currently an undergraduate student at Boston College with a double-major in Psychology and Human Development. She began working at ZUMIX in July, 2011, to become more involved in the East Boston community, her hometown. In the past, Stephanie has worked as a camp counselor at Salesian’s Boys and Girls Club, a self-defense instructor at Girl’s LEAP, and a tutor for 4th graders at the Samuel Adams Elementary School. At BC, she is the Director of Public Relations for a campus culture club called the Organization of Latin American Affairs (OLAA). This fall, her goals are to be on the Dean’s List and take on piano lessons.
Nikki Stewart, Development Manager, joined our staff in August, 2009, as a VISTA Volunteer Development Associate and became a full-time staff member in August, 2010. Nikki has worked with several nonprofit organizations in the Boston area in development and legal services capacities. She holds a BS in Communications Studies with a Minor in Music Industry from Northeastern University and is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law. As a law student, Nikki was awarded merit-based and contribution-based scholarships, as well as a Law Student Ethics Award from the Northeast Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. She remains active as a domestic violence advocate and works with Pro Bono clients on family law matters.
Tris Coffin, Guitar and Piano Instructor, graduated from Berklee College of Music with a focus in Jazz Composition in 2010. Beyond composing and an advanced understanding of music theory, Tris’ musical repertoire includes being a skilled pianist, guitarist, and bassist. As a teaching artist, he has taught at Zumix and At Your Door music working with students ages 5-20. As a professional musician, Tris has performed with and arranged for Angeliquie Kidjo, the Women of the World, McGellet (Tower of Power), Eddie Palmeri, Ernie Watts, and Matt Catingube. In 2001, he lead a group that performed for the 9/11 Fireman’s Memorial Banquet sponsored by the American Red Cross. At Zumix, Tris is a guitar and piano instructor, a co-Director of the DiverCity Band, and the Founder/Director of the group Annual Snowfall.
Jeremy Cohen, Percussion Instructor, is a percussionist, composer and teaching artist. He is founder and director of ThisWorldMusic® which partners with educational institutions and arts organizations to offer innovative, hands-on cultural learning experiences. Clients include: The Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Orchestra and school districts nationwide. Mr. Cohen works with incarcerated youth through the non-profit Unlocking the Light. He is adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University and UMass Amherst, where he leads cultural field study courses to Ghana, West Africa. He sits on the Young Audiences Board of Directors and has consulted for The School District of Philadelphia and Music National Service. He holds a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and a M.M. from New England Conservatory and studied traditional drumming in Ghana.
Leo Colon, Guitar & Bass Instructor, was born in the Dominican Republic and started his musical education at the Conservatorio Nacional de Santo Domingo. After moving to Boston in 1995, he studied jazz improvisation with Charlie Banacos, Jay Weik and Steve Neil. In 1998, Leo led a jazz quartet featuring Martin Dalmasi on sax, and has been a member of the R&B/Funk/Raggae band “In the House” since 1999. In 2001, Leo joined the Christ Episcopal church in Hyde Park, as the musical director. He is also the Director of the Do Re Mi School of Music in Roxbury. A multi instrumentalist, Leo founded the Diver City Band in 2001 along with Mario Aranda and the ZUMIX Guitar Ensemble in 2005. He has been teaching at ZUMIX since 1998 and privately, from his home studio, since 1990. Leo Enrolled at Berklee College of Music in the Spring of 2009 to pursue a Professional Music Degree. www.leocolonmusic.com
Marlene Del Rosario, Piano Instructor, is a composer, vocalist and pianist. She leads The Marlene Jazz Ensemble and is a regular in the New England jazz circuit. Opening for world-renowned Cuban pianist, Omar Sosa at the 2008 Philippine International Jazz Festival, Marlene has also performed and appeared on television in the Philippines, Peru and in Boston. She has entertained Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand as well as Filipino Presidents, Fidel Ramos and Cory Aquino, and recently, Massachusetts governor, Deval Patrick, Mayor Menino and local senators. She is also Musical Director for the Citi Performing Arts Center's Celebrate Musical Theater Sing Out Loud Workshops. Other credits include representing her country and winning 2nd place at an international competition in Japan for her peace-themed composition, which was also performed for Pope John Paul II for an audience of over a million. Marlene was also musical director for several school musicals (Umana Barnes and the Park School), as well as ZUMIX’s Warmth program. Her discography includes a children’s Ballet album and two US-released CDs, including the latest, “Marlene LIVE with a Little Help from Her Friends”, which has garnered critical praise and is played in jazz stations nationally and in Canada. Marlene is a native of Manila, Philippines and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management Economics. She moved to the US to pursue musical studies at the Berklee College of Music and has studied under Lazlo Gardony, Cheryl Bentyn, Livingston Taylor and Bob Gullotti. www.marlenemusic.net
Corey DePina, Songwriting and Performance Coordinator, grew up in Roxbury as a first generation American from a family of Cape Verdean immigrants. Now living in West Roxbury, Corey is an accomplished rapper and a skilled workshop and program facilitator. He performs and teaches all over the United States. He served on the Board for Critical Breakdown - one of Boston's biggest and longest running all-age open mics - and has done workshops on the history of hip hop as well as creative writing and performance. Corey studied for two years at Massachusetts Communication College and has completed many BEST Initiative youth worker trainings, including the Advanced Youth Workers Certificate program. Corey continues to share his passion of performance, social justice, hip hop, and education to help convey the important role music plays in both personal and community development. His current endeavor is fusion-conscious homemade lyrics to heavy Dubstep music to help spice up his creative writing and performance.
Daniel Fox, Technical Director & Bass Instructor, is a multi instrumentalist, composer, producer and recording engineer. He co-designed and played the role of A/V Project Manager for the buildout of the Zumix Firehouse and consults and tutors in studio construction, A/V hardware/software and recording techniques. He has a BA in sociology from Vassar College and has worked as the Creative and Cultural Director at the Boys and Girls Club in Lynn. Dan is also a member of the Audio Engineering Society. As a bass player Daniel has shared the stage with the award winning Foundation Movement, Billy Bragg, KRS-One, as well as playing on a diverse selection of studio recordings. As a producer/engineer Daniel has worked with Pepsi, Discovery Channel, the Foundation Movement, the Boston Music Award winning Debo Band, Soulfege, Zullo, the Goosepimp Orchestra and Warner Bros/Comedy Central recording artist MC Mr. Napkins among others. In 2008, Dan received the BEST Initiative/Medical Foundation’s first annual Youthie Award for his outstanding work through youth development in Communication. www.upryz.com
Nick Grondin, Guitar Instructor. An experienced performer and award-winning composer, Nick Grondin has presented his music to audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe, including France, Germany and Spain. As a guitarist, he leads the Nick Grondin Group, a cutting-edge jazz quintet. As a composer, Grondin creates works for both small and large jazz ensembles. His pieces for jazz orchestra have received awards such as the 2008 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award and 2007 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for Best Extended Jazz Composition. They have been performed by the Crazy Big Band in Paris, France, the Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra in Boston, and Mac Jazz Big Band in St. Paul, MN. He leads and conducts the Nick Grondin Jazz Orchestra and is a Jazz Harmony Teaching Fellow at Harvard University. Nick Grondin received a Master of Music in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Jerry Bergonzi, Frank Carlberg, Allan Chase, Ken Schaphorst, and Brad Shepik. He has participated in master classes with Bob Brookmeyer, Dave Holland, Jim McNeely and Ben Monder. Before coming to Boston, Nick attended the Edim School of Modern Music in Paris, France and earned his Bachelors Degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. www.nickgrondin.com
Laura Macias, Sprouts Coordinator & Piano Instructor, received her Bachelors in Music Composition and Theory from the Petrie School of Music at Converse College and her Masters in Music Composition from the Longy School of Music, where she was awarded the Nadia Boulanger scholarship. In 2005 she was selected to be part of the European American Music Alliance, where she was awarded a scholarship to study composition at L'Ecole Normale in Paris, France. In 2008, she completed the Kodaly Music Training at the New England Conservatory. Laura is an active composer in the Boston area. Her musical catalog includes compositions for chamber orchestra, art songs, chamber music and incidental music for the theatre. Laura was recently selected as a composer to participate in the 2011 Vancouver International Art Song Institute. Her music was also recently featured in concerts given by the Boston New Music Initiative ensemble. Besides writing art music, Laura enjoys working with children. Laura has been working to map a path for our youngest members to actively participate in group programs and to increase and deepen their involvement as they grow. She has a strong belief in developing music fundamentals and her youthful personality makes learning fun.
Ed Meradith, Piano Instructor, was born, raised, and educated in Nebraska (UNL.) He has been a Boston area musician for over twenty years, and has been with Zumix for over six years as a piano teacher, collaborator, and co-director of the Divercity Band. As a composer, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, Ed’s CD credits are SWIM (2006), and the upcoming FREE GUM. Ed has composed incidental music for several plays and composed “There it Goes Again” for the film All the Rage. Ed’s other current projects include Choral Director for the YMCA Women’s Chorus (A Touch Of Class), and acoustic guitar and voice with Heaven Sent. Ed has also taught music at the Boston Ballet summer program for the past five years. As a pianist, Ed played at the Ritz for many years, as well as the Boston Harbor Hotel and the Park Plaza.
myspace.com/edwardmeradith www.cdbaby.com/cd/edwardmeradith2
Ben Paulding, Percussion Instructor, is a Boston-based percussionist who plays drumset, traditional Ghanaian drums, and an assortment of other percussion instruments from around the globe. Ben is a current member of David Locke's Agbekor Drum and Dance Society, royal hartigan's Kekeli West African Drum and Dance Ensemble, Jerry Leake's Cubist band, and his own progressive jazz duo, The Ben Paulding & Kelly Sciandra Group. He has traveled to Ghana, West Africa, multiple times to study traditional drumming, dancing, singing, and culture at the Dagbe Center, the Dagara Music Center, and the Kumasi Centre for National Culture. Ben has had the privilege to play at venues such as PASIC (Marcus Santos 2010), TEDxBoston, and Sounds of Brazil (NYC), and to perform with African master artists such as Gideon Alorwoyie, Emannuel and Nani Agbeli, Abraham Adzenyah, Kwabena Boateng, and Saeed Abbas. As a member of the Vic Firth Education Team, he currently teaches at both ZUMIX and Somerville High School. He holds a BA in Music (World Music option) from UMASS Dartmouth, where he studied with Royal Hartigan, Jamie Eckert, and Chris Pourdrier. Ben plays drums 23/7, and spends his one free hour every day religiously playing Angry Birds. www.benpaulding.com
Sharon Small, Grant Writer, began working for ZUMIX in 2009 as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with ZUMIX Radio. She has worked with youth in a variety of capacities, most recently as the Marketing & Development VISTA for More Than Words, a job-training program for youth in the foster care system. While at More Than Words, Sharon was in charge of all marketing and events, including a monthly Open Mic Night. She has also taught an introductory music course for young children, tutored students in an ESL program, and completed the ten-week BEST Initiative Youth Worker Training course. Sharon has an extensive background in marketing and writing as well as a passion for music and the arts. She plays clarinet and piano and has worked for several radio stations at the local, regional, and national level. She holds a BA in Communications and Sociology from Villanova University.
Marta Dominguez, Voice Instructor, is from New Mexico where she grew up singing and dancing in community theatre and local choirs. She studied at the New Conservatory of Music and holds a BM in vocal performance. She has taught throughout the Boston music community in organizations such as the Boston Children's Chorus, The Community Music Center of Boston and the Chestnut Hill School. Most recently, Marta moved to Madrid, Spain where she lived for three years, taught English through music, and fulfilled her lifelong dream of learning Spanish. When she isn't driving her neighbors crazy with her vocal warm-ups, Marta can be found rooting for her favorite baseball teams, the Albuquerque Isotopes and the Red Sox. She is so excited to be moving back to Boston and working for ZUMIX leading the Voces Ensemble!
Madeleine Steczynski, Co-Founder and Executive Director, is an East Boston resident. She founded ZUMIX in 1991 in response to the worst year of violence in the City of Boston's history. Together with ZUMIX's Board of Directors and Youth Advisory Board, she has grown ZUMIX from a kitchen table project into a vital East Boston community institution. As an advocate for the arts, Madeleine has served on the Executive Committee for East Boston Healthy Boston Coalition; was one of the founding members of Cultural Connections, a three-year effort to integrate arts as part of a Sustainable Community initiative funded by The PEW Charitable Trust; and served as an Artistic Fellow for The Boston Foundation’s Arts and Audiences Initiative. She also served for three years as a Cultural Fellow for the New England Foundation for the Arts Building Communities through Culture Initiative, and as a Community Fellow for Eureka Communities Boston. In 2006 ZUMIX was chosen as a Social Innovator for the Social Innovation Forum at MIT, the same year Madeleine was chosen by the East Boston Times Free Press as East Boston’s Woman of the Year. In 2007 Madeleine was nominated and participated in the Salzburg Global Seminar's Cultural Institutions Without Borders seminar in Austria; received the Canyon Ranch Be the Change Award at the Massachusetts Conference for Women; and was an advisor for the Music National Service Initiative in Washington D.C.. In 2008 Madeleine spearheaded a development team in the acquisition and full renovation of an historic firehouse as a new home for ZUMIX. In 2009 she successfully completed a $4.6 million dollar capital campaign and moved ZUMIX into its new home. In 2011 Madeleine started a 3-year learning journey as a prestigious Barr Fellow. Madeleine attended Boston College, the School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, and the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University.
David Arias, Administrative assistant, is currently enrolled at Berklee College of Music. An East Boston native, David is primarily a bass player but also knows how to shred on the guitar. He's the lead guitar player in the rock trio TRIPOD and bass player for the rock/hip hop band DOWN FOR TROUBLE. He's been coming to Zumix since he was 7 years old and is now a Zumix alumni, and still has an active relationship with the organization. David currently teaches music to 6th graders at the Mario Umana Academy. When he’s not playing his bass at ZUMIX or Berklee, you might be able to catch him protecting the streets of Eastie on his longboard.
