Our Team
Meet CMA’s Staff, Board of Directors, and National Council.
Staff

Representing a new generation of performing arts executives, Kevin Kwan Loucks has cultivated a distinguished leadership profile founded on artistic excellence, entrepreneurship, and innovative strategic design. Loucks was appointed CEO of Chamber Music America in 2021 after co-founding Chamber Music | OC and serving as Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

Geysa Castro joined CMA as Membership Manager in 2018 and was appointed Director in 2022. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Castro is a classically trained ballet dancer who has worked professionally with artists and companies in both Brazil and New York City. In 2002, she embarked on a new venture as a partner at Ginga P. Culture Business, a multifaceted Brazilian company that promotes cultural and business exchange through project and event production, business and marketing consulting, and artist development. Castro holds an MBA in Cultural Production and Administration with a focus in Creative Economy. She is the first Brazilian member of the professional networking organization Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA).

Aileen is a classical violinist, currently completing her Master of Music at the Juilliard School. She joined CMA as a Development Administrative Assistant in 2022. Before joining CMA, she completed her BM at the New England Conservatory and had previously interned for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Susan Dadian came to CMA in 2002 from the New Jersey Chamber Music Society, where she served as executive director. A classical guitarist, Dadian received a BFA in Music History from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and did graduate work at the Komitas Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia.

José R. Feliciano is a versatile nonprofit professional whose experience is balanced between nonprofit administration and strategy; education; and community development. His past work includes nonprofit administration and grant-making; public policy and civic engagement work; creating people-centered and place-based approaches; and leadership development for creative professionals. He has a background in movement-based arts and music. He holds a BS ED from Central Connecticut State University and an MA from Penn State. He joined CMA in 2022.

Athena A. George is a versatile finance executive with more than 25 years of progressive experience in finance, operations, and business management within start-ups and global multi-billion-dollar organizations. She is a proven team builder who delivers effective support to C-level executives and other stakeholders. Globally, she has variously functioned as Controller, Director of Finance, and Chief Finance Officer for enterprises in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, France, and Mexico. Her lifelong connection to and interest in the arts has led her to apply her financial expertise to work involving the creative aspect of media, advertising, and TV production. Ms. George has also provided her financial expertise pro bono to art-related venues including several community-based entities in New Jersey. She joined CMA in 2022.

Nichole L. Knight is an experienced performing arts administrator, communications professional, and community builder. Before joining Chamber Music America, she worked in Marketing and Communications at The New School, home of the Mannes School of Music, and in Student Affairs at The Juilliard School. On staff at CMA since 2016, she served as Director of Operations from 2018-2022. She holds a BA from Smith College and an MA from The New School.

Orchid McRae is a composer, percussionist, and electronic musician. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where she earned a BM in Jazz Composition. Prior to joining Chamber Music America as Digital Content Editor in 2018, McRae had interned for New York-based record label Pi Recordings, worked for press promotion company Pusher Music Publicity, and served as an artistic personal assistant. Her work can be heard on recordings with experimental ensemble Bald Uakari and on solo recordings as orchiddBB.

Erica Murase is a classical pianist, educator, and arts administrator. She has premiered various solo and chamber works. She has taught students of all ages and worked as a chamber music coach at Stony Brook University. Before joining CMA in 2022, she worked at performing arts organizations including the Baruch Performing Arts Center and New York City Ballet. She earned a DMA in Piano Performance from Stony Brook University, an MM in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and an MA in Nonprofit Management from Baruch College.

Brenden is a media sales professional who has been assisting CMA constituents to reach broader audiences since 2002. He oversees print and digital sales for CMA’s quarterly magazine, Chamber Music, e-newsletter, Accent, and special events including CMA’s annual national conference.

CJ Salvani joined CMA as a Membership Services/Accounting Associate in 2022. His past work includes Operations for both the Pantages Theatre Los Angeles and the Public Theatre New York, along with his recent experience in the Education Department for Edge Studio; a Voice Over Organization. He holds a BFA from AMDA LA, and continues his support for the Arts through his work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Elva Tang joined CMA as Grant Programs Administrative Assistant in 2022. A trained flutist, Elva has earned performance degrees–a BM from UC Irvine and an MM from Michigan State University–in addition to a BS in Public Health Sciences from UC Irvine. She is currently completing her Graduate Professional Diploma in Flute Performance at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.
Board of Directors

Mimi Hwang
Chair
Cellist, Amenda Quartet / Faculty, Eastman School of Music

Jennifer Grim
President
Flutist, Zéphyros Winds / Associate Professor of Flute, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Oliver Ragsdale
Vice President
President & CEO, The Carr Center

Bryan Young
Vice President
Bassoonist, Poulenc Trio / Leader, Health Data Analytics and Visualization Group, MITRE Corp.

John Zion
Secretary
Managing Director, MKI Artists

Lecolion Washington
Treasurer
Bassoonist / Co-founder, PRIZM Ensemble / Executive Director, Community Music Center of Boston

Dawn Berry-Walker
Chief Executive, Pappy Martin Jazz Collective

John Bierbusse
Financial Analyst (ret.)

Jenny Bilfield
President & CEO, Washington Performing Arts

Etienne Charles
Trumpeter / Composer /Associate Professor of Studio Music and Jazz, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Noah DeGarmo
Emergency Medicine, Arlington Memorial Hospital / Amateur Pianist

Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder, ArtsShare & Sphinx Organization / Professor of Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan

Janet Green
Executive Director, Phoenix Chamber Music Society / Founder, Musica Dolce

Paula Grissom-Broughton
Pianist / Chair, Department of Music, Spelman College

Natalie Haas
Cellist / Faculty, Berklee College of Music

Julian Hernandez
Former Clarinetist, WindSync

Calvin Lee
Surgeon & Acupuncturist / Amateur Violinist & Pianist

Adriana Linares
Violist & Festival Director, Dali Quartet / President, Director, & Founder, ArCoNet/ Faculty, West Chester University

Karim Nagi
Percussionist / Composer, Sharq Ensemble / Diversity Speaker

Jennie Oh Brown
Flutist, Executive & Artistic Director, Picosa / Artist in Residence & Artistic Director, Ephiphany Center for the Arts

James E. Rocco
Managing Consultant, JER HR Group

Wendy Sharp
Violinist / Faculty & Director of Chamber Music, Yale School of Music

Christopher Shih
Gastroenterologist, Regional GI / Pianist

Helen Sung
Jazz Pianist and Composer

Samuel Torres
Composer / Percussionist / Arranger

Melissa White
Violinist & Founding Member, Harlem Quartet / Faculty, New York University

Pat Zagelow
Executive Director, Friends of Chamber Music (Portland)

Jeffrey Zeigler
Cellist / Professor of Cello, Mannes School of Music / Director, Mannes Prep