The DCYOP team includes a dedicated staff of nine full-time administrative members, sixteen board members, nine conductors, and more than thirty teaching artists, all dedicated to creating and sustaining empowering and life changing experiences through music.
We are currently recruiting individuals who are passionate about our mission to join our Board of Directors. If you are interested, please fill out this form and someone from our team will reach out to you to follow up.
Loretta Thompson has led and developed arts education for youth and young adults, with a focus on access and community-building and joined DCYOP in 2023 as executive director. At Sitar Arts Center, she created a parent engagement program, a teen leadership program, and a summer camp. She collaborated with architects and engineers to design a facility expansion for teens and young adults, with a focus on creative spaces and an arts career training program.
Thompson has a master’s in arts management from George Mason University and a bachelor’s in fine arts in sculpture from University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She volunteers as chair of the Ward 5 Education Equity Committee, volunteers with First Generation College Bound, and was a parent leader with PAVE, a parent education advocacy group in D.C.
Evan Ross Solomon is a conductor, composer, arranger, educator, musical entrepreneur, and a nationally renowned musician. He joined DCYOP in 2014 and directs all artistic activities and initiatives for the organization. He has conducted Youth Orchestra performances at the Kennedy Center, at the Wolf Trap Center for the performing arts, and on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and has participated in four international tours across South America and Europe. Evan studied clarinet at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and University of Maryland School of Music.
Rashida Coleman joined DCYOP as a staff member in 2005. She is an alumna of DCYOP, where she studied and taught percussion. Rashida is a D.C. native and Ward 4 resident with over 25 years of experience providing administrative oversight supporting organizations in the not-for-profit and private sectors in Washington, D.C. She holds a B.S. in business administration from Strayer University and completed additional undergraduate studies in music performance and music business administration at the University of Miami, Florida.
Allison Giovanetti is an ethnomusicologist, music educator, arts administrator, and French Hornist from New Jersey. Allison holds a master's degree in Traditional and World Music from the University of Sheffield, a bachelor's degree in music education, and a bachelor's degree in French Horn, both from Lebanon Valley College. She is also an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota, the National Association for Music Educators, and the International Horn Society. In her previous position as PYP General Music teacher for the Canadian International School of Hefei, China, Allison was responsible for teaching students' general music, chorus, modern band, composition, and bucket drums for students from a variety of unique cultures. Her latest research focused on the representation of Indigenous North American musicians at the GRAMMY Awards during the span of the twenty-first century.
Tim Provost is a native of Hyattsville, Maryland and has been teaching music since the age of 16. He has been involved with DCYOP since his time as a student. Tim holds a degree in Music Education from UMBC and has worked with the Baltimore Symphony OrchKids Program, the Bridges Music Program, and Baltimore County Public Schools. As a performer, Tim plays bass throughout the Baltimore/DC area and performs with the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra.
Terrence received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Morehouse College, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He is a Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Maryland. During his earlier years, Terrence played the Alto Saxophone in the Concert & Symphonic Band, demonstrating his appreciation for music and the arts. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades in the culturally diverse Washington, DC metropolitan area (DMV), Terrence has established himself as a seasoned professional renowned for his expertise in logistics, strategic planning, and organizational governance. His leadership journey includes pivotal roles at leading institutions such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Headquarters Operations), the Pentagon (Office of the Under Secretary of Defense), the Voice of America (West & South Asia Division), the Department of Veterans Affairs (Electronic Health Records Modernization), the Federal Aviation Administration (Policy & Operations), the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH Operations), and the Delegation of the European Union to the United States (Logistics/Special Events). Before joining DCYOP in 2024, Terrence served as the Director of Operations for a boutique law firm specializing in community-focused litigation, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. His strategic leadership style, driven by an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, has been instrumental in shaping his career trajectory.
Andrea Erdmann, has served on the Board since 2021. DCYOP initially appealed to her when she enrolled her daughter in music lessons. “I loved the positive energy created by kids from all over DC making music together in one space!” Ms. Erdmann has a career in international economic development, with degrees in Political Science and International Relations from Creighton University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She is a 28-year resident of DC.
Michele Riley is a CPA and has focused her practice on issues that arise at the intersection of finance and intellectual property, including valuation, damages, compliance and transactions. Michele is an avid supporter of instrumental and choral music in the Greater Washington DC area, and is proud to assist the DCYOP in helping young people make beautiful music.
Seema Ledan joined the DCYOP board in 2024 and is a proud mother of two current DCYOP violin students. She has always been amazed at the community built within the DCYOP family and the dedication of the teacher, staff and students. Seema is originally from California but moved to DC in 2006 to attend Howard University for pharmacy school and currently works at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, and exploring the musical events and experiences in the DMV area.
Dr. Robert Blaine is the President for the University of The Bahamas. He is a nationally-recognized thought leader in the areas of public service, education and music, and is a proud DCYOP alumnus.
Dennis deTray joined the DCYOP Board several years ago as a means of pursuing his passion for youth development. He and Mary, his wife of 56 years as of 2023, have two sons and two grandchildren. Dennis is an economist specializing in improving developing countries as a means of making the world a better and safer place. Dennis and Mary have lived in a number of countries, most recently Kazakhstan.
Tunde Kehinde is a global business leader with extensive experience in marketing, fundraising, and scaling high-growth companies. He co-founded Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, served as CEO of Lidya, and currently is employed at Kehinde & Company. An alumnus of Howard University and Harvard Business School, Tunde has served on nonprofit boards and is committed to using his expertise to strengthen community impact and support the mission of the DC Youth Orchestra. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, he brings a global perspective and a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion to every initiative.
Jephte brings a unique blend of musical knowledge and legal expertise to the Board of Directors. As a former professional musician and elementary school music teacher who transitioned to a legal career, Jephte understands firsthand the transformative power of music education and its ability to open doors to unexpected opportunities. He is currently a partner and co-founder at Basswood Counsel, a boutique law firm specializing in complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate & securities, and international tax structuring. Prior to cofounding Basswood Counsel, Jephte served as Special Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. In that capacity, he advised the Office on various proposed rules and provided recommendations on the impact of the proposed rules on small businesses and their investors, including venture capital funds and emerging fund managers. Jephte’s involvement with DCYOP stems from his own childhood experiences with music. “I always tell people that music has been good to me. Some of the better traits I have developed— tenacity, teamwork, creativity, confidence, and individuality—have been cultivated throughout my career as a musician. I am a better lawyer and colleague (I think) because of my background as a musician. I am a better person overall because of my background as a musician.” As a proud parent to a DCYOP student, the importance of exposure to music and music became even more personal witnessing his son experiencing the joy of music and his growth and development through music. Jephte is proud and honored to serve on the Board and the Governance Committee, as this allows him to have the opportunity to ensure that other children have access to these same transformative experiences, regardless of their families’ financial status. In his free time, Jephte enjoys spending time with his wife, Charmaine, and trying to keep up with their energetic son. The Lanthias enjoy mentoring and community involvement activities. Also, as a former professional jazz musician, Jephte has recently begun playing music again, reconnecting with the art form that has enriched his life in countless ways.
Dr. Jeffrey Levi teaches health policy at George Washington University’s School of Public Health. An almost life-long violinist, his commitment to DCYOP comes from a desire to replicate for as many students as possible his experience growing up with public school-based community music making.
Kimberly Maucher-Lynch is a leading voice at the intersection of talent, technology and social impact with more than 20 year’s experience in the Life Sciences and Technology sectors. For companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and SAP, she has made a career of spearheading transformative people-oriented strategies across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Born in Connecticut, her family’s ties to the performing arts and the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program inspired a life long passion for fostering talent in music. Kimberly serves on the Board of several organizations advancing Sustainability, Inclusion, the Future of Work and with the DCYOP is honoured to serve on the Strategic Planning and Governance committees.
Stanford Oliver serves on the the Board’s Finance Committee. He is the Founder, President, and CEO of both DigiFlight and Camelot Secure. Stan is passionate about fostering opportunities for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the STEM fields, so he dedicates his time to serve as a board member of the Army Aviation Association of America Scholarship Foundation Inc (AAAASFI) and Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering (AMIE).
Kim Patterson grew up in upper Northwest DC and played bassoon in DCYOP from age 10 through high school. A graduate of Marymount University and American University’s Washington College of Law, Kim currently works for the United Negro College Fund as Director, Corporate & Foundations Relations. She also serves as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (4A05 in Brightwood NW) and is Vice-President of the Brightwood Community Association. Kim says, “DCYOP taught me discipline - practice, practice, practice - and provided me with a respect for and knowledge of classical orchestral music. It was an invaluable education, for which I am forever grateful. I proudly serve as a member of the DCYOP board and look forward to welcoming as many talented students as possible into the encouraging and supportive arms of the DCYOP community.”
Are you interested in volunteering your talents with our organization? DCYOP welcomes parents, alums, and community members who would like to contribute through volunteer projects throughout the year. Please contact [email protected] to express your interest.
We are a team of professionals dedicated to the nurturing musical, physical, emotional, and social growth of our students, in the region’s leading ensemble-based music education program.
