Leadership team
Leaders of uncommon talent. Uncommon dedication.
Passionate about music. Support for students. Dedication to US-Cuba cultural exchange. Creating a better world. These are the traits that unite our leaders, advisors, board members, and our generous partners. We are musicians, teachers, music lovers, artists, and companies who believe it’s possible to make a difference through the power of music and human understanding.
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Dr. Rena Kraut
FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Timothy Zavadil
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
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Daiana García
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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Mariesa Sun-Saenz
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Leadership
Rena Kraut, Executive Director
Tim Zavadil, Operations Director; Clarinetist, Minnesota Orchestra
Daiana García, Artistic Director; conductor, Havana Chamber Orchestra Mariesa Sun-Saenz, Program Director; Director, Scenergy Agency
Board
Julie Gramolini Williams, Board Chair; Musician, Minnesota Orchestra
Becca Cochrane, Treasurer; Accounting & Reporting Advisory Manager, Deloitte & Touche, LLP Colleen Aho, Secretary; Commissioner, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (retired). Sam Bergman, Executive Director, Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music
Ephi Eyal, growth leader and global executive Megan Feeney, writer, cultural critic, educator
Elisa Gehrke, Alumni Position; Clinic Assistant in ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery
Rick Gibson, Creative Director/Brand Explorer, GibsonGlobal LLC & McFarland Communications Alana Siebelanar-Ransom, Change Manager, NMDP
Asaf Wachtel; VP of Strategic Accounts, NVIDIA
Advisory
Artistic
Orbert Davis, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Neeta Helms, Classical Movements, Inc.
Jessica Lustig, 21C Media Group
Dr. Melissa Kraut, Cleveland Institute of Music
Libby Larsen, composer
José Mendez, Lyceum Mozartiano de la Habana
Fernando Meza, University of Minnesota Osmo Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra (ret.)
Danielle Gonzalez, CAYO alumni
José Luis Rubio Reyes, CAYO alumni
Ninián Rodriguez Rego, CAYO alumni
Nathaniel Zeisler, Colburn School
Public Affairs
Evan Berquist, Cozen O’Connor
Ric Herrero, Cuba Study Group
Edythe M. Holbrook, National Committee on American Foreign Policy
Business Advisors
Paul Johnson, US Agriculture Coalition for Cuba
Randi Yoder, SVP Development and Chief Development Officer, Minnesota Public Radio (ret.)
Artistic and Digital Communications
Garin Ipsen, Brand Design Principal, 3M Rick Gibson, Creative Director, GibsonGlobal LLC & McFarland Communications
Partners
New World Symphony fellow James Riggs with oboe students at Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan
Minnesota Orchestra principal horn Michael Gast with members of the 2019 Havana tour horn section
Minnesota Orchestra violist Gareth Zehngut with members of the 2019 Havana tour viola section
Catalyst Quartet violinist and composer Jessie Montgomery coaching a violinist on 2019 Arts Delegation
New World Symphony clarinetist Angelo Quail coaching a clarinetist at Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan, 2019 Arts Delegation
Minnesota Orchestra bassist Dave Williamson with a member of the 2019 Havana tour bass section in Havana