Management
- Anna KlimalaPresidentAnna KlimalaPresident
Anna Klimala is an arts executive, music educator, activist, and double-bassist whose mission is to re-establish music’s central place in the development and education of all young people. As Executive Director of Miami Music Project, she oversees the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission, long-range strategy, financial objectives, and operations. Her strong pedagogical background helps her guide Miami Music Project through its exciting growth and implementation of innovative El Sistema inspired programming, of which she was the initiator.
Anna’s introduction to music began at age 6 when her grandfather, a wood artisan, received a piano as payment for his service. Eventually, she recognized that playing music is a skill beneficial to everyone, but is not easily accessible. This encouraged Anna to pursue a career inspired by her passion for music education and its transformative abilities. She believes music should not only be a right to children, but also a reality.
Anna earned her Master’s degree in Music Education from the Szymanowski Academy of Music in her native Poland, and a Graduate Certificate in Double Bass Performance from the University of Southern California. Additionally, she trained at leadership and executive education programs, including at Columbia Business School (through Miami Foundation’s Miami Leaders Award) and Harvard Business School (through a full scholarship from the HBS Club of South Florida).
Through Anna’s leadership, Miami Music Project has amassed a wide array of achievements, including a special proclamation from Miami-Dade County Public Schools honoring Miami Music Project as a provider of “relevant, rigorous and innovative academics.” Miami Music Project has also received the Superintendent’s Choice Award, the highest honor given to community-based organizations by the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce also named Miami Music Project as 1 of the 3 finalists for the 2018 NOVO awards recognizing nonprofit innovative excellence.
As a strong proponent of giving back, Anna co-founded and directs the annual Summer Trombone Festival in Poland, serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of El Sistema USA (A National Alliance of El Sistema-inspired Programs), and regularly contributes as a grants panelist for various organizations in Florida, including Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Division of Cultural Affairs for the State of Florida, the Knight Foundation, and The Miami Foundation. Additionally, Anna has presented in several conferences, including the Take A Stand Symposium, an annual gathering of arts professionals from various El Sistema-inspired programs, and the National El Sistema USA Symposium.
Proud of her journey of contributing to the community, Anna has broken barriers as an immigrant and a woman in a leadership role. Anna’s most rewarding aspect of her work in Miami Music Project is seeing the transformation in students who become accomplished and contributing individuals in society. When she is not making a difference in the lives of children, Anna enjoys baking and practicing yoga.
- Andrea PascualDirector of OperationsAndrea PascualDirector of Operations
Andrea is responsible for managing the business and financial aspects of the organization, including finance, accounting, business analysis, human resources, marketing, and information systems.
She has more than 16 years of experience working in both for-profit and non-profits organizations. Her dedication, self-motivation and resourceful problem-solver mindset led to increasing responsibilities and proved her abilities as a successful manager.
Andrea hails from Argentina where she studied Mass Communication and Advertising at the Universidad Nacional de San Juan. As your everyday music lover, Andrea enjoys listening to different kinds of music and styles. Adopting Miami as her home base, she lives with her husband, their son, and three dogs.
In her downtime, she likes immersing herself in nature, going for bike rides in the park, and taking her son on walks. She is an animal rights advocate and makes sure to help animals find new homes whenever she can.
- Robert SaundersMusic Education DirectorRobert SaundersMusic Education Director
Robert Saunders is passionate about music education and the advancement of curricular programming for all young musicians. Robert has experienced a wide range of music program experiences for youth and calls on past practice and current research to develop innovative methodologies for children. Dedicated to providing quality instruction for students of all ages, Robert continually seeks out new ways to challenge himself in the field of music performance and education.
Robert grew up in a very musical family with two music teachers for parents. Family events were often musical in nature; mom was often singing Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt with guitar and dad could be found playing everything from Steely Dan to Asleep at the Wheel over the stereo. Musical excursions to various parts of the world lead to an enriched musical upbringing for Robert. Another passion he found was in teaching, first through swim lesson as a summer job in high school and private lessons for middle school and high school students during college. This musical foundation has allowed for Robert’s growth and development as a modern music pedagogue.
After earning a bachelor of science degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA Robert taught K-12 strings music in New Jersey. This position was both a wonderful environment to develop and an instructor and also gave Robert the opportunity to master management skills through the coordination of private lessons offered to students at the school. Robert recognized gaps in his understanding of the music learning process and, after doubling the size of the orchestra program and earning top marks at various state youth music festivals, enrolled in the nation's top music education program at the Eastman School of Music. While developing ideas of informal music making, music cognition development, and string pedagogy for pre-service teachers, Robert also performed on the mandolin, guitar, cello, and fiddle in the Eastman Musica Nova ensemble, the Windsor Folk Family, and contra dance band Superfluous Buttons.
Robert moved to south Florida in 2012 and found the gaps in the public school music education system to be a challenge worth addressing through community programming. While pursuing a doctorate in music education at the University of Miami, Robert has worked at strengthening music programs for youth throughout Miami-Dade. Robert has served as Music Program Manger at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Johnny Mercer Fellowship Coordinator at Florida International University, Executive Director of the Miami String Institute, and is now excited to share his knowledge of educational music programming with the vast teacher and student membership system in the Miami Music Project.
- Joseph BurlesonSr. Development ManagerJoseph BurlesonSr. Development Manager
Joseph is passionate about equality of opportunity for all and feels it is his duty to provide others with an actual chance at a better life.
He attended the University of Miami as a Double Major. He holds a Bachelor in Instrumental Performance and a Bachelor in Music Business Entertainment Industries, with a concentration in Legal Studies. He received a Grant Writing Certification from Florida International University.
Joseph kick-started his career at MADE, a full-service management firm where he worked directly with artists and songwriters in Hip Hop. He then transitioned into non-profit work by joining Universal Aid for Children.
During his college years, he performed with the New World Symphony and continues to freelance as a Trumpet player throughout Miami today. Joseph is a former Junior Olympics gold medalist in karate and received 2nd place in the National Trumpet Competition. He enjoys attending live concerts and festivals and cheering on his favorite sports teams.
- James NegronGrants CoordinatorJames NegronGrants Coordinator
James has been passionate about music and the performing arts from a young age. As a saxophone player, he recognizes the importance of cultivating creativity to transform a young person’s life.
He’s a native of the Hudson Valley region of New York but chose to escape the cold to attend the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. While he originally pursued a degree in classical performance, he changed his major to Music Business and Entertainment Industries, along with a minor in Marketing, when realizing his interest in arts administration.
James has interned for institutions such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and was previously employed at Miami’s own Area Stage Company.
When he isn’t at work or working on music, James enjoys all art forms, especially film and creative writing. He also loves to explore and connect with nature by hiking, camping, and kayaking whenever he can.
Programming

Zachary Brown
Site Director,
Miami Gardens Chapter

Liber Cuervos
Site Director,
Little Havana Chapter

Emely Garcia
Site Director,
Miami Springs Chapter

Claudens Louis
Site Director,
Little Haiti Chapter

Jeremiah Tindall
Site Director,
Liberty City Chapter

Grace Bush
Site Coordinator,
Liberty City Chapter

Hernan Bustamante
Site Coordinator,
Miami Springs Chapter

Angelisha Davis
Site Coordinator,
Miami Gardens Chapter

Bridgette Reid
Site Coordinator,
Little Haiti Chapter

Gabriel Benitez
Program Coordinator
Support Team

Ana Gonzalez
Security Assistant,
Little Havana Chapter

Cheryl Harvin
Security Assistant, Miami Gardens Chapter

Sharon McGill
Bus Assistant

Alejandra Puente
Bus Assistant

Maria R. Rodriguez
Security Assistant
Miami Springs Chapter

Marie St. Hubert
Security Assistant, Little Haiti Chapter
Conductors

Dr. Rufus Jones, Jr.
Lead Conductor, Leaders Orchestra

Liber Cuervos
Conductor, Sinfonia Orchestra

Daniela Padron
Conductor, Intermezzo Orchestra
Teaching Artists

Miami Music Project is proud to engage and support local musicians and educators who call South Florida home.
Charles Abrams
Michael Andrews
Israel Aragon
Jose Arvelo
Sarah Bates-Kennard
Carlos Bianculli
David Bien-Aíme
Patrick Broder
Andres Candamil
David Cardona
Brent Charran
Carlos Cifuentes
Alexandra D’Amico
Sofia Da Silva
Ross Debardelaban
Zachary Dierickx
James Drayton
Cristian Escobar
Ernesto Fernandez
Mabel Garcia
Karla Geraci
Jesse Gilday
Ricardo Gonzalez-Lewis
Steven Goralnick
Sercan Gündoğdu
Gabriel Gutierrez
Kendra Hawley
Valentina Hernandez
Stephanie Jaimes
Rufus Jones
Monika Lambe
William Locke
Ariele Macandangdang
Alexander Magalong
Casey Maltese
Demian Martinez
Sarahi Matheuz
Jose Montes
Evgenia Mott
Ari Nemser
Giancarlo Ortiz
Daniela Padron
Miguel Pagua
Ivan Parra
Juan Carlos Peña
Felix Petit
Rosa Pimentel
Nicolas Real
Daniel Rivera
Patricia Rodriguez
Ulises Rodriguez
Jose Ruiz
Robyn Savitzky
Xiomara Sepulveda
Matt Shefcik
Olivia Smith
Jose David Torres
Genny Triana
Leonel Viera
Jean Vilpin
Karlyn Vina
Tom Witek
Steffen Zeichner
Instruments Of Excellence
“We had given up any hope that our children would ever be able to learn to play an instrument because our money had to be allocated to our basic necessities. Thanks to Miami Music Project, seven of our children have now been the recipients of years of dedication and skilled training by Teaching Artists.
Gisla, proud mother of 9 children,
7 of whom are Miami Music Project students