Program Staff & Teaching Artists

Our Staff

Laura Shultz, Northeast Community Center Executive Director
Laura Shultz has had a varied professional life as a Pediatric RN in the Peace Corps, a commercial photographer/business woman and a nonprofit leader. She has been Executive Director of NECC since 2008. As a music lover and youth advocate she looks forward to continuing to enhance the lives of the children and families of the Northeast through the power of music education.

Kyla Pitts-Zevin, Northeast Community Center Development Director
Kyla Pitts-Zevin is a Kansas City native with ten years experience advocating for underserved families and children. A bilingual Spanish speaker, Kyla has a background in educational program management and grant writing. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from Arkansas State University and a Bachelors in Human Development & Social Relations from Earlham College. Kyla is excited to promote the important work of the Northeast Community Center and Harmony Project KC.

Gloria Britez-Scolari, Harmony Project KC Program Manager
Paraguayan violist Gloria Britez-Scolari relocated to the Kansas City area in 2012. She performed with the City of Asuncion Symphony Orchestra (OSCA), Camerata Miranda, and the YOA Orchestra of the Americas. Passionate about the importance of music education, Gloria taught at various El-Sistema inspired programs such as Sonidos de la Tierra, UMKC Musical Bridges, and is a founding teacher at Harmony Project KC. Gloria holds a Masters Degree in Viola Performance and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Innovation from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Currently performing with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, Gloria is excited to start this new chapter with the HPKC family.

James Westbrook, Harmony Project KC Program Coordinator
James Westbrook is a teacher, performer, and Kansas City native. With over ten years of teaching experience, Mr. Westbrook is dedicated to providing quality music education to learners of all ages. As a performer, he has had the pleasure of performing works from both the classical and contemporary canon alongside phenomenal colleagues and musicians. James holds degrees in clarinet performance and music education from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, the University of North Texas, and the University of Central Missouri, respectively. He is also an advocate for contemporary music and musicians in the Kansas City music community and serves on the Board of Directors for newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble.

Liz Snow, Program Assistant
Liz is a certified Music Therapist with degrees in Psychology and Music Therapy from UMKC. Before her role as Program Assistant, Liz served as a violin and viola Teaching Artist at HPKC. She also has a private studio of over 20 students in violin, viola, voice, guitar, ukulele and piano. Liz recently completed her full-time Music Therapy internship at New Frontiers, an adult mental health day program at Truman Medical Center. During her internship, she gained valuable experience leading songwriting, mindfulness, and lyric analysis groups that gave the clients an expressive outlet through music. She is looking forward to incorporating her Music Therapy expertise into her work at HPKC!

Tamara Marler, Office Manager
Tamara Marler has worked as an executive level administrative assistant since completing her service in the US Army in 1993. A novice cellist, she was first introduced to her instrument as a fourth grade student through a music outreach program in Denver, Colorado. As a Northeast KCMO resident and enthusiastic proponent of music education for youth, Tamara is excited to be on the Harmony Project KC team.

Our Teaching Artists

Alyssa Bell, Viola Teaching Artist/Chamber Music Facilitator
Kansas City native Alyssa Bell has been playing viola/violin for 20 years, and teaching for more than 7. Her commitment to music education and music advocacy can be observed through her work with organizations such as OrchKids in Baltimore, Northwest Missouri State University, Classical Revolution KC, and now Harmony Project KC. She has performed at international music festivals as well as at home with the Kansas City Symphony and is excited to embark on a new chapter of music advocacy in Kansas City!

Valerie Bell, Orchestra Conductor/Double Bass Teaching Artist
Valerie is currently serving as a string specialist in the Kansas City area, and teaching double bass and strings at the Harmony Project KC. She retired from the Park Hill School District in 2011 as Director of Orchestras at Park Hill South High School and Lakeview Middle School. Prior to this Ms. Bell was Director of Orchestras at Raytown High School and Middle School. Other teaching experiences include string instructor in the North Kansas City School District (2013-2018), and adjunct instructor of String Methods, UMKC (2010-2014). Ms. Bell holds a BME and MA in Music Education (double bass emphasis) from the University of Central Missouri. Valerie has held the positions of KC Metro District III Orchestra V.P., MMEA Orchestra V.P., and is a Past-President of MoASTA (Missouri Division of the American String Teachers Association) where she is currently serving on the board and assists with the administration of the Missouri All-State Orchestra.

Larry Hernandez, Cello Teaching Artist
Larry is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Cello Performance at the UMKC Conservatory studying under Michael Mermagen. He obtained a double degree in BM Cello Performance and Music Theory at the UMKC Conservatory 2018, cum laude. He was a participant at the Miami Music Festival (MMF), the Innsbrook Music Festival in St. Louis, and the Frostburg Summer Music Academy (Frostburg, MD) where he was a Fellow and coach for students. Hernandez has played in the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, the MMF Symphony and Opera orchestras, the Midwest Chamber Ensemble, and the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Hernandez has performed in master classes for Hans Jørgen Jensen, Michael Stern, Keith Robinson, Emilio Colón, and Nathan Cole. Other influential cello teachers include Carter Enyeart, Alexander East, and Emilio Colón

Selene Hernandez, Violin Teaching Artist/String Ensemble Conductor/Advanced Technique Teaching Artist
Selene is currently a middle and high school Orchestra teacher for the Independence School District. In the past, Selene interned with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles at Heart of Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from William Jewell College.

Mary Jamerson, Woodwinds Teaching Artist
An enthusiastic performer and teacher, flutist Mary Jamerson received her BS in Music from William Jewell College and her MM in Flute Performance from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Kansas City Symphony, the Northland Symphony, and the Liberty Symphony, and also enjoys performing in chamber music ensembles and solo recitals. She teaches private lessons through the Lydia Lovan Community School of Music in Liberty and spends two weeks every summer teaching at Birch Creek Summer Music Academy in Door County, Wisconsin.

Dr. Ezgi Karakus, CelloTeaching Artist/Chamber Music Facilitator
Turkish cellist Ezgi Karakus began her cello education at the age of eleven in her native Izmir, Turkey. Later on, Ezgi completed her Master of Arts at Marshall University, where she was awarded first prize in the Jackson Balshaw Music Competition, and the Marshall University Concerto Competition. She has performed with several orchestras, including the Dokuz Eylul Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Valley Symphony, the Medical Arts Symphony, and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Ezgi recently received her D.M.A. in Cello Performance at the UMKC Conservatory of Music & Dance.

Danielle Mays, Woodwinds Teaching Artist
Danielle began playing flute at age nine. By the time she was in high school she was playing with professional groups in her hometown of Kokomo, Indiana. She did her undergraduate studies at Butler University and her graduate work at The University of Michigan. In 1997 Danielle moved to California where she recorded albums with Elektra Records and worked as the assistant to the director on The Simpsons Movie. She taught at Children's Music Workshop, Key to Joy Music, Youth Orchestra of LA, and Harmony Project. She moved back to the Midwest in January of 2017 to help start a new program with Harmony Project KC. She quickly found the Civic Orchestra, Theatre in the Park, and KC Young Audiences. She teaches beginning strings, brad, woodwinds, choir, music theory, and orchestration.

Kristen Nall, Woodwinds Teaching Artist
Kristen received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. She currently teaches K-5 Music at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Liberty, MO. Kristen plays the trombone regularly with two ensembles in the Kansas City area - Moon City Big Band and the Northland Symphony Orchestra. Kristen is passionate about children receiving opportunities to make music and is thrilled to be a part of Harmony Project KC!

Sheila Pycior, Musicianship Teaching Artist
Sheila Pycior has been teaching private and group music lessons for 30+ years. She loves to see the kids get excited about music theory and when their practice pays off! Sheila is dedicated to the success of each student and is excited to be a part of the Harmony Project KC team.

Hillary Sametz, Violin Teaching Artist
Originally from Regina, SK, Canada, Hillary has been in Kansas City since 2011. She completed a Masters of Music in Viola Performance at UMKC and is now finishing up a Master of Arts in Music Therapy. She loves working with young people and has seen firsthand how the benefits that come with music making, including discipline, teamwork, empowerment, pride, and a sense of achievement, serve to bind communities and contribute to the improvement of society at large. Hillary strongly believes that music should provide a joyful and fun experience for all, and that access to music should not limited by socio-economic status. A certified yoga teacher, Hillary encourages her students to develop a relationship between body and mind, and to be mindful of their behaviors and feelings. In her spare time, Hillary enjoys making music, dancing, hiking, and spending time with her beloved dog, Dexter.

Ashley Stanfield, Violin Teaching Artist
A native of Kansas City, Ashley Stanfield has been teaching and performing locally for over ten years. She is an Alumni of both the Interlochen and Idyllwild Arts Academies and holds a Bachelors Degree in Viola performance as well as a Teaching Licentiate from the Royal Academy of Music, London. In addition to her positions as Principal Violist of the Kinnor Philharmonic and violist of the Opus 76. Quartet, Ashley performs regularly with the Saint Joseph Symphony and is a substitute musician with the Kansas City Symphony. She has also appeared as a guest artist with the Bach Aria Soloists, Spire ensemble and the KC Baroque Consortium. Ashley has extensive teaching experience at the beginner through to collegiate level. She currently teaches violin for both the KC String Sprouts (pre-school age) and Harmony Project programs (K-12) and formerly served as a teaching artist on the faculty at Drake University.

Helena Vasconcellos, Choir Director/Musicianship Teaching Artist
Helena received her Master of Music in Chorale Conducting and her Doctorate of Music in Music Education from the UMKC Conservatory of Music, both with emphasis in Choral Conducting. Helena is currently the Music Director of the Jacomo Chorale (a community chorus) and the conductor of "Bells of Joy" (a hand bell choir at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Lenexa). She was formerly a Choral Music teacher in several Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Saint Joseph-Kansas City, the Associate Director of the KC Children's Chorus, and the Music Director of the Nativity of Mary Parish in Independence, Missouri.

Brittany Wasko, Violin Teaching Artist/String Ensemble Conductor
Brittany is a senior at the UMKC Conservatory of Music pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education. She is currently an intern with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and performs in several local ensembles including the Lee's Summit Symphony and the Midwest Chamber Ensemble.

Jason West, Cello Teaching Artist/String Ensemble Conductor
Jason recently finished his undergraduate studies with degrees in Cello Performance and Music Education at the UMKC Conservatory. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Cello Performance from the conservatory as well. He has a great devotion for both teaching and performing to help improve the lives of others through music. Jason has performed in various recitals and music festivals of solo and chamber music across the country, and locally with the Midwest Chamber Ensemble. He is delighted to be a part of Harmony Project KC to encourage growth and influence young musicians in this program.

Our Teaching Artist's Aides

Jacinda Godfirnon, Violin Teaching Artist's Aide
Jacinda is a student at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, double majoring in Music Therapy and Psychology. Jacinda's first instrument was violin and she is now also studying guitar and piano. Jacinda is excited to be able to combine her passion for music with her desire to help others by joining the team at Harmony Project KC. 

YeongJu Heo, Violin and Viola Teaching Artist’s Aide
Originally from Seoul, Korea, YeongJu Heo moved to Kansas City to study at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her great devotion and love for children and music became a strong drive to join Harmony Project KC. YeongJu loves to please and heal people through her playing and dedicates most of her break time to overseas volunteering teaching children music in underserved areas. YeongJu holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from UMKC Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Viola Performance.