About Us
About
Boulder MUSE was founded in Boulder, Colorado, in 2015 by Elisa Snyder and Mari Madeira. Inspired by El Sistema, a renowned Venezuelan music education program, Elisa and Mari decided to create a similar transformative music education program for young people.
Music is a powerful force that ignites the soul and sharpens the mind. Through comprehensive music education, Boulder MUSE cultivates well-rounded individuals who develop confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of community. By experiencing the challenges and joys of music-making together, our students become empowered to make a positive impact on their families and communities.
Vision
The Boulder MUSE vision is that ALL students, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to individualized, high quality music education.
Mission
Boulder MUSE is a free music education program designed for under-resourced K-8 students in Boulder County. Our fundamental philosophy is that all children should be able to study music regardless of their financial circumstances. The study of music, both instrumental and choral, enhances brain development, fostering intellectual and emotional growth. The majority of MUSE students are emerging bilinguals whose literacy is benefited by music education. MUSE’s education instills self-esteem, discipline, responsibility and respect for self and others.
Elisa Snyder
Elisa Snyder has called Boulder home for over 45 years. She attended the University of Colorado and Naropa University, where she graduated with a degree in Music Education. Elisa taught elementary school in the BVSD and was the Winds Director for Shining Mountain and Shepherd Valley Waldorf Schools before studying at CU Denver and earning an M.A. in Instruction and Curriculum, ESL/Bilingual. She taught English to second language learners at the high school level for 15 years in SVVSD. It was while teaching at Longmont High that she learned of El Sistema, and knew immediately that creating a program inspired by their principles was her calling. After decades of working with children and adolescents, she combined all she loves about her profession into one effort as the Executive Director of Boulder MUSE.
Mari Maderia
Mari Madeira's career has combined artistic and business success. Mari studied piano and voice at CU and Metropolitan State College. She spent over a decade singing soprano in a gospel choir and has decades of experience as a piano teacher. On the business side she built a very successful sales agency representing some of the nation's top brands in outdoor and active sports. This rare combination of art and business makes her unusually well prepared to serve Boulder MUSE. Her artistic roles at Boulder MUSE have included teaching piano, theory, and choir. Her leadership and sales experience support Boulder MUSE's organization and fundraising requirements.
Founders
Artistic Directors
Janis Kelly, Director & Program Development
Voice, Piano & Trumpet
Carson Conley, Assistant Director
Clarinet
Janis Kelly is a musician, music educator and musical “instigator” who has been performing, teaching, and directing music--both vocal and instrumental--for more than 40 years. Since arriving in Boulder in 2009, Ms. Kelly has taught choral music at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Shepherd Valley/Boulder Valley Waldorf School, and Alexander Dawson School; served as Co-Music Director for Creative Center for
While Carson aspires to be a professional clarinet performer and anticipates graduating with a Bachelors of Music, his passion lies in helping others. Since high school, it has become his mission to found or be involved in nonprofit efforts to help bring music to those who cannot afford it. While he is focused on his performance career in college, he is also minoring in leadership, and is
Spiritual Living in Greeley, Interim Choir Director for Mile Hi Church in Denver and Director of Music & Outreach for Unity Columbine Spiritual Center in Boulder; given private voice, piano and trumpet lessons for children and adults through her own music studio; led Werbeck singing workshops and trainings; and served as accompanist for a number of middle and high school choirs in the Front Range area.
Over her four-decade career as a professional vocalist and musician, Janis is honored to have shared the stage and studio with such musical legends as Carole King, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Neville Brothers, Tower of Power and Rufus & Chaka Khan and has seen first-hand the power of music to build bridges of peace, harmony and understanding. “A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song”-Maya Angelou
studying to build his skillset towards this mission. Carson is often humbled by the lessons he continues to learn from the talented and motivated youth he sees every week at MUSE. His hope is to be able to continue on to his M.M. while also expanding his participation in bringing music and inspiration to youth who may benefit from it.
His hope is that they experience the sense of belonging that he has also found in the music community.
Teachers
Emilce Giacomini
Percussion, Voice & Piano
Emilce, an experienced Musical Arts Teacher from Buenos Aires, Argentina, holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and has 20 years of teaching experience across various educational levels. Fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English, she specializes in musical appreciation, history, dance, choral direction, and multiple instruments including piano, percussion, and flute. Committed to music education and cultural heritage conservation, Emilce's adaptability shines through her work in diverse educational settings, embodying her belief that "a sound is worth a thousand words."
Emilce, una experimentada Profesora de Artes Musicales de Buenos Aires, Argentina, posee una licenciatura en Educación Musical y cuenta con 20 años de experiencia docente en diversos niveles educativos. Habla fluidamente español, italiano e inglés, y se especializa en apreciación musical, historia, danza, dirección coral y múltiples instrumentos, incluyendo piano, percusión y flauta. Comprometida con la educación musical y la conservación del patrimonio cultural, la adaptabilidad de Emilce brilla a través de su trabajo en diversos entornos educativos, encarnando su creencia de que “un sonido vale más que mil palabras”.
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Tia Egan
Cello
Tia began playing the cello at age 8. She started attending the Denver School of the Arts (DSA) in 7th grade, and continued thru high school graduating in 2023. While at DSA she volunteered in El Sistema teaching cello. Currently attending CU Boulder, Tia is excited to continue working with young cellists at MUSE
Michael Maisonpierre
Saxophone & Flute
Michael has been a lawyer, a writer, and during all of that time, a musician as well. He plays saxophone, flute, clarinet, and trumpet. Though he plays mostly jazz, he enjoys classical too. In addition to being an invaluable teacher for Boulder MUSE, he is also the Board President.
Tamara Sotillo
Guitar & Ukulele
Tamara has been an educator of young children in bilingual settings for more than 35 years. She has a passion for teaching and a passion for music as well. Her greatest hope is to see the young people that she works with discover their musical potential and the joy of making music.
Rex Westen
Cello
Rex began piano at age five and cello at age eight. He took up cello again twenty years ago, and that journey led him from amateur to teaching professional. He currently teaches at Mojo's Music in Longmont and at The Lesson Studio in Boulder. Rex began volunteering as a teacher with Boulder MUSE in 2016.
Tom White-O'Connor
Guitar / Harmonica
Tom is a guitar and blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. Jamming with friends led to playing guitar and learning to sing and play almost every James Taylor song. Since then his musical tastes have broadened to include Blues, Reggae, Rock and
Brian Chodorcoff
Guitar
Bio Coming Soon!
Folk. He performs solo and with his band called The Tube Sox. Tom is also a songwriter and has a knack for writing heartfelt, humorous songs about life's experiences. He's also a former teacher, loves kids and is excited to be part of the MUSE program!
Board of Directors
Michael has been a lawyer, a writer, and during all of that time, a musician as well. He plays saxophone, flute, clarinet, and trumpet. Though he plays mostly jazz, he enjoys classical too. In addition to being an invaluable teacher for Boulder MUSE, he is also the Board President.
Michael Masionpierre
Board President
Vinnie moved from New Delhi, India, 22 years ago, and has called Boulder home since. With a BS in nutritional science, and data and business analysis from Cornell University, she is a seasoned accounting professional with 20+ years of cross functional experience in bookkeeping, financial analysis, business development and project management. She came on board with Boulder Muse five years ago, and helps keep accounting and budgeting in place for Boulder Muse. When not working, you can find her hiking, biking and skiing in the Rocky Mountains with her family, reading and planning the next vacation.
Vinnie Bushan
Treasurer
Lauren Jost
Secretary and
Community Liasion
Lauren is a second grade teacher at University Hill Elementary in Boulder. She began her teaching career in Gallup, NM, where she received her Master’s in Elementary Education. She has also taught in New York City. She received an endorsement in Culturally, Linguistically and Diverse education from the University of Colorado.
Lauren has two sons, both who attend or have attended Uni Hill. She and her husband love spending time with their sons in the beautiful Colorado outdoors. In her free time, when she is not outside hiking or walking her two dogs, she enjoys reading, playing music and dancing in her kitchen.
Stephanie Fida
Director
Stephanie is a native of Connecticut, but six years after first visiting Boulder, she adopted Colorado her new home in 2012. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Indiana University, where she completed dual undergraduate majors in Music (clarinet) and Ethnomusicology and a Minor in Spanish. She also earned an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from Indiana University and an M.S. in Music Education from the University of New Haven. During the 2012-13 school year, she began to work at Columbine Elementary School and discovered her passion for working with the bilingual student population.
Stephanie has taught general music, beginning band, marching band, and choir with students from kindergarten to 12th grade. She maintains a private studio of clarinet, saxophone and piano students.
Janis Kelly, a seasoned musician and educator with over four decades of experience, serves as Boulder MUSE’s Artistic Director and Program Development Coordinator. With a passion for inspiring creativity, she has performed, taught, and directed a wide range of musical ensembles. Janis has shared her expertise through private lessons, choral direction, and accompanying numerous school choirs throughout the Front Range. She brings her unique blend of artistry and mentorship to Boulder MUSE, eager to ignite the musical potential of students throughout the community.
Janis Kelly
Director
Eileen has two children who attended University Hill Elementary, where she was first introduced to the value of music education as provided by MUSE to the socioeconomically and linguistically diverse student population at Uni Hill. She strongly believes in the need for equal opportunities for all students regardless of their unique backgrounds. She is proud to be able to support MUSE in their mission for providing music education to all. Eileen played the viola as a child, and earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Boston University. She has previous experience working as a Scientific Writer and as a Grant Writer/Outreach Coordinator for an agency supporting victims and survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence and sexual violence throughout the mountains of Colorado and the Front Range. Eileen is currently the manager for the Children's Chorale of the Boulder Chorale.
Eileen Krenzel Rojas
Director
Lesley grew up playing the oboe, and music has been an influential part of her life ever since. As a Spanish and intervention teacher at a Title I elementary school in Boulder, she deeply understands the profound impact music education can have on young minds. Lesley is passionate about providing students with opportunities to engage with music, knowing it fosters creativity, discipline, and confidence. Outside of teaching, she finds joy in watching her two daughters discover the world of music and grow as musicians themselves. An avid traveler, artist, and outdoor enthusiast, Lesley is constantly inspired by the beauty and rhythm found in both the natural world and artistic expression.