Omari Abdul-Alim joined UniSound as the inaugural Beckom-Freeman Teaching Artist-in-Residence (BTAR) Fellow in 2024. He is a distinguished violinist and educator, who brings experience and passion to his new role. With a career spanning over a decade, Abdul-Alim has captivated audiences nationwide with his virtuosity and dedication to music education. He is recognized for his ability to inspire young musicians and foster a deep appreciation for the arts.

Omari is a seasoned performer and composer in various genres including Hip-Hop, Jazz, Gospel, Soul, Alternative Rock, and more. He has appeared as a guest performer with Opera Neo, Randolph College, the Old Globe Theater, San Diego’s Martin Luther King Gospel Choir, New Vision of Praise Jazz Band, and more.

He continues to audition and perform with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Poway Symphony Orchestra, Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra, Cabrillo Chamber Orchestra, and San Diego City Ballet.

Emily is the Executive Assistant to the CEO and Operations Generalist at Jefferson Regional Foundation, where she brings extensive experience in nonprofit administration, program management, and development. Emily previously served as the Program Manager of UniSound and Development Officer at Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras (TRYPO), where she organized fundraising campaigns, secured grants, and managed a coalition of over forty music and arts organizations to support youth music education. She also was key in coordinating community programs, overseeing teaching artists, and developing VIP experiences for concerts and events. Prior to that, she was TRYPO’s Program Coordinator and Marketing Assistant, where she spearheaded marketing efforts, managed social media, and assisted with executive operations.

Emily holds a Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership & Management from Shenandoah University and a Bachelor of Science in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management from Point Park University, both earned summa cum laude. She is passionate about strengthening community initiatives and supporting mission-driven organizations. Outside of work, Emily participates in community choirs and theater groups and enjoys spending time with her partner, Dennis, and their two cats.

Michael Chapman came to Pittsburgh from Trinidad and Tobago in 1996, shortly after being awarded the top prize for Best Guitar Solo at the 1995 Trinidad and Tobago National Music Festival.

Michael was awarded a scholarship to study music at Duquesne University where he earned a Bachelor’s and Master of Music Degree in Guitar Performance. He joined the music faculty at Duquesne University as an Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar and Director of the Classical Guitar Ensemble in 2002.

Michael has performed extensively in the United States appearing in solo and ensemble performances and as Music Director of several Chamber Music performances. As a Teaching Artist and Music Director of Hope Academy of Music and the Arts from 2007 to 2016, he devoted much of his energy toward providing 300 plus students with year-round education in music and the performing arts. Michael is the Founding and Artistic Director of Guardians Of Sound Inc. and The Hip Hop Orchestra, a non-profit that promotes the use of orchestral and acoustic instruments for live music performance and youth instruction within the context of modern mainstream music.

Mark Despotakis is the Director of Public and Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He handles the association’s policy development and government relations efforts around music education issues, educates members about policy and advocacy, and works with a variety of parties to advance the association’s mission of advancing comprehensive and innovative music education through promoting effective instruction, providing meaningful learning experiences, and ensuring impactful and equitable music engagement for all.

Previously Mark was the Director of Market Development at Progressive Music in Pittsburgh, PA where he handled marketing and finance for the company that focused on serving school music programs. 

Prior to working at Progressive Music, Mark spent time at CNN Newsource in Washington D.C. Currently, Mark is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC), and Western Pennsylvania’s Tournament of Bands, a member of the National Association for Music Education’s Advocacy Leadership Force, and serves on the UniSound Pittsburgh Steering Committee. Previously he was a member of the NAMM Board of Directors and President of NAMM Young Professionals and served on the SupportMusic Coalition Steering Committee. He has previously taught the woodwinds for the McKeesport Area High School marching band and was the Assistant Band Director at Baldwin High School. Both schools are in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

Mark graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communication.

Clara Kent is an Afro-Indigenous (Oglala Lakota & Ojibwe) multidisciplinary artist, entrepreneur, and community leader from Pittsburgh, Pa’s Homewood community. Clara is best known for her music and dynamic performances, but also connects with various forms of expression within visual art and media. She focuses her artistry on uplifting the creative community and reclaiming indigenous roots, particularly for underserved Black artists and youth in her neighborhood.

Kent began her independent artist journey in 2017 with the release of her first album, “AURA”, a vaporwave neo-soul project written and produced by Clara and beatmaker Yorel Tifsim. The album focused on the Hero’s Journey and the power of reclaiming your authentic self when obstacles arise. “AURA” was very well received, leading to the self-proclaimed “Multidimensional Artistic Individual” being named Pittsburgh City Paper’s “Person of the Year” for Music in 2019, and has performed across the country, opening for Wyclef Jean at SXSW, Cautious Clay at WYEP Summerfest, Thundercat at Stage AE, Nnamdi, Oshun, Jon Wayne, Mumufresh & OHMME. Clara embarked on a summer tour in 2019 with London-based music events company Sofar Sounds, becoming one of their cohort of performance artists alongside acts such as Moses Sumney, Lianne La Havas, and Yebba.

Since then, Clara Kent has expanded her career into media and entrepreneurial ventures, while continuing to create music and advocate for other Black and Indigenous creatives. In 2022, she began hosting a radio show on WYEP, “More Bounce with Clara Kent,” and managed the Alt-Funk band Mani Bahia & The Mob. Also, she launched her production company, Bounce House Studios & Productions LLC, a Black women-led organization whose purpose is to “Elevate the Underground”™️ through free programming and donation-based events for BIPOC artists. One of the first music projects released was “The Four Winds: EAST”, Part One of “THE FOUR WINDS” series. The Four Winds series honors her Afro-Indigenous heritage and was intentionally released on Juneteenth in 2023 to raise awareness of the intersection of African American and Native American presence and cultural contributions in music. The EP was well-received and was named “Best of Soul” by Bandcamp Daily in 2023 and was featured on 90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR station. In 2024, Clara was nominated and selected as an official Voting Member of the Recording Academy for the Grammy Awards, recognized for years of community work, artistic excellence, and consistent advocacy for musicians in the industry. Kent is currently preparing to launch new projects and music events under the Bounce House brand, starting in the summer of 2026.

Clara’s mission is to connect people to their hearts, their communities, and the planet, one song, painting, and creative collaboration at a time. Her vision is for people to recognize the importance of their emotions and to embrace them, thereby creating a compassionate, supportive world for everyone. She hopes that with her gifts and reconnection to her ancestors and nature, she’ll be a vessel for Great Spirit to heal and transmute heaviness into light.

DaMarra King is the Birth to Five Manager for the Allegheny County Department of Children Initiatives, where she leads transformative efforts to support early childhood development across the region. In her role, DaMarra has helped distribute over $900,000 to build early literacy programming, positively impacting more than 7,000 young children. She currently oversees funding for several Early Literacy Support Hubs, designed to serve unserved and underserved communities by providing centralized access to critical resources and support.

In addition to her work in literacy, DaMarra has played a key role in the distribution of over $4 million to expand infant and toddler care slots throughout Allegheny County. This initiative has created more than 600 high-quality child care slots, helping to reduce waitlists and increase access for families in need. She also manages the Allegheny County Child Care Matters Subsidy, overseeing $5 million in funding to support families who fall above the Child Care Works income threshold but below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

DaMarra sees herself as a change agent, committed to servant leadership and lifelong advocacy for her community.

Outside of her public service, DaMarra is also known as “DaMarra Chanel,” a recording artist who released her first project at just 16 years old. She has performed on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, served as a soloist for Former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, and has had her music featured on over 70 gospel radio stations, including Sirius XM.

DaMarra holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management from Point Park University. She is a certified Strength-Based Family Worker through Temple University and a graduate of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University.

Throughout her career, DaMarra has served in a variety of impactful roles, including Teacher, Caseworker, Kinship Navigator, Family Coordinator, Family Engagement Services Supervisor, and now, Birth to Five Manager. She continues to perform at events throughout the Pittsburgh area, blending her passion for music with her dedication to community empowerment.

Jennifer Madge is a dedicated violinist, teacher, and music leader whose career embodies a deep commitment to exceptional musical training, artistic excellence, and community-focused education. She serves as the Academy Director and lead violin instructor at The Pittsburgh Music Academy, a role she has held since the academy’s founding in 1996, helping shape one of the region’s most respected programs for string instruction and music education.

A consummate musician, Jennifer holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from Duquesne University, where she studied with distinguished performers and pedagogues. Prior to that, she completed undergraduate work in violin performance and music education at The Wichita State University. Her training includes extensive Suzuki teacher preparation, and she is known for blending the Suzuki philosophy with strong traditional technique to nurture confident, expressive, and well-rounded players.

Throughout her long teaching career, Jennifer has inspired students of all ages and levels — from beginners taking their first bow, advanced players preparing for collegiate study, and adults beginning or extending their music journey. She has taught in a wide range of settings, including summer workshops, studio programs, and university-level string courses, and her students regularly earn top honors and leadership positions.

An active performer, Jennifer is a tenured member of both the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra, contributing her artistry to live performances that enrich the region’s cultural life. She is a member of the Radiant Strings team and can be found in orchestras on concert stages around the region.

Beyond technique and performance, Jennifer views music as a vehicle for connection — building relationships, fostering discipline, and strengthening community. Her teaching philosophy champions music as a lifelong source of joy, creativity, and personal growth.

Jennie Nolan, Founder and Artistic Director of the South Hills Children’s Choir, loves inspiring kids to sing! She holds a BMusEd in Voice from Biola University, a Masters in Choral Conducting from Messiah University, and is Kodály and Suzuki certified. After teaching music and English in the public school, Mrs. Nolan joined the staff of the San Diego Children’s Choir and fell in love with it.

She has led various church choirs in addition to teaching voice, guitar, band, classroom music, writing, Rhetoric, and homeschooling her girls. Jennie has sung with and conducted under Drs. William Lock, Caron Daley, Susan Medley, Kathy Hickey, Rachel Cornacchio, Joy Meade, and Mr. Loren Wiebe. Formerly a soprano with the Pittsburgh Camerata, Jennie still sings locally. She assists with music activities at her church, teaches voice at Pittsburgh Music Academy, and in her own private studio. She recently retired after 18 years of teaching music and writing at Blackburn Study Center. She loves to run, bake, travel, read, and sing for and with her husband and four daughters.

Lindsey Nova is the Executive Director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras [TRYPO]. Under her leadership, TRYPO has dramatically expanded its program offerings, tripled annual student enrollment, and exponentially increased audience reach. After earning her Bachelor’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in French from the University of Rochester, Lindsey was guest lecturer at the Université de Rennes II (France) and later earned a Master’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the University of Utah.

Lindsey has a firm foundation in administration of both vocal and instrumental classical music: Following various types of work in administration, editorial work, and conventions for Classical Singer Magazine, Lindsey was the Director of Operations for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, prior to moving to Pittsburgh with her husband James, who is the second/utility trombonist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Currently, she serves on the New Leadership Council of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Arts Advisory Council of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, as well as on the boards of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and the League of American Orchestras Youth Orchestra Division.

Lindsey Nova is the Executive Director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras [TRYPO]. Under her leadership, TRYPO has dramatically expanded its program offerings, tripled annual student enrollment, and exponentially increased audience reach. After earning her Bachelor’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in French from the University of Rochester, Lindsey was guest lecturer at the Université de Rennes II (France) and later earned a Master’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the University of Utah.

Lindsey has a firm foundation in administration of both vocal and instrumental classical music: Following various types of work in administration, editorial work, and conventions for <i>Classical Singer </i>Magazine<i>, </i>Lindsey was the Director of Operations for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, prior to moving to Pittsburgh with her husband James, who is the second/utility trombonist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Currently, she serves on the New Leadership Council of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Arts Advisory Council of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, as well as on the boards of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and the League of American Orchestras Youth Orchestra Division.

Dr. Kendra Janelle Ross is the Head of Social Impact at Duolingo, where she leads the community engagement and global philanthropic strategy. Before joining Duolingo, she served as an Assistant Professor of Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management at Point Park University, where she also completed a Ph.D. in Community Engagement. Her dissertation research focused on Black women artists and cultural workers in the Hill District, where she serves as the co-chair of #ArtsInHD, a collective of Hill District creatives. Passionate about building a more equitable arts ecosystem in the region, Dr. Ross has served as co-chair of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Community Advisory Council and is one of the architects of UniSound’s Black Teaching Artist-In-Residence program through her firm, ACT3 Consulting Partners. ACT3 has advised arts organizations and other regional non-profits on their community engagement strategies over the past six years.  

 A music industry veteran and business professional, Dr. Ross spent two decades in New York City working both on stage and behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. She managed label operations for Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, for over a decade. Dr. Ross is a veteran songwriter, vocalist, and producer who has recorded with renowned artists such as Quincy Jones and Lauryn Hill. She has headlined New York’s legendary Blue Note Jazz Club more than ten times as a bandleader. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia chapter of the Recording Academy and was recently appointed to the Allegheny Regional Asset District Board of Directors by Mayor Ed Gainey. Dr. Ross continues to write and record music and advocate for other artists. She has been awarded grants for her solo work and artistic collaborations from The Heinz Endowments, the Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Opportunity Fund.    

 Dr. Ross is a proud graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools, K-12, and holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Business and Technology from New York University and master’s degrees from Brooklyn College/CUNY and The New School for Social Research.   

Lindsey Nova is the Executive Director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras [TRYPO]. Under her leadership, TRYPO has dramatically expanded its program offerings, tripled annual student enrollment, and exponentially increased audience reach. After earning her Bachelor’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in French from the University of Rochester, Lindsey was guest lecturer at the Université de Rennes II (France) and later earned a Master’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the University of Utah.

Lindsey has a firm foundation in administration of both vocal and instrumental classical music: Following various types of work in administration, editorial work, and conventions for Classical Singer Magazine, Lindsey was the Director of Operations for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, prior to moving to Pittsburgh with her husband James, who is the second/utility trombonist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Currently, she serves on the New Leadership Council of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Arts Advisory Council of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, as well as on the boards of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and the League of American Orchestras Youth Orchestra Division.

Melita Hatley Terry is a Community Engagement Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer Disease Research Center, where Melita organizes and implements public relations within the community to educate and recruit a diverse group of adults for participation in research on Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on persons from underrepresented groups.

Melita has extensive corporate experience managing teams in customer service, sales, billing and retention with companies such as Verizon close to twenty years.  Melita has exceeded monthly revenue targets over 1 million dollars and created compelling customer experiences in a customer base expanding from Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia to ensure company and employee goals are attained. 

Actively engaged born and raised in the city of Pittsburgh, Melita graduated from Schenley High School and attained a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Lincoln University. Melita is actively engaged and including civic duties at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh.  Melita is married and a proud mother of two children.  Melita brings an important perspective to the UniSound Steering Committee through her engagement with youth music organizations as the parent of a talented young musician.

Jason Washington Jr. is a musician and educator based in Pittsburgh, PA. Heavily influenced by the church, he began his musical journey at the age of three. He attended Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts 6–12 as an instrumental major and later continued his studies at Temple University. While there, he performed with the Diamond Marching Band, Temple Jazz Band, and several other ensembles. During this time, he studied under Byron Landham, Dan Monaghan, and Rodney Green—mentors who were instrumental in shaping his growth as a musician.

After college, Jason discovered a passion for youth education while working as a counselor with Urban Impact. Soon after, he joined the jazz faculty at Center of Life, a non-profit organization in the Hazelwood area, where he developed a teaching approach rooted in relationship building and meeting each student’s individual needs.

Today, Jason is an active educator, bandleader, and freelance musician, performing with a wide range of artists throughout the Pittsburgh area.