Executive Director

Luis completed his doctoral degree in administration and supervision at Teachers College, Columbia University. He worked with the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music as Artistic Director, with the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and the School of Education at the Ana G. Mendez University System’s Metropolitan Campus as Dean of Academic Affairs and Dean of School respectively, and the Caribbean University of Puerto Rico as External Affairs Coordinator and Chancellor of the Bayamon Campus. He currently works as Executive Director of the Multicultural Music Group, and consultant for arts and educational entities such as the Center for Arts Education Research at Teachers College, Columbia University; Applied Global Research Institute; EDP University in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; the Pearson’s edTPA National Teaching Certification; and the Mexico National Educational Reform during 2017 and 2018. Luis is a 1997 Echoing Green Fellow.

Director of Operations

Sofia is a 32-year-old professional born, raised, and currently living in New York City. They studied music and audio engineering, media communications, and has a Bachelors of Architecture from the City College of NY (2018). Sofia worked in corporate interiors as a project manager before launching their career as a social entrepreneur in 2021. Since then, Sofia’s been involved in groundbreaking efforts to mobilize the impact investing community in Harlem and the Bronx through the launch of New York’s first Heyground™ business incubator. Sofia is an alumn of the MMG’s Symphonic Youth Program and long time supporter of the MMG’s Encounters Series performances.

Sofia is passionate about social justice, collective wellness, and artistic expression. She hopes to create a positive impact in the lives of youth and adults around the world through her dedication and work as an instructor, a mentor, and community leader. 

Director of Fundraising

Violist Melanie Dyer performs and composes in creative, improvised and through-composed music forms. In 2011, Melanie founded WeFreeStrings, an improvising string/rhythm collective. She has performed with Sun Ra Arkestra, William Parker, Heroes Are Gang Leaders, Dead Lecturers, Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet, Henry Grimes, Tomeka Reid and many other innovative creatives is the U.S. and abroad.

Melanie has over 40 years experience as a resource development professional in the nonprofit sector working with cultural, human services and environmental justice organizations.

Education and Research Specialist

Wilfredo José Burgos-Matos is a Latinx performance artist and singer, multilingual communications and community outreach specialist with a diverse skillset that includes higher ed administration, scholarly research,and teaching. His experience spans a decade of achievements in New York City, Austin, Texas, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. He served the Multicultural Music Group previously as Communications and Marketing Specialist from 2015-2018.

Composer in Residency 2023

Latin GRAMMY Award winner bassist and composer Pedro Giraudo is among the most compelling tango artists today. After two decades performing with the most important interpreters of tango, Pedro Giraudo debuted his own Tango Orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing in July 2015 and since then has become an active cultural ambassador of this beautiful and passionate music of his native Argentina.

https://www.pedrogiraudo.com/

Composer in Residency 2023

Yuri Martín Juárez Yllescas (Lima-Peru 1973), guitarist, arranger and composer, began his career in 1996 as guitarist for various groups of Afro-Peruvian music, folk and fusion.

His musical training ranges from formal studies at New York University with Gil Goldstein, John Scofield and Peter Bernstein and also with the Peruvian masters of the guitar such as Pepe Torres, Alvaro Lagos, Jorge Madueño and more “street” experience in Afro-Peruvian peñas.

He has shared the stage and recorded with musicians like Eva Ayllón, Susana Baca, Arturo O'Farrill,Ron Carter, and iconic Peruvian composers such as Kiri Escobar and Javier Lazo, and trail blazing bands including the Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet, Novalima and Tangolandó among others.

Conductor

Venezuelan born Alí Bello has become one of the most dazzling and sought after violinists, distinguishing himself for his versatility among different music styles in addition to his well-found classical training and multidimensional improvisational skills. Since his surge from El Sistema, the musical education program of his country, and after building upon years of experience in New York, he has become a Latin jazz music figure to be reckoned with.

MMGO Artistic Director

Luis Columna, Dominican trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, and conductor. Luis studied music composition with Academy Award-winning and distinguished professor at Lehman College, Prof. John Corigliano, and advanced conducting with Mr. Georges Costinescu.