Our Team
Leadership
List of Services
-
executivedirector@ymofa.org
Ekin Cemre Üstünel
Executive Director
Ms. Üstünel is originally from Turkey, and has been a pianist since she was six years old. She completed her conservatory education in Istanbul, Turkey and received her two graduate degrees from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Salem College. Her passion is to make music education accessible and fun. Ms. Üstünel is an active educator, performer, and an advocate for injury prevention and accessibility in music education.
Ekin Cemre Üstünel
Executive Director
-
musiceducation@ymofa.org
Andrew Beach
Music Education Director
Andrew Beach is the Music Education Director for the Young Musicians of Alamance and the Co-Director of the Alamance Youth Orchestra. He will also teach YMA string orchestra classes on Saturdays, private lessons, and modern band groups during the week. He studied K-12 instrumental music education at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. He has taught at UNCG Summer Music Camp, Guilford County Schools Summer Arts Institute, and Claxton Elementary School (GCS). He has judged auditions and led double bass sectionals for GCS (teachers and students) and UNCG SMC. He teaches private string instrument lessons through the Gant School of Music and Jazz. He serves as an NC Music Educators Association - Popular Music Committee board member.
He has composed several pieces of music for theater and film which include Sound of Cracking Bones (2015), Boats (2016), One Night (2017), and Sweep the Stars (2019).
He is a member of the Fayetteville Symphony double bass section and gigs in the Piedmont Triad on electric and double bass primarily. He has experience performing classical, jazz, bluegrass, math rock, theater, metal, and old time music on the bass. He also enjoys playing the guitar, violin/fiddle, cello, banjo, baglama, ukulele, and drum kit.
He was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. He lives in Greensboro, NC with his wife, rabbit and three cats.
Andrew Beach
Music Education Director
-
coordinator@ymofa.org
Elizabeth Cheek
Programs and Development Coordinator
Ms. Cheek is a born North Carolina native with a passion for arts and music. She has recently received her Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, following her Associate in Fine Arts in Music from Alamance Community College. Her primary instrument is voice and enjoys classical, jazz, musical theater, and improvisation. She also plays piano, guitar, and ukulele.
Lizzie lives in Snow Camp, NC, with her fiance, lovebird Peach, and dog Maverick. She is passionate about non-profit work, childhood development, and music-making, and is excited to work with Young Musicians of Alamance!
Elizabeth Cheek
Programs and Development Coordinator
-
programdirector@ymofa.org
Peter Zlotnick
Program Director (AYO)
Peter Zlotnick is the Principal Timpanist for the Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and Salisbury Symphony. He has also performed frequently with the North Carolina Symphony and contemporary chamber music programs.
During the school year, Peter serves as Music Director for the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra and teaches percussion lessons at the Greensboro Cultural Center. In the summer, he serves as the lead Instrumental Music teacher at the North Carolina Governor’s School West. Peter has also been a guest teacher at UNC-Greensboro, UNC School of the Arts, Wake Forest University, and Catawba College. Peter received his M.M. in Percussion and Music Education from Northwestern University and his B.M. from the Eastman School of Music.
He lives in Westerwood in Greensboro, NC, with his wife Luci, sons Maxwell and Benjamin, and cat, Stash.
Peter Zlotnick
Program Director (AYO)
List of Services
-
Shelley Realini
Board President
Ms. Shelley Realini has spent years studying piano and has been involved in Orchestra boosters during her children's school years. A consistent volunteer of YMA since the dawn of it's inception, Shelley enjoys getting to know the students and joining us regularly for Saturday classes.
Shelley states - "Seeing the growth a student makes while moving from a beginner to a more advanced player is very rewarding."
Shelley Realini
Board President
-
Alexandra Arpajian
Member since 2022
Ms. Arpajian, a musical theater lover, is the current Executive Director of the High Point Arts Council. As the former Executive Director of Young Musicians of Alamance, she believes in the power of El Sistema programs on the community and is deeply connected to our programs.
Alexandra states - "I believe in the power of the arts to transform lives, build bridges between communities, and revitalize cities. Alamance County is blessed to have YMA as the top youth arts program in the area to accomplish all of this and more."
Alexandra Arpajian
Member since 2022
-
Paul Mellander
Member since 2020
Paul Mellander is a lifelong trombonist who believes in giving back to the community. Involved in STEM and music-based organizations for decades, Paul states - "Music can change lives for the better, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience it!"
Paul Mellander
Member since 2020
-
Bob Byrd
Member since 2021
Bob Byrd has served Alamance County since 1978, retiring from Alamance Regional Medical
Center after a 35-year career on its senior executive staff. He was an Alamance County
Commissioner during 2014-18. Bob has served local groups focused on public education, health and mental health, poverty, older adults, youth, the arts, transportation, racial equity, and more. He is co-founder and director of the 18-piece Alamance Jazz Band and is a semi-professional saxophonist. Bob holds a BS degree in music education from Penn State University and a Master of Health Administration degree from Duke University.
Bob states - "I want to make sure that young people in our community have similar opportunities regardless of personal barriers. “Young Musicians of Alamance” is more than developing students as musicians.
It’s about using music in a safe space to develop character, social behavior, cognitive abilities, emotional control, and much more. I’m proud to contribute to YMA’s mission."
Bob Byrd
Member since 2021
-
Marcia Livesay
Member since 2021
Marcia Livesay has taught piano for years as well as remedial reading in our elementary schools. She now teaches Music Appreciation at Alamance Community College. Marcia spent years singing in choirs and enjoyed every second of it. For numerous years, she volunteered in the Humane Society as well as volunteer tutoring children. Her previous Board experience includes Boards of the Haw River Assembly, the PTA, and the Orchestra Boosters, serving as secretary, treasurer, and vice-president at various times. Since she was young, Marcia has always advocated for the arts to be available to all—not just the elite few.
Marcia states - "One of my deepest beliefs has always been that music (and the arts) have the power to heal and strengthen the world and that all humans deserve to be exposed to it and learn its language from early childhood. It builds better brains, emotional health, self-discipline, teamwork and greater communication among all people. It is only equitable for all children to share in this gift. When I first heard about El Sistema, I dearly hoped Alamance would start something like that and it truly has in our Young Musicians of Alamance."
Marcia Livesay
Member since 2021
Our Founder
Beth Bader
After watching a 60 Minutes report on El Sistema of Venezuela, Ms. Bader developed a plan for a similar music program for children in Alamance County, NC. She founded Young Musicians of Alamance in 2016.
The organization has continued to grow since that day. Ms. Bader retired in January, 2019. She now resides in the mountains of North Carolina and volunteers at the El Sistema program in Asheville, NC, MusicWorks!
