OUR STAFF

Jane Kramer, Ph.D.

Founder and Executive Director

  • Jane started the recorder at age seven with early music specialist Arnold Grayson in Miami, Florida. She plays oboe and English horn, studied with Bill Bennett and Jonathan Fischer, played principal oboe with the American Philharmonic/Sonoma, and has been a soloist with the Mill Valley Philharmonic and College of Marin Orchestra. With a Ph.D. in urban policy and planning from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Kramer has worked as a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, and as a consultant for public sector and non-profit organizations with a focus on vulnerable adolescents. After being awarded a grant to pursue a passion from an anonymous donor at Vassar College, Jane returned to her musical roots to fulfill a dream of replicating the vision of the Fine Arts Music Conservatory of Miami, which she attended as a child. Jane was a CAELI Arts Leadership Fellow through the National Guild for Community Arts Education, the recipient of the 2016 Marin County Humanitarian Award in recognition of ELM’s social justice mission, and the 2016, the Youth in Arts Pamela Levine Leadership in the Arts award. Dr. Kramer was inducted into the Marin County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

Miranda Ling Shepherd

Development Director

  • Miranda is a mission-centered fundraiser who has raised over $50 million for organizations at the intersection of arts, education, and social impact. Miranda bridges storytelling and strategy to imagine and fund more just and loving futures. A creative writer herself, her creative work has been featured at the National Queer Arts Festival, Life Is Living, SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts, and the San Francisco International Arts Festival. Miranda is originally from Philly, but came to California to earn her BA & MA at Stanford University–and hasn’t left NorCal since. 

Jessie O'Hara Maestas

Artistic and Education Director

  • Jessie O’Hara Maestas was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to a family of performing artists and teachers. She earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at New Mexico State University. In addition to chamber music performances, Jessie played as a section violinist with the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, West Texas Symphony, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, and the Santa Fe Symphony.

    Jessie is a current Leaders Fellow with the Teaching Artists Training Institute, an alumna of the Academy for Impact through Music’s Firebird Fellowship, and serves on the Membership and Engagement Committee for El Sistema USA.

    Her passion for equitable music education began when she read about the El Sistema ethos and stayed with her during her graduate work, leading her to join the El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s Tocando Music Project in 2018, where she worked with students on the border of Texas and Mexico. She continued to serve as Director of Programs from 2021 - 2025, guiding artistic and educational initiatives across multiple sites while mentoring students and a team of Teaching Artists.

    Jessie is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring her lived experience of bilingual and multicultural leadership to ELM, supporting rich teaching practices and artistic choices that help students build confidence through competence, experience joy through community, and engage with the extraordinary challenge of learning music using a compassionate and growth-minded lens.

    When she’s not working with the great community of students and Teaching Artists at ELM, you’ll probably find her reading a good book, picking flowers in her East Bay neighborhood, or cooking a meal to share with her wife.

Carrie Moler

Administrative Coordinator

  • Carrie Moler is a proud Marin County native with deep roots in the community. Born and raised in the area, Carrie has lived in Terra Linda, Larkspur, and now resides in San Rafael, where her family has called home for over 70 years.

    A graduate of Marin Catholic High School, Carrie went on to earn her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley. She began her career in San Francisco, working in the wine industry for several years before returning to Marin — the place she has always considered home.

    For the past 15 years, Carrie has been deeply involved in her community, particularly through the San Rafael public schools. Her leadership and fundraising work with the PTOs at Sun Valley Elementary, Davidson Middle School, and San Rafael High School have made a meaningful impact. With a strong background in sales, operations, and community engagement, Carrie brings valuable skills and passion to her role with ELM.

    Carrie lives in San Rafael with her husband, two children, and their dog. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, skiing, mountain biking, traveling, hosting gatherings, fundraising, volunteering, and staying connected with friends. An avid reader and natural connector, Carrie is always ready to bring her energy and enthusiasm to new opportunities.

Jason Young

Finance & Administration Director

  • Jason serves as the Finance and Administration Director at Enriching Lives through Music, overseeing financial management and administrative operations that support the organization's sustainability and program delivery.

    Before joining ELM, Jason worked at the Mindful Life Project, where he supported organizational growth, financial oversight, and systems development for a nonprofit dedicated to student mental health and social-emotional learning — work that deepened his commitment to organizations serving the whole development of young people.

    Jason holds a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a Master of Arts from the University of San Francisco. Earlier in his career he was a professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, and he later coached at Berkeley High School and Academy of Art University. Outside of work, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young children.

Becca Lee

Academic Program Coordinator

  • Becca comes from a background in education, where she worked as a paraeducator in special education supporting students from elementary through high school. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University and is also a certified yoga teacher. Becca enjoys being part of community spaces and working with children and families in supportive, engaging environments.

    Outside of work, Becca is a self-taught ukulele and guitar player, loves spending time with her rescue lab mix, and exploring the beautiful sights of the Bay Area!

Alison Valdes

Development Associate

Sara Duran

Family Engagement Coordinator

  • Sara Duran joined ELM as a Site Coordinator and Parent Liaison in January 2017. Originally from El Salvador, she earned a B.S. in Business Administration from University of EL Salvador. In 2008, she emigrated to California and studied English as a Second Language at College of Marin. After finishing the ESL program, she had the opportunity to join the San Rafael Public Library as a Substitute Library Assistant serving the Latino community in the Canal Area. She strongly believes in nurturing and empowering kids and families to become their best selves, and she is convinced that ELM gives her the opportunity to transmit this feeling by connecting and maintaining a strong relationship with their community.

Claudia Lang

Academic & Career Counselor

  • Claudia is passionate about helping students find their own unique path in life and she believes that enhancing the internal motivation of the student should be the primary goal of academic counseling. Claudia holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University of California and a Professional Program Certificate in College Admission Counseling from UC Berkeley Extension. Originally from London, Claudia has called Marin County home for over 20 years. She is also an amateur violist and performs in numerous local ensembles, including the ELM Youth Orchestra.

Christina Lesicko

Music Program Administrator

  • Christina holds degrees in Viola Performance and Education from Youngstown State University and the University of Guadalajara. She has played with numerous small ensembles and orchestras across the country and has taught violin and viola students of all ages. Her passion and love for music and excellence in music education has given her the opportunity to perform and teach privately in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Christina is passionate about the El Sistema model that recognizes that music is not only enrichment, but can positively impact students’ lives forever.

Veronica Martinez

Student Coordinator

ELM provides youth with an immersive music education that empowers them to pursue their dreams and access resources they need to succeed in life.

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