We empower young people to transform their lives through music and community.
Mission and Values
At DCYOP competition is replaced by a shared pursuit of musical excellence and students develop the confidence and creativity to take on life’s challenges. Since 1960, more than 40,000 students of all backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles have studied and played with DCYOP, toured 24 countries, and met and learned from master musicians, including Aaron Copland, Yo-Yo Ma, and others.
Generations of Impact
Founding of DCYOP
DCYOP founded by Lyn McLain in Washington, D.C. with 60 students and three volunteer teachers at the request of DC Public Schools, to serve at the city’s official youth orchestra.
First International Tour
DCYOP students and staff travelled to Switzerland.
They were also honored by Mayor Walter E. Washington for embodying racial unity and excellence in 1970.
First Youth Orchestra to Play at Kennedy Center
After its opening in 1971, DCYOP was the first youth orchestra ever to perform at the prestigious Kennedy Center.
DCYOP Receives National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award
The award, called “Coming Up Taller” at the time, was given to 13 organizations, including DCYOP, on Capitol Hill and presented by first lady Laura Bush.
DCYOP Receives Mayor's Arts Award
DCYOP receives the Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education from Anthony A. Williams.
Founder Lyn McLain Retires
After 46 years of leading DCYOP, founder Lyn McLain retires.
Marvin Hamlisch Host 50th Anniversary Celebration at Kennedy Center
In it’s 50th year, an alumni reunion culminated at a Kennedy Center concert hosted by Marvin Hamlisch and DCYOP moves to Eastern Senior High School.
DC City Council Includes DCYOP in Budget
The DC City Council included DCYOP in the city budget for the first time in the organization’s history.
DCYOP was named one of the best “small nonprofits in Greater Washington” by the Catalogue for Philanthropy.
DCYOP Relocates to Takoma Elementary School
DCYOP relocates to Takoma Elementary School, it’s current home.
Washington Musical Pathways Initiative Launched
This $2 million Mellon Foundation-funded partnership with the Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra, and Levine Music supporting BIPOC student musicians is launched.
65th Anniversary Gala Celebrates Generations of Impact
DCYOP celebrated generations of impact through it’s 65th anniversary gala, chaired by Mercedes Ellington and hosted by Guy Lambert of Fox5DC.
The event celebrated the decades of impact of music and education through DCYOP.
Our Team
Loretta Thompson
Executive Director
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Loretta Thompson has led and developed arts education for youth and young adults, with a focus on access and community-building and joined DCYOP in 2023 as executive director. At Sitar Arts Center, she created a parent engagement program, a teen leadership program, and a summer camp. She collaborated with architects and engineers to design a facility expansion for teens and young adults, with a focus on creative spaces and an arts career training program.Thompson has a master’s in arts management from George Mason University and a bachelor’s in fine arts in sculpture from University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She volunteers as chair of the Ward 5 Education Equity Committee, volunteers with First Generation College Bound, and was a parent leader with PAVE, a parent education advocacy group in D.C.
Evan Ross Solomon
Artistic Director
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Evan Ross Solomon is a conductor, composer, arranger, educator, musical entrepreneur, and a nationally renowned musician. He joined DCYOP in 2014 and directs all artistic activities and initiatives for the organization. He has conducted Youth Orchestra performances at the Kennedy Center, at the Wolf Trap Center for the performing arts, and on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and has participated in four international tours across South America and Europe. Evan studied clarinet at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and University of Maryland School of Music.
Kathryn Blake
Program Coordinator
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Kathryn (Katie) Blake is a composer, violist, and music educator based in the Maryland-DC area. Her compositions explore themes of health and have been featured at the Fresh Inc. Festival, New Music Gathering, District New Music Coalition, Hong Kong Cellist Society, and T1International. Her works have been performed by a range of soloists and ensembles, including Balance Campaign, Strata Trio, Bergamot Quartet, and members of the Achelois Collective. As an educator, Kathryn is dedicated to diversifying the repertoire she introduces to students, fostering their creativity, and helping them find joy in their music-making. She teaches violin and viola privately and has worked with Frederick County Public Schools’ Academy for the Fine Arts, guiding high school students in compositional techniques. Kathryn holds her B.A. in Music Composition from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Rashida Coleman
Director of Engagement
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Rashida Coleman joined DCYOP as a staff member in 2005. She is an alumna of DCYOP, where she studied and taught percussion. Rashida is a D.C. native and Ward 4 resident with over 25 years of experience providing administrative oversight supporting organizations in the not-for-profit and private sectors in Washington, D.C. She holds a B.S. in business administration from Strayer University and completed additional undergraduate studies in music performance and music business administration at the University of Miami, Florida.
Sylvia Garcia
Development Associate
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Sylvia Garcia is a Maryland native with a background in music and arts management. With 16 years of experience as a saxophonist, a bachelor's degree in Music Business from Berklee College of Music, and a master's degree in Arts Management from American University, Sylvia brings both creative and administrative expertise to her work. Sylvia believes strongly in the transformative power of the arts to transcend boundaries and unite people across cultures and backgrounds. She is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the arts sector.
Allison Giovanetti
Operations & Administrative Assistant
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Allison Giovanetti is an ethnomusicologist, music educator, arts administrator, and French Hornist from New Jersey. Allison holds a master's degree in Traditional and World Music from the University of Sheffield, a bachelor's degree in music education, and a bachelor's degree in French Horn, both from Lebanon Valley College. She is also an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota, the National Association for Music Educators, and the International Horn Society. In her previous position as PYP General Music teacher for the Canadian International School of Hefei, China, Allison was responsible for teaching students' general music, chorus, modern band, composition, and bucket drums for students from a variety of unique cultures. Her latest research focused on the representation of Indigenous North American musicians at the GRAMMY Awards during the span of the twenty-first century.
Kellyann Nelson
Director of Development
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KellyAnn Nelson (she/her), Director of Development for DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP), has spent the last two decades engaging both supporters and participants as an artistic, administrative, and educational leader. Embodying diverse roles that have ranged from conductor to fundraiser and educator to entrepreneur, Nelson has a reputation for responding to the needs of each community she serves with creativity and big ideas. With a passion for collaboration and a demand for accessibility, KellyAnn has garnered local and national recognition by building programs that feature responsive organizational structures, compelling experiences, and large bases of both participation and support. Nelson’s career started in the classroom as an educator in choral music (Lakeshore MS/HS, Winton Woods MS/HS, Princeton Day School) and vocal jazz (Western Michigan University) before moving into arts nonprofit leadership roles with Princeton Girlchoir and the Cincinnati Youth Choir. Named as one of Cincinnati’s most impactful women in the arts, KellyAnn then spent a decade as both the Managing Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Boychoir and the Founding Director of the Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC), a ground-breaking community chorus with over 1,200 engaged 21-45 year-old singers. After moving with her family to Washington, DC in 2019, KellyAnn’s work focus shifted fully to fundraising, spending four years as Associate Director of Development at Chorus America and expanding beyond the choral field with roles at The Field School and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. A music educator to her core, she is thrilled to now be an “instrumental” (pun fully intended) part of DCYOP’s team, working to connect with supporters of 600+ young musicians whose lives are changed each week through its programs and special community. While she spends her days crafting engagement strategies, curating mission-aligned donor partnerships, and parenting rockstars Zaiya and Coleman, KellyAnn keeps one foot firmly planted in the artistic world as the conductor of projects for The Choir League’s newest chapter in DC, a member of Berkshire Choral International’s Board of Trustees, and an arts consultant alongside her husband Christopher Eanes (CEO & President of Chorus America). KellyAnn enjoys frequent opportunities to exchange ideas as a guest speaker, presenter, and clinician in forums as diverse as national conferences, the World Choir Games, corporate board rooms, and the TedX stage.
Tim Provost
Program Manager
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Tim Provost is a native of Hyattsville, Maryland and has been teaching music since the age of 16. He has been involved with DCYOP since his time as a student. Tim holds a degree in Music Education from UMBC and has worked with the Baltimore Symphony OrchKids Program, the Bridges Music Program, and Baltimore County Public Schools. As a performer, Tim plays bass throughout the Baltimore/DC area and performs with the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra.
Andrea Erdmann
Board President
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Andrea Erdmann, has served on the Board since 2021. DCYOP initially appealed to her when she enrolled her daughter in music lessons. “I loved the positive energy created by kids from all over DC making music together in one space!” Ms. Erdmann has a career in international economic development, with degrees in Political Science and International Relations from Creighton University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She is a 28-year resident of DC.
Stanley Smith
Vice President
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Michele Riley
Treasurer
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Michele Riley is a CPA and has focused her practice on issues that arise at the intersection of finance and intellectual property, including valuation, damages, compliance and transactions. Michele is an avid supporter of instrumental and choral music in the Greater Washington DC area, and is proud to assist the DCYOP in helping young people make beautiful music.
Seema Ledan
Secretary
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Seema Ledan joined the DCYOP board in 2024 and is a proud mother of two current DCYOP violin students. She has always been amazed at the community built within the DCYOP family and the dedication of the teacher, staff and students. Seema is originally from California but moved to DC in 2006 to attend Howard University for pharmacy school and currently works at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, and exploring the musical events and experiences in the DMV area.
Dr. Robert Blaine
Director
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Dr. Robert Blaine is the President for the University of The Bahamas. He is a nationally-recognized thought leader in the areas of public service, education and music, and is a proud DCYOP alumnus.
Dr. Dennis DeTray
Director
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Dennis deTray joined the DCYOP Board several years ago as a means of pursuing his passion for youth development. He and Mary, his wife of 56 years as of 2023, have two sons and two grandchildren. Dennis is an economist specializing in improving developing countries as a means of making the world a better and safer place. Dennis and Mary have lived in a number of countries, most recently Kazakhstan.
Tunde Kehinde
Director
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Tunde Kehinde is a global business leader with extensive experience in marketing, fundraising, and scaling high-growth companies. He co-founded Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, served as CEO of Lidya, and currently is employed at Kehinde & Company. An alumnus of Howard University and Harvard Business School, Tunde has served on nonprofit boards and is committed to using his expertise to strengthen community impact and support the mission of the DC Youth Orchestra. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, he brings a global perspective and a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion to every initiative.
Andrew Kim
Director
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Jephte Lanthia, ESQ.
Director
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Jephte brings a unique blend of musical knowledge and legal expertise to the Board of Directors. As a former professional musician and elementary school music teacher who transitioned to a legal career, Jephte understands firsthand the transformative power of music education and its ability to open doors to unexpected opportunities. He is currently a partner and co-founder at Basswood Counsel, a boutique law firm specializing in complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate & securities, and international tax structuring. Prior to cofounding Basswood Counsel, Jephte served as Special Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. In that capacity, he advised the Office on various proposed rules and provided recommendations on the impact of the proposed rules on small businesses and their investors, including venture capital funds and emerging fund managers. Jephte’s involvement with DCYOP stems from his own childhood experiences with music. “I always tell people that music has been good to me. Some of the better traits I have developed— tenacity, teamwork, creativity, confidence, and individuality—have been cultivated throughout my career as a musician. I am a better lawyer and colleague (I think) because of my background as a musician. I am a better person overall because of my background as a musician.” As a proud parent to a DCYOP student, the importance of exposure to music and music became even more personal witnessing his son experiencing the joy of music and his growth and development through music. Jephte is proud and honored to serve on the Board and the Governance Committee, as this allows him to have the opportunity to ensure that other children have access to these same transformative experiences, regardless of their families’ financial status. In his free time, Jephte enjoys spending time with his wife, Charmaine, and trying to keep up with their energetic son. The Lanthias enjoy mentoring and community involvement activities. Also, as a former professional jazz musician, Jephte has recently begun playing music again, reconnecting with the art form that has enriched his life in countless ways.
Kimberly Maucher-Lynch
Director
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Kimberly Maucher-Lynch is a leading voice at the intersection of talent, technology and social impact with more than 20 year’s experience in the Life Sciences and Technology sectors. For companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and SAP, she has made a career of spearheading transformative people-oriented strategies across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Born in Connecticut, her family’s ties to the performing arts and the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program inspired a life long passion for fostering talent in music. Kimberly serves on the Board of several organizations advancing Sustainability, Inclusion, the Future of Work and with the DCYOP is honoured to serve on the Strategic Planning and Governance committees.Seema Ledan joined the DCYOP board in 2024 and is a proud mother of two current DCYOP violin students. She has always been amazed at the community built within the DCYOP family and the dedication of the teacher, staff and students. Seema is originally from California but moved to DC in 2006 to attend Howard University for pharmacy school and currently works at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, and exploring the musical events and experiences in the DMV area.
Stanford Oliver
Director
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Stanford Oliver serves on the the Board’s Finance Committee. He is the Founder, President, and CEO of both DigiFlight and Camelot Secure. Stan is passionate about fostering opportunities for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the STEM fields, so he dedicates his time to serve as a board member of the Army Aviation Association of America Scholarship Foundation Inc (AAAASFI) and Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering (AMIE).
Kim Patterson
Director
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Kim Patterson grew up in upper Northwest DC and played bassoon in DCYOP from age 10 through high school. A graduate of Marymount University and American University’s Washington College of Law, Kim currently works for the United Negro College Fund as Director, Corporate & Foundations Relations. She also serves as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (4A05 in Brightwood NW) and is Vice-President of the Brightwood Community Association. Kim says, “DCYOP taught me discipline - practice, practice, practice - and provided me with a respect for and knowledge of classical orchestral music. It was an invaluable education, for which I am forever grateful. I proudly serve as a member of the DCYOP board and look forward to welcoming as many talented students as possible into the encouraging and supportive arms of the DCYOP community.”
Dr. Guericke Christopher Royal
Director
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Dr. Royal is a DCYOP alum and trumpet player.
Education:
Doctor of Musical Arts Trumpet Performance,University of Maryland
Master of Music Howard University
Bachelor of Music Howard UniversityTrumpet Performance
Peabody ConservatoryTrumpet Performance Oberlin Conservatory
Professional Experience:
Associate Professor - Jazz Theory, Jazz Arranging, Music Technology, Coordinator of Jazz Studies with Music Technology Emphasis Howard University
Principal Trumpet Shakespeare Theatre
Trumpet Substitute National Philharmonic
Solo Trumpet National Gallery Orchestra
Freelance theatre and concert performer in DC area, Baltimore, and New York
Award-winning composer and arranger
Rachel Pereira
Debut Orchestra
Josalyn Walker
Concertino
Alyson Wyckoff
Sinfonia
Matthew Paiz
Young Artist Orchestra
Na’Vaughn Martin & Brian Moten
Premiere Winds Ensemble
Keith Kelsey
Wind Ensemble
Amylia Barnett
Repertory Orchestra
Evan Ross Solomon
Principal Conductor, Youth Orchestra
Anthony Asero - Percussion
Erin Baker - Harp
Amylia Barnett - Bassoon
Erika Cuffy - Bassoon, Saxophone
Fabio Danta - Violin, Viola
Asa Dawson - Bass
Ken Giles - Violin
Claire Hebeisen - Violin
Corey Hewitt - Percussion
Keith Kelsey - Flute
Brandon Lewis - Violin, Viola
Jeannette Lewis - Flute
Yuan-Ju Liu - Violin
Liya Ma - Violin
Na’Vaughn Martin - Bassoon
Kevin McKee - Trumpet
Matthew Paiz - Cello
Brookes Pennell - Violin
Rachel Pereira - Cello
Denna Purdie - Cello
Joanna Ramirez - Flute
Heidi Remick - Viola
Lauren Riley - Oboe
Faith Ring - Clarinet
Kristopher Ring - Trombone, Trumpet
YaShauna Swan - Violin, Viola
Quinn Taylor - Cello
Samuel Thompson - Violin
Ian van Nuys - Saxophone
Kaitlyn Walker - Violin, Viola
Josalyn Walker - Violin
Alyson Wyckoff - Violin, Viola
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Become a Member of Our Board
Serving this organization on the Board is rewarding, offers growth as a leader, and expands your professional and personal networks. You will get to witness firsthand the powerful influence of music on young people.
From beginners picking up an instrument for the first time, to students graduating and enrolling in top tier music schools for college, the energy, talent, spirit, and community among these students is inspiring.
We are currently recruiting individuals who are passionate about our mission to join our Board of Directors. If you are interested, see the job description here and please fill out the interest form below and someone from our team will reach out to you to follow up.
Meet Some of Our Students
At DCYOP, every youth has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and play in a high quality orchestra. Our students come from more than 200 public, public charter, and private schools and a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
This double bass player credits DCYOP’s Talent Development Program for his success in earning a full music scholarship to University of Maryland.
Avril journey to DCYOP’s Youth Orchestra reveals the importance of music and community in her growth as a musician and leader.
Kalman shares the power of music in his own life and how DCYOP and the friendships he forged here were vital in his journey to Harvard and the New England conservatory.
A Few Notable DCYOP Alumni
Chloe Arnold
Emmy-nominated choreographer, actress, director, and dancer. Founder & Choreographer, Syncopated Ladies.
Toyin Spellman-Diaz
Oboist, Imani Winds
Daniel Foster
Violist, National Symphony Orchestra