MEET OUR TEAM
John founded the World Music Foundation after seeing first-hand the difference that Music can make in people’s lives. After several years of running his own business, he decided to commit his resources and experience to filling the void of lacking musical diversity in communities around the world. John firmly believes (and research continues to prove) that there are tremendous benefits to learning and experiencing any music, but the largest gains come from listening to and learning about music from outside of your own culture. He holds as a guiding principle that the effect of opening a mind through cultural music has the potential to ripple throughout an entire society.
Erika is a multipotentialite that has worked in the Arts both on-stage, as a soulful singer, and administratively, at the Ravinia Festival and the Chicago Sinfonietta. With a degree in Nonprofit Management and years of experience, we are thankful to have her chair our board.
Prateek earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Finance and a PhD from University of Illinois; he also holds multiple patents and publications. His experience gained from academic research, consulting start-ups and direct management roles has made him valuable in creating strategy and developing processes leading to revenue generation as well as cost reduction.
With a Master’s in Social Work, a Bachelor’s in Psychology & a Doctorate in life, Christi knows how to help people. When she’s not spreading the word about The WMF, she provides licensed clinical therapy for veterans and is an adjunct professor of Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University.
Vijay is passionate about having discipline, a dream, an objective and following your heart. He believes in helping underserved kids and has worked alongside Lions Club International (India) helping the underprivileged. In his daily work at a global bank, he works to unravel the threads of opportunities and challenges that string organizations together. As a family man, he spends a lot of time with his kids and also loves to play with his golden retriever.
As someone who experienced the life changing effects of our programs while he was in high school, Alex Farro embodies our mission. Since hearing Indian Classical music for the first time through The World Music Foundation, he has committed himself to the study of tabla, is translating this learning to drum set and has now traveled to India.
A graduate from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Contemporary, Urban, Pop Music, Eritrea understands the power of music to change lives. As a part of the Production Team for the World Music Foundation Podcast and as a team member at Harmony, Hope, and Healing, she continues to dedicate herself to making the world a better place by applying her many talents towards charitable missions.
Fluent in 4 languages and conversant in 3 others, Garrett is how we’ve been able to bring programs to Sweden & Denmark and many other places.