Executive Team Members

Joy Liang is a 9th-grade student at Thomas S. Wootton High School with a passion for music, performing arts, and leadership. She has studied classical piano with Dr. Svetlana Volkova since age four and has received recognition in county and state competitions, including the Maryland Spring Solo Festival, Miriam S. Gottlieb Memorial Competition, and Charlotte Nachman Junior Piano Competition.

Joy has performed with the MCPS Honors Chorus, Maryland All-State Chorus, and Strathmore Children’s Chorus, and currently sings with Wootton’s award-winning a cappella group, Acatonics. She has also appeared in several musical theater productions and trained in ballet at Metropolitan Ballet Theatre.

Outside the arts, Joy is a competitive swimmer with Rockville Montgomery Swim Club, training six to seven days a week. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, she looks forward to collaborating with peers and building community through music.

Logan Liu is a young aspiring musician from Gaithersburg, Maryland currently attending Diamond Elementary. His love affair with music was evident very early on, as he took great interest in baroque and romantic period music as a toddler. The sounds of string instruments in particular are his muses.

Logan is a two time first prize winner of the Charleston International Music competitions for cello and guitar solos. He is also a two time first place winner of the MSMTA/ASTA Spring Solo Festival for both the cello and guitar categories.

Logan has served as the principal cellist for the Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra Chamber String ensemble group and will continue to do so in the coming years. As a weekly volunteer, Logan plays music at hospitals,retirement homes and community centers in supported housing facilities on the weekends. When he’s not playing music, Logan likes swimming, hockey and he loves reading ancient Greek and Roman mythology and Sci-fi fictions for kids.

Tyler Liu is a 7th-grade student at Kilmer Middle School. He has studied piano for six years and also plays violin. Tyler loves music for the joy it brings and enjoys sharing that joy with others through performance.

He has received awards in both piano and violin competitions, including two first-place awards in the MSMTA Piano Solo Festival, recognition in the 2025 American Protégé International Competition, and First Prize in the 2026 Charleston International Music Competition. Tyler looks forward to continuing to grow as a musician and sharing music with his community.

Nora is an 8th grader at Cabin John Middle School. She started playing piano from age 4 and a half and is currently studying piano with Dr. Dmitri Nazarenko.

Nora has won multiple competitions such as the Viola Hartman Performance Awards, the MSMTA Gottlieb Memorial Competition, the MSMTA Gertrude S. Brown Piano Concerto Competition, and the Spring Festival Piano Solo Competition.

Besides playing piano, Nora finds joy in reading a variety of books, drawing, and swimming. She also enjoys taking care of her cat and hiking with her family.

Faratimi Olufon is a 13-year-old pianist and singer who also has experience with trumpet and percussion. He began studying piano in Nigeria before moving to the United States and has continued his musical training for several years at the International School of Music.

Faratimi has performed in concerts through the International School of Music, sung at MusicAid events, and participated in musical theater productions. Through his involvement with MusicAid, he has developed a strong appreciation for sharing music with the community.

Faratimi is excited to be part of the MusicAid team and looks forward to contributing through his musical experience, enthusiasm, and willingness to take on new roles. He is grateful to his family, teachers, and friends for their continued support and encouragement.

James Post is a freshman at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. He began playing violin at age three and currently studies with Ying Fu, Associate Concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra. At eleven, James made his orchestral debut as a soloist with the Amadeus Orchestra. He has won first-place prizes as both a soloist and chamber musician, plays first violin in the D.C. Youth Orchestra, and previously served as concertmaster of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra’s String Ensemble.

James has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the National Cathedral, the National Gallery of Art, and Seiji Ozawa Hall. In summer 2026, he attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, following previous programs at Center Stage Strings, Sphinx Performance Academy, and the Heifetz International Music Institute.

Beyond violin, James plays piano, composes music, and enjoys reading, tennis, and chess.

Leeann Sun is a freshman at Thomas S. Wootton High School and a violinist since 7 years old. She was the concertmaster of the  Robert Frost Middle School Orchestra, has been in MCYO and MMEA All State for several years, and is currently second violin principal the Thomas Wootton High School chamber orchestra. Other than violin, Leeann has also enjoys playing club volleyball, swimming, ice skating, and other sports and activities.

Leeann loves being connected with her community and actively stays engaged through musical volunteering like at MusicAid. She hopes to strengthen MusicAid’s connecton with the elderly and is excited to be a part of MusicAid’s mission to make a positive impact through music.

Izzy Teshome (Isabella) is a young and passionate musician who began her musical journey at the age of 7, when she was in second grade. Her brother, Joel, provided her with private piano lessons, and she further advanced her skills through self-study using YouTube tutorials.

At age 9, in fourth grade, Izzy started playing the violin through her school’s instrument class and has continued to develop her violin skills ever since.

Music has given Izzy the opportunity to bring joy to others by performing for senior citizens at local Senior Living Homes, an experience that provides her with great personal satisfaction.

She plans to continue learning and playing instruments throughout her school years, aiming to graduate from high school with strong musical proficiency.

Divya Umamahesh is a rising seventh grader at Robert Frost Middle School and a dedicated pianist and vocalist. She has completed Level 6 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program with First Class Honors.

Divya has earned recognition at the international, national, and regional levels, including being named a 2026 National Winner in the National Piano Guild Competition, Third Place in the 2026 American Youth Talent International Music Competition, and Third Place in the 2026 NATS Regional Auditions for Voice. She has also received multiple Star Awards in Voice, First Place in the Gillock Contest, and multiple CMTA awards.

Beyond music, Divya is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo who has medaled in local and state tournaments and serves as an assistant instructor for younger students.

In her free time, Divya enjoys composing and arranging music, exploring different musical genres, reading, watching anime, and listening to musicals.