Daniel Kellogg steps into the leadership role of Young Concert Artists with the unique perspective of an alumnus of Young Concert Artists, one of the extraordinary musicians whose careers were discovered and launched to prominence by this innovative non-profit organization. He is excited to help sustain the legacy of Young Concert Artists and to forge new paths to nurture the next generation of concert soloists and artistic leaders.

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Deborah-Rose Andrews is thrilled to be returning to classical music as the Office Manager and Assistant to the President at Young Concert Artists. She previously worked in the Office of the Provost at Pace University, and had a substantial career at Opus 3 Artists. During her tenure at Opus 3, Deborah-Rose managed internationally-acclaimed artists as well as the artist services department, and had the pleasure of working with numerous YCA alumni including Emanuel Ax.

Deborah-Rose holds a dual degree in Music Performance (flute) and Music Business from Hofstra University. She is also an avid tennis umpire, serving as Chair Umpire and Referee at numerous tournaments in the Tri-State area.

Driven by her deep love of classical music, Christina Baker considers it a great joy and a personal mission to apply her considerable knowledge and experience to promote and mentor emerging classical artists in navigating their careers. Christina’s expertise in the classical music business is informed by over 20 years of artist management experience. She has been responsible for negotiating and securing engagements for many of the world’s leading orchestras and ensembles, classical soloists and vocalists, dance companies, and other major artists and high-profile attractions. Throughout her career, Christina has built relationships with orchestra management, performing arts centers, and festivals throughout the world.

Trained as a classical flutist, Christina holds an MFA in flute performance from Purchase College, State University of New York. She followed her passion for the performing arts in her work at Columbia Artists Management, Inc. and ICM Artists, providing adept arts administration, strategic booking and relationship building for numerous artists. As President of Baker Artists, LLC from 2013-2017 she build and nurtured a prestigious roster of instrumentalists and ensembles including Javier Perianes, Christina and Michelle Naughton, Vadym Kholodenko, David Krakauer, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Attacca Quartet, and The Westerlies.

Prior to joining Young Concert Artists, Christina most recently held the position of Manager of Artists & Attractions at Opus 3 Artists and signed and advanced the careers of such emerging artists as Blake Pouliot, Steve Hackman, and Oliver Herbert.

Drake Driscoll is a passionate arts administrator in the field of education and community engagement and has established herself as a versatile performer and advocate for social change through music. She is the Executive Director and Co-founder of The VISION Collective, an ensemble dedicated to building meaningful relationships with and among refugees and new Americans by sharing music between diverse communities. Drake is also a member of the United Nations Chamber Music Society and was a Gluck Community Service fellow at The Juilliard School. Prior to YCA, Drake worked as the Coordinator for the Learning and Engagement Programs team at Carnegie Hall and taught an Arts and Community Engagement seminar at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Drake was a member of the 2020-2021 Global Leaders Program cohort, receiving an Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Teaching Artistry, and Civic Leadership. She received a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from The Juilliard School where she was the recipient of the 2020 Entrepreneurship Grant, the Norman Benzaquen Career Advancement Grant, and the Robert Sherman Award for Music Education and Community Outreach. Outside of work, Drake enjoys traveling, running, and exploring NYC’s restaurant scene.

Maya Fortune is an arts administrator, professional musician, and dancer interested in the production and business processes in the artistic and creative industries. She graduated from McGill University with a B.A in Music, Social Entrepreneurship, and Medieval Studies. 

As a classically trained violinist, Maya has experience performing traditional, modern, and pop music in the United States and Canada. Maya is a focused and creative individual with years of experience in social media and marketing, administrative activities, and production. 

Sarah Graham is thrilled to return to Young Concert Artists as Chief Development Officer, bringing with her more than 15 years of fundraising experience and a passion for the arts and mission-driven work.

She most recently served as Director of Foundation and Government Relations at New York City Ballet, where she oversaw a diverse portfolio of annual funders, led NYCB’s government relations and advocacy efforts, stewarded major capital projects for the company’s theater at Lincoln Center, and served as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion taskforce. Prior to her role at NYCB, she was Director of Development for YCA, which instilled in her a great love and respect for the organization, the artists it serves, and its unique mission. She began her career at Carnegie Hall, where she managed foundation grants for the Hall’s artistic and educational programming, including initial funding for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Sarah studied ballet and modern dance from an early age, and developed her love of music studies and singing throughout middle and high school at City Honors School in Buffalo, NY. She earned a B.A. in American Studies from Yale, where she was a member and Business Manager of The New Blue (Yale’s first women’s a cappella group), and a dancer and choreographer with Yaledancers. She has performed with and served on the Board of the chamber choir Cantori New York, and was a founding Board member of the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance. Outside of work, she enjoys life in the city, food and wine, skiing, and hiking.

Erol Gurol started working for YCA in 2011 in the artist management department before moving to his current role in auditions and YCA presentations in 2015. Originally from southern California, Erol moved to New York City in 2005 to pursue Masters degrees in Music Composition and Theory from Mannes College, The New School for Music. He grew up studying classical piano, considers himself an expert when it comes to freshwater aquariums, and enjoys riding his bike.

Michael “Mic” Herring serves YCA as Senior Director of Booking & Operations. In addition to co-managing YCA’s incredible roster of artists, he is also responsible for the oversight of YCA’s booking function, artist servicing function, and the development and oversight of YCA’s flagship artist training program (The 21st Century Artist Incubator).

In previous roles with renowned management firms such as Kirshbaum Associates and Alliance Artist Management Mic has been privileged to work with a plethora of inspiring artists and ensembles including The Tallis Scholars, Jordi Savall, as well as the American Brass Quintet, the Danish String Quartet, Midori, and the Junction Trio. He has also been lucky enough to work with a number of former YCA artists including mezzo soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and cellist Zlatomir Fung.

Alongside his work as an artist manager, Mic served as the Managing Director of The Dessoff Choirs from 2016-2022. Highlights of his work with Dessoff include a special performance of Mozart’s Requiem, at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, as well as the first ever recording of Margaret Bond’s The Ballad of the Brown King on the AVIE Records label.

A graduate of DePaul University, Mic holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. In 2018 he teamed up with violinist Janet Sung to co-found Chamber Music Chicago, a non-profit chamber music concert series in residence at the Holtschneider Performance Center.

Mic has previously held posts with the Marlboro Music as Manager of the Musicians from Marlboro, as well as Young Concert Artists as Operations Manager. He holds a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University where his research was focused on how non-profit arts organizations can be a catalyst for change within their communities.

Hanyi Meng joined YCA in 2019. Her role in the Development team includes fundraising, donor relations and communication, and event management. Before joining YCA, she worked in marketing at Steinway & Sons, New York, and served as an adjunct piano instructor at New York University. As a Chinese-born pianist, she is open-minded and curious about cultural diversity. She also volunteers at the French American Piano Society as Development Director and collaborates with artists all over the world. Outside of her work, she loves spending time wandering in the city and pursuing her passion as a “professional foodie” (Quote as she insists.)

Kendall Redmon is a New York based multimedia artist with ever changing inspiration and intent. Most recently focused on fashion design and creation through sustainable sources, Kendall recently launched his clothing line, Black Sparroe, in hopes to make 100% recycled wearable art. Rooted in graphic design, typesetting, painting, sculpture, and video, Kendall comes to YCA with vast knowledge of all things creative.

Daniel Scoggins is a cellist, grant-writer and development assistant who joined the YCA team in 2022, and has had a lifelong interest in helping make the classical music world run. Prior to joining YCA, Daniel worked remotely as an Artistic Planning Intern with the National Orchestral Institute while completing his master’s degree in cello performance at the Manhattan School of Music, and has for years written grant applications for classical music nonprofits around the country.

In addition to his work with Young Concert Artists, Daniel is an active cellist and passionate teacher in New York City. In the summer of 2022, Daniel served as an orchestral teaching fellow at the Pacific Music Institute in Honolulu, HI, teaching and performing alongside members of the MET Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, and National Symphony, where he helped to lead outreach days to rural Molokai and Oahu, providing free lessons and concerts for the community. Daniel received a bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin Conservatory which sparked a love for contemporary chamber music, and he can often be found listening to strange string quartets. In his free time, Daniel enjoys running, cheering on the Portland Timbers, and trying to make a perfect cup of coffee.

Ari Silverman joined Young Concert Artists as the Programs & Auditions Assistant in 2022. His work at YCA includes ticketing, concert production, and a variety of other tasks relating to programming and YCA auditions. A born and raised New Yorker, Ari is pursuing his Bachelor of Music in Music Business & Jazz Percussion from NYU Steinhardt, a premier program in the field. He also studied Jazz Drum Set Performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston while in high school. Ari continues to drum at sessions and gigs around New York City, spanning a wide repertoire of genres. While he is a trained jazz musician, Ari developed a deep love for classical music at a young age by going to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform at Tanglewood every summer since he was a child. He eventually ended up working there in the Berkshires for three summers as an Artist & Patron Services Associate. Ari has also worked in the luxury hospitality industry prior to joining YCA. Outside of music, Ari has a passion for travel, aviation, theater, and supply-chain logistics, among many other interests. 

Michelle Shim joined the Young Concert Artists Development team in 2015, and currently serves as Senior Development Manager.  Shortly after earning degrees in music education and clarinet performance, she began her work in the nonprofit arts sector as way to help students and young musicians of all backgrounds beyond the classroom.  As a fitness enthusiast, Michelle enjoys healthy eats and challenging workouts, but also loves baking (and eating) desserts of all kinds.

Andrew Sprague joined the YCA team as Operations Manager in the fall of 2023. Prior to joining YCA, he held positions with the Steans Music Institute at the Ravinia Festival, Chicago Summer Opera, Opera Ithaca Community Ambassadors, and the Music Conservatory of Illinois. Andrew received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Business Administration in 2020 from Ithaca College. In 2023, Andrew graduated from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music with his Master’s in Voice & Opera, and continues to sing in the New York area.

John Stolen is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with a life-long passion for music. Prior to joining YCA in 2023 John led marketing efforts at Harlem School of the Arts and the New York Youth Symphony where he implemented a successful data-informed marketing programs that drove audience growth & engagement, as well as worked on the NYYS Orchestra’s GRAMMY Award winning debut album. Before transitioning to the arts non-profit sector John worked at publishing houses including Conde Nast and Bloomsbury where he launched social media channels and drafted global social media policy and strategy. John holds a BA in vocal performance from Bard College, and is a singing member of the Dessoff Choirs, where he also serves on the board of directors as its marketing chair. John has a penchant for personal style and has styled clients from finance executives to TONY-nominated composers. He currently lives in Queens with his dog, Karl.

Emily Whildin wears many hats at YCA, currently serving as Program Director of the YCA Career Catalyst as well as Associate Artist Manager. Emily grew up in a musical family in eastern PA and pursued degrees in musicology and trumpet performance. Outside of YCA, you can find Emily biking to NYC breweries, playing trivia, and loudly singing all the extra-melodic parts to songs.