AYWS Foundation BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony (AYWS) Foundation was established in 2009 to serve as the fundraising vehicle for AYWS, providing for both current needs and cultivating an endowment in perpetuity. Through the founding leadership of Larry Sykora, the Foundation is engaged in development work through family and corporate sponsors, grants, and private donors.
The Foundation:
Has provided music commission funding, supplies, reception goods, instruments, personnel fees, printing and publishing, and student scholarships in its tenure
Is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Exists to support the work of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony through direct funding, in-kind giving, gifts of service, fundraising and operational support
Is comprised of volunteer Board Members who serve terms of two years
Board of Directors
The AYWS Foundation is comprised of volunteer board members who serve terms of two years. Profiles of the members, many of whom are AYWS alumni, are listed below.
If you are interested in joining, please email the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony Foundation Board.
President
Chuck Musholt is an educator, coach and musician. He has worked in public and private schools teaching music and develops parenting tools drawing on positive psychology. He attended Indiana University for a Bachelors in Music Education and holds a Masters in Music Performance from the University of New Mexico.
treasurer
Danielle Conti is a Senior Investment Analyst in the Wealth Division of Truist Bank. She received her BA in Banking & Finance from the University of Georgia where she played the clarinet, and is an AYWS alumnus.
secretary
Will Pitts is a composer, conductor, and arranger from Atlanta. He is active as a music designer, adjudicator, and instructor for high school band programs throughout the country. As a music educator, Pitts currently serves on the faculty of The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, specializing in instrumental music, conducting, and music theory.
MEMBER
Jonathan Craig is an Emory University JD/TI:GER candidate and UIUC MEng candidate. He holds an MBA in finance from the University of Nebraska and a B.Mus. from Duquesne University. He is an AYWS alum.
Member
John Larkin is currently a Principal Engineer for CommScope in Suwanee. His son is a graduate of Stanford University who played trumpet in AYWS from 2009-2013, and his daughter is a B.M.Ed. graduate of Florida State who played clarinet as an alternate in AYWS.
member
Yuping Luo is a principal scientist at the Atlanta R&D center of Kemira Chemicals, where she leads the new product development across the Kemira polymer portfolio. Her son is a graduate of University of Philadelphia who played clarinet in AYWS from 2014-2018 during his high school years.
Member
Joshua Pynn was a member of the AYWS for 3 seasons, from 2012-2015, and pursued a degree in music performance at Emory University where he graduated in May of 2019. He currently works as a consultant for CMSPI, a payments consultancy based in Atlanta, GA.
Member
John Spinrad is a partner at the law firm of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, where he leads the Environmental and Natural Resrces Practice. John earned a BA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a JD from Duke University School of Law. John was an avid amateur pianist in his youth. His son was a bass clarinet player in AYWS from 2017-2021.
MEMBER
Emily Ward is a Partner in the Litigation Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP who specializes in white collar investigations and defense. She received her BA in Music from the University of Miami where she played oboe and is an AYWS alum.
Member
Karen Zgonc is the Director of Ztunes Music in Atlanta and Decatur, GA. She has a BM in Music Performance (Flute) and has performed and taught throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Before founding Ztunes, she worked in the non-profit and for-profit sectors in Marketing and Communications.
