Board of directors

Sylvia Jiang is a young concert pianist from New Zealand and serves as Artistic Director and co-founder of non-profit organization Muffin Music Inc.. Hailed by critics as a ‘gifted young pianist of genuine substance’ and ‘New Zealand’s most notable young emerging pianist,’ Sylvia has been featured on BBC News, The Washington Post, ABC Australia, Radio New Zealand Concert, and other notable news networks and publications. Sylvia has performed as a soloist with numerous internationally renowned Orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, Queensland Symphony, Music Academy of the West, and Juilliard Chamber Orchestras. Solo performance highlights include Alice Tully Hall in New York City, Auckland Town Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Sylvia has served as Artistic Director for multiple arts organizations and events, with a focus on her interest in multi-disciplinary collaborative work. She was invited to be a featured soloist in The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Miami City Ballet. Over the years, she has won numerous top prizes at national and international level competitions including the prestigious Lev Vlassenko, Kerikeri, Music Academy of the West, and Hastings International Piano Competitions. She most recently graduated as the sole Artist Diploma Candidate at Johns Hopkins University.

Learn more about Sylvia here

Davis Reinhart is a composer from Buellton, CA, and is the co-founder and President of the non-profit organization, Muffin Music Inc.. Davis is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance, in music composition and performing arts management and entrepreneurship. He writes for a wide array of compositional styles, including videogames, film, theater, as well as for orchestras, chamber ensembles and big band. 

In 2021, Davis was commissioned to write, record, and produce an original composition for the City of Buellton, thanks to a generous grant provided by the Buellton Arts and Culture Committee and the Buellton City Council. Davis’s other recent projects include composing music for the film Trailhead, by Justin Rubin, as well as music for Yale Climate Connections filmmaker, Peter Sinclair. Davis has written for the professional contemporary music ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, as well as the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble, and Brain Pocket Trio. 

As a music educator, he has been an instructor for Michigan Artist Citizen, a program that offers free piano lessons to low income families in Ann Arbor and Detroit, as well as teaches supplemental music workshops in schools through Children's Creative Project, a Santa Barbara based nonprofit. Davis currently resides in Los Angeles and is on faculty of the Arabesque Conservatory teaching piano, trumpet, and music therapy.

Learn more about Davis here

Zane St. Andre Jackson is a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and teacher from Santa Barbara, CA. He is a recent graduate of UCLA with a BA in Global Jazz Studies, where he was fortunate to receive mentorship from many renowned jazz musicians including Terence Blanchard, Arturo O’ Farrill, and Mark Turner. He also has experience mentoring others, from private lessons with kids and adults to guest teaching the Santa Ynez Valley Jazz Band and volunteering as a tutor for the Cuesta College Jazz Camp. Now launching his career as a professional saxophonist based in Los Angeles, Zane is excited to be recording his first album, set to be released in 2025. 

In addition to performing and recording music, he is now the Program Coordinator for The Jazz Bakery, a Los Angeles non-profit whose mission is to present the greatest jazz in the world to an LA audience at an affordable price. Zane hopes his work at The Jazz Bakery will help cultivate a younger audience for jazz and keep the music he loves alive and well for generations to come.

 Marv Newton, a proud Iowa native, found his calling in California after serving in the Air Force from 1964 to 1968 during the Vietnam War. He has dedicated over 54 years to entrepreneurship in the Santa Ynez Valley—first in the flooring and window covering industry and now as a leader in decorative lighting fixture manufacturing. His impressive portfolio includes projects for renowned casinos, restaurants, and stunning homes. A charter member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church since 1978, Marv has actively contributed in various leadership roles, embodying community spirit and service.

  Manuela Flores is a multidisciplinary artist from Solvang, California. Her specialties include singing, dancing, acting, and a bit of creative writing. Manuela has trained in the styles of ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Scripps College in Psychology and Chicano Latino Studies. Outside of school, she participates in latin and ballroom dance, as well as tutoring programs. Manuela intends to apply her artistry and knowledge of psychology to provide services that promote wellness and self-expression. 

Jeff McKinnon is a dynamic teacher, actor, and writer with 25 years of experience in Santa Barbara County, including 23 years at Santa Ynez High School, where he founded the SYVHS Theatre Group. Prior to teaching, he showcased his talent in regional theaters across the Midwest, West Coast, and Europe. Now residing in Solvang, California, he enjoys life with his wife, Carey, and their beloved cat, Charlie.

Jeff Reck recently retired after an inspiring 41-year career as an English teacher at Santa Ynez Valley High School, where he served as English Chair for 20 years and coached basketball for 17 years. He passionately led students on transformative trips to destinations like London, Paris, and Morocco, fostering a love for culture and adventure. Now enjoying retirement with his wife, JoAnn, Jeff cherishes family time with their two adult kids and their newly born grandchild.

A native of Kosovo, distinguished pianist Adea Badivuku has performed in major concert halls throughout Europe, the Balkans, and the United States, including at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Born in Vushtrri, she is the first pianist from her country to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from an R1 institution in the United States, completing her studies at the

University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), where she served as a graduate teaching assistant to Dr. James Winn.

A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, Badivuku is the founder and director of the Shadows Contemporary Art Festival in both Kosovo and Reno, co-founder and pianist of the ADEDUO ensemble, and former president of the UNR Collegiate Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Her leadership in curating interdisciplinary performances and expanding platforms for young artists has made a lasting impact on the cultural scenes of both

communities. 

Badivuku earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Prishtina and her Master of Music degree from Central Michigan University. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including First Prize at the 2021 New York International Piano Competition. In 2024, she was recognized as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano by MTNA and received the prestigious Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award for her contributions to music education.

Named UNR’s Most Outstanding International Graduate Student for 2022–2023, she has been a recipient of the Loretta Beckman-Carr Piano Scholarship, Margaret Ryan Sampson Award, and

full-tuition support throughout her graduate studies. She has also performed in master classes for renowned pianists such as Alfred Brendel, Giovanni Bellucci, Derek Han, David Rosenboom, and Jon Nakamatsu. Badivuku currently serves on the piano faculty at Cuesta College and Allan Hancock College in

California.