Music has the power to inspire, transform, and heal

Cynthia Chirillo

Vice President/Secretary

A graduate of Duquense University, Cindy has spent 39 years as a community pharmacist, holding managerial/team leader positions. Through these years, she also served on Montomery School’s Community Association, MSCA, holding many officer positions, including president. Cindy was an involved member of the Villa Maria Academy High School music department’s St. Cecilian’s Group. As a former dancer, proud mom of two musicians, and a health care professional, Cindy embraces Plato’s belief that “Music is the medicine of the soul.” She is eager to be able to bring this inspiration to our community through her work with Music Angels as their vice president/secretary.

Saradha Sriram

Director Of Operations

Saradha Sriram is a seasoned Business Technology Strategist with a rich professional background in leading digital and data transformation initiatives, IT M&A integration, and global business change management. With over 20 years of experience, she has successfully driven strategic technology projects and built high-performance teams across various industries. Beyond her professional achievements, Saradha has a deep-rooted passion for music, nurtured by her family's strong involvement in promoting classical music in South India. This musical heritage has profoundly influenced her life, and her sons have learned string instruments, continuing the family tradition. Given her family's background and long-standing association with multiple music organizations, Saradha finds the mission of Music Angels particularly meaningful. As the organization's Chief Operating Officer, she is committed to giving back to society by fostering a musical appreciation and support culture. Through her leadership at Music Angels, Saradha aims to inspire and empower the next generation of musicians, ensuring that the love for music continues to flourish and enrich communities.

Jennifer Jie Jin

Director of Services

Jennifer Jie Jin (cello) has performed in music capitals in North America, Europe and Asia. She has played with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Boston Symphony, Houston Symphony, New World Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia,Orchestra 2001, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Princeton Symphony,Philly Pops and has been invited to U.S. music festivals including Aspen, Tanglewood, Ravinia, National Repertory Orchestra, Taos as well as international festivals in Europe. An active chamber musician, she is the founder of the Tang-gu-la String Quartet, which toured worldwide and received numerous honors, winning Second Prize in the First National String Quartet Competition. Shortly after that award, the quartet appeared in Isaac Stern’s Oscar-winning documentary “From Mao to Mozart” and performed for President Bill Clinton. Currently, she is the cellist of Pyxis Piano Trio, Copeland String Quartet , member of Delaware Symphony and Principal Cello of Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. She was a member of Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra and Principal Cello of Bay Atlantic Symphony. Passionate about music education, Ms. Jin is the Co-Director of Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra and Chamber Strings Music Camp. She received the Ovation Award for inspiration and outstanding leadership in music education presented by Philadelphia Youth Orchestra in 2016. Ms. Jin is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Rice University and Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Mildred Slifer Sr.

Chief Financial Officer

Mrs. Slifer has spent most of the last twenty-five years volunteering for different organizations and holding several jobs within these organizations. Her main focus is usually within the realm of education and/or music. Mrs. Slifer volunteered as a teacher, for a homeschooling co-op. She taught first and fourth grades for science and math. She also helped start and maintain a children’s choir. While Mrs. Slifer’s daughter was enrolled at Villa Maria Academy High School, she volunteered her time as a member of the St.Cecilian’s Mom’s group to the music department and was the Parent Associations President. The duties there included a lot of social planning like the Back to School Social but also included being the co-chair of the school’s major fundraiser. Recently Mrs. Slifer has devoted a lot of time to her local church. Volunteering her organ playing and singing in the parish choir. She also is a co-chair in the parish’s main fundraiser which is the Parish Ad book. Mrs. Slifer also volunteers her time to the Association of Church Musicians in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a deanery representative. Mrs. Slifer has been playing organ for Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (last three years)and is acting as a sub at several other churches. She is currently furthering her education in organ by studying with Ralph Purri of St Mary Magadeline Parish. Mrs. Slifer is very excited to be a member of the Music Angels. She will be acting as the Chief Financial Officer and is also very excited to be involved in fundraising and planning. She believes very strongly that Music is a healing factor for Alzheimer’s patients, Dementia patients, elderly, sick, shut ins, people without family people that are diagnosed as Autistic or Down Syndrome, etc. She can not believe how blessed she is to be working with such a talented group.

Millie Slifer Jr.

Collegiate Student Leader

Millie Slifer (Jr.) has just completed her Bachelors of Science in Biology with a Music Performance Minor in violin this past May. She will be continuing on in her education to acquire her Bachelors of Science in Nursing with the end goal of attending a Nurse Practitioner Program. While accomplishing her school career, Millie is the Director's Assistant at Penn Youth Orchestra since 2019 and before that was a member herself in the orchestra. Her main occupation while attending school is an assistant swim coach at ACAC West Chester, working with groups of all ages learning how to swim and compete as competitive swimmers. Her love for swimming has fostered her love of coaching and she wishes to give back to the community that encouraged her to pursue her dreams and enjoy continuing her favorite sport, now in a leadership role. Millie has been playing the violin for 14 years doing a mix of competitions in highschool and performing in her University’s Symphony (WCUSO) having the honor of playing in both violin sections. She has taken up learning the viola and has played the piano for many years. In Highschool she was president of string ensemble, and her senior year was concertmaster of the orchestra and was Tri-M president at Villa Maria Academy High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Tied with Millie’s passion with music, her passion for outreach and volunteering. In highschool through Tri-M she spent many trips visiting with Camillia Hall residents (a retirement home for IHM Sisters) playing music for them and talking with them about music. Through these experiences she learned of her love to help people. Last year Millie worked as a care manager in a dementia unit and spent afternoons during her breaks playing music over the radio or helping facilitate having students play for the residents. Millie is very excited to have the opportunity to work with Music Angels. Millie is a collegiate student-leader. As student-leaders, students work along side the board to help with musical fundraisers and outreach to potential future places to volunteer to play music to enrich the community. In Music Angels Millie is excited to give back and to help enrich our community with music and is very excited to be a part of this group!

Emily Byrnes

Musical Therapist

Emily Byrnes is a Board-Certified Music Therapist who graduated from Temple University in 2017. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music with a degree in Music Therapy. Emily has worked as a music therapist with many different populations for 7 years, but music has always been a part of her life. Emily plays the guitar, piano and ukulele, but her favorite instrument is voice. She plays in open mics and has been a part of musical theater productions. Emily’s inspiration for becoming a music therapist came from working with her younger brother who is on the autism spectrum. Music was his first language and Emily enjoyed making music with him while they were both growing up.

Angela Falco

Music Therapy apprentice

Composer, Pianist, Flutist, Music Therapist, Music Instructor, Adjunct Professor at Rosemont College, and Author. Bachelor of Music Performance and Music Education Degrees from Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts (PCPA), now known as University of the Arts. Performed for President Clinton and in the two-time Grammy-awarded documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Masters Degree in Music Therapy and Special Education Certification from Immaculata University Studied Improvisation and Music Therapy at NYU. Certified in the internationally recognized Music Together childhood music and movement program. Currently writing a book on music therapy for special needs children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. This book will contain two companion discs featuring Angela's original compositions intended to share the healing power of music. From New York to California, Angela has performed, composed, and spoken as a keynote speaker for music and music therapy events at hospitals and universities.

Ava Figliuzzi

Violinist and Violist

Ava Figliuzzi is a Minnesota native currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In recent performances, she has appeared with Galatea Chamber Music and the Virginia, Williamsburg, and Palm Beach Symphonies. She enjoys sharing her love of classical music through teaching and community outreach. Figliuzzi completed her master’s degree with Carol Cole at the Lynn Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, and her undergraduate work with Bayla Keyes at Boston University.

Mia Venezia

Harpist

Philadelphia-based harpist Mia Venezia is an accomplished performer, having collaborated with esteemed ensembles including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Nashville Opera, and New World Symphony. Currently, Ms. Venezia serves as the principal harpist with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. Her impressive solo credits include performances with the St. Augustine Music Festival and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, and she is a two-time winner of the Pittsburgh Chamber Society Chamber Division. Ms. Venezia currently tours with flutist Aimee Toner as a Lyric Music Society Artist. She earned her Master of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music as an Irving Gilmore Fellow, studying under the tutelage of June Han. Additionally, she received degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Northwestern University, graduating both institutes with distinguished honors. Passionate about sharing her love of music, Mia maintains a teaching studio where she strives to inspire and cultivate an appreciation for the harp.

Gareth Haynes

Pianist and Organist

Conductor, Composer, Pianist and Organist Gareth Haynes graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in classical composition in May of 2018, studying under Professor Jan Krzywicki and Dr. Cynthia Folio. Beginning in November of 2023, he is the Organist and Music Director at St. Matthew’s Parish in Conshohocken, where he is building a new music program. Mr. Haynes’s performance experience includes the full range of brass and woodwinds, as well as piano, organ, harpsichord, and voice. As a teenager, he studied clarinet with Will Amsel and Gi Lee, and played with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. While in college, Mr. Haynes sang tenor with the University Concert Choir and Graduate Conductors’ Chorus, served as a staff singer at the Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany in Center City Philadelphia, and played sackbut with the Temple Early Music Ensemble. As a student, Mr. Haynes won two composition competitions hosted by the Network for New Music. Mr. Haynes currently directs the intermediate division of the Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra, a strings program based in Malvern. As a conductor, he has had opportunities to study with Maestro Miguel Romea, Dr. James Jordan, Dr. Timothy McDonnell, and Sir James MacMillan. Additionally, he accompanies violin students of Ms. Leah Kim-Tomilson and ‘cello students of Ms. Jie Jin, in which capacity he maintains a busy schedule of recordings, auditions, and performances.

Yee-Yee Li

Student Leader - Baldwin H.S.

Yee-Yee Li serves as a student leader for Music Angels at the Baldwin School. As a violin player since the age of 5, music has always been a huge part of Yee-Yee’s life and she is thrilled to work with Music Angels in order to utilize music in a way that helps and educates others, as well as herself. Yee-Yee has competed in and won numerous competitions such as Little Mozarts International Competition, Elite International Music Competition, and Music Fest Rising Talents Festival. She is also a part of Baldwin’s acclaimed a capella group, B-Flats. Additionally, Yee-Yee is an advocate for youth service and volunteering. As an active member/leader of Service League at Baldwin since 7th grade, she has organized all sorts of events and fundraisers for Baldwin and the community in Montgomery County and beyond. By working with Music Angels, Yee-Yee hopes to encourage other children and teenagers at Baldwin and beyond to volunteer continuously in order to connect with others in their communities and to continue spreading the message and impact of service in all forms. She hopes to educate everyone about the power of music and how inspirational music can be to individuals, families, and generations.

Vidhyuth Sriram

Student Leader- Bayard Rustin H.S.

Vidhyuth Sriram is a senior at West Chester Bayard Rustin High School. He has been playing the violin for over 10 years, with a keen interest in science and engineering. Vidhyuth has demonstrated leadership in various youth orchestras, including the Chester County Youth Orchestra, WC Senior Strings, Philadelphia Sinfonia, and Penn Youth Orchestra. He additionally has volunteer experience as a student tutor, an event host for Special Olympics, and an event planner for musical events. As a student leader, Vidhyuth aims to leverage his leadership skills, knowledge, and musical talent to unite diverse groups of people in the appreciation of music. He believes that music has the power to bring people together and support those who need it in their lives. Vidhyuth is excited to join Music Angels to spread positivity through his musical talent and to give back to society by contributing to the organization's mission of bringing music into the lives of those who need it most.

Kevin Li

Student Leader - Conestoga High School

Kevin Li is a sophomore at Conestoga High School. He has been playing the cello for over 7 years. He has played in the school orchestra as well as various youth orchestras, including Penn Youth Orchestra and Delaware County Youth Orchestra. Some of the awards he has received include first prize winner of the Crescendo International Competition, First Place in the Tri County Music Competition Junior Ensemble in 2022 and was the Grand Prize winner of the Triumph Chamber Music Competition. As a student leader, Kevin aims to use his skillset to best benefit those who need it and spread kindness through his music.

Chloe Chan

Student Leader-Downingtown STEM Academy

Chloe Chan is a sophomore at the Downingtown STEM Academy and is a student leader for Music Angels. Playing the piano is one of her biggest passions, alongside engineering and exploring the medical fields. She has been playing piano for over 11 years and is eager to be a part of this organization. This opportunity will allow her to weave together her love for music and make a positive impact on the community. Her other volunteering experiences include performing in the local community and senior centers, as her high school's student body president, and as a hospital assistant. Her notable achievements include First Place at the Crescendo International Competition, an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music, Silver Medalist Winner at the International Rachmaninoff Maestro Competition, and three-time Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival First Prize winner. Being a Music Angel student leader reflects Chloe's dedication to growing a stronger connection with the community through music.

Jason Chen

Student Leader - Great Valley H.S.

Jason Chen is the Music Angels student leader at Great Valley High School. Involved in music around the community, Jason is very enthusiastic to be part of this organization and hopes to be able to utilize music and the organization to continue to serve others in the community. Jason started learning cello in fourth grade and eventually switched to lessons with Mrs. Jennifer, who is also in this organization and introduced him to it. Throughout middle school and into high school he has performed and competed in many music festivals and competitions, most notably placing 1st in the Crescendo music competition and the PMEA All-state in Erie. Jason also plays in his school orchestra and the Chester County Youth Orchestra. Additionally, Jason has performed in many senior and community centers around Chester County, so he hopes to use this experience in Music Angel to continue bonding and engaging with people around the community.

Melanie Zhu

Student Leader - Radnor High School

Melanie Zhu is excited to work as the student leader for Music Angels at Radnor High School. Having played multiple instruments including the flute, violin, and viola, she has a great passion for music. She looks forward to spreading her love for music to others. Throughout her middle school and high school years, she has participated in multiple competitions and orchestras. With the viola, Melanie won first place in the Little Mozart’s International Competition, and is also a current member of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra. In her high school, she is president of the Chamber Musicians Club, which frequently performs at retirement homes and hospitals. Using her leadership and music experiences, she looks forward to educating others on music therapy as well as helping to empower and strengthen those in need through the power of music.

Kaitlin Maguire

Student Leader - Student Leader- Villa Maria Academy H.S.

Kaitlin is one of the student leaders for Music Angels. She is a senior at Villa Maria Academy High School in Malvern. She first discovered her love for music when she started learning how to play the piano in second grade. Later, she started learning the viola in fourth grade. From the moment she picked up her first viola, she never looked back. At Villa Maria, Kaitlin is a member of the Orchestra, String Ensemble, and Handbell Choir, as well as Co-Leader of the Music Ministry and President of Tri-M Honor Society. Outside of her own school, she also has participated in All Catholic Orchestra for three years, most recently as the principal violist, and last year she participated in PMEA District 12 Orchestra. Kaitlin first decided she wanted to help others with music while organizing a concert for Surrey Services in Devon. When she noticed how many people attended, she realized how many people needed music in their lives. When her teacher, Ms Leah, introduced her to the idea of Music Angels, she jumped at the opportunity to be involved. Kaitlin is so blessed to have this opportunity and this leadership team in her life, and can’t wait to see where the journey takes them!

Ezgi Yargici

Professional Cellist | Performing Artist | Board Certified Music Therapist | Counselor | Teaching Artist

Ezgi Yargici is a versatile and accomplished cellist, with a performance career spanning over 15 years across the globe. Her expertise encompasses baroque, classical, and modern genres with appearances in esteemed orchestras, chamber music ensembles, solo recitals, and her own event music enterprise.