The People That Make It Happen
Our Team
Sammy Gonzalez Zeira, CEO
Young Musicians Unite was founded by Sammy Gonzalez, a Miami-born, internationally acclaimed musician and mentor. Sammy recognized the staggering lack of music education in many of Miami’s underserved communities and created YMU as a response to this deficiency. Sammy has played nearly 1000+ concerts, gone on 15 US tours, and landed spots at SXSW music festival and Van’s Warped Tour. As First Chair in the Miami Beach Classical Guitar Quintet, he toured the US and Japan, winning awards at both regional and national levels.
Sammy has over 20 years of experience working in music education; and under his leadership, YMU has impacted over 16,000 students since 2013.
Zachary Larmer, COO
Zach Larmer is an internationally acclaimed jazz musician and educator. As a performer and composer, Zach has received three GRAMMY awards and embarked on numerous world tours. He has had the chance to work alongside artists such as Pat Metheny, John Scofield, and the Steve Miller Band. Zach is also the guitarist on American Dreamers: Voices of Hope and Freedom, an album that gained bi-partisan support in the house and senate for its advocacy of citizenship for DACA recipients.
As a music educator over the last 11 years, Zach has focused on creating an infrastructure for musicians to support their growth as they transform into fully capable artists.
Melanie Greenwald, CFO
Melanie Greenwald, a Certified Public Accountant, spent four years in New York at a major CPA firm and then transitioned to a finance and accounting role at Fortune Magazine. In 2018, Melanie joined as YMU’s Chief Financial Officer overseeing all financial aspects as it grew from serving 8 students to over 4,900 students today. Melanie is thrilled to be able to work with the team to accomplish its mission and looks forward to YMU expanding its footprint and impact on our community.
Pedro Diaz, CPO
Pedro Diaz is a project manager, film producer, and cultural promoter who has worked in a wide variety of organizations, institutions, film, and social projects in South Florida, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica. As a native of Guatemala where he grew up and started his career, Pedro was able to witness the importance of real-life changing opportunities while working with underserved communities. Pedro’s expertise lies in creating, planning, developing, and overseeing projects throughout their full life cycle to ensure success. He’s passionate about images, stories and serving his community.
Rosa Eva Sanchez, Marketing Director
Rosa graduated from Bentley University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Design and Corporate Communications. She has ongoing experience in digital marketing and specializes in acquisition and retention strategy. Growing up in Venezuela, Rosa has volunteered in non-profits since a young age and is continuously inspired to support social causes. “Once I heard about YMU’s mission, I was excited to join a team that created a tremendous impact in the upbringing and education of so many kids. I am now happy to to be part of such an amazing organization and look forward to participating in YMU’s growth”.
Alan Valladares, Music Access Manager
Alan Valladares is a Mexican-born guitarist and educator. By the age of 17, Alan had started taking private classical guitar lessons with Dr. Federico Bonacossa. Only two years later, he was admitted with a Full Scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Classical guitar performance at New World School of the Arts under the guidance of Dr. Albert Kunze. He graduated Cum Laude in 2016. Alan completed his Master’s degree in Music in 2018 under the distinguished teacher and performer Rafael Padron at University of Miami - Frost School of Music.
From 2013 to 2020, Alan worked as a Teaching Artist, Regional Director, and Director of Shows and Events for Young Musicians Unite; from 2020-2023 served as the Musician Advancement Manager at the New World Symphony. During his time at NWS, Alan oversaw key aspects of the Community Engagement department, cultivating close ties with community leaders around Miami and managed the College Track Mentorship Program.
Juliet Fernandez, Executive Assistant
Juliet Fernandez is a Miami local who began her professional journey in the legal field following her graduation from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in political science. Transitioning into the realm of props and commercial film production during her time in New York City, she developed a keen appreciation for the transformative power of artistic expression. Returning to her hometown, Juliet is deeply committed to supporting Young Musicians Unite's mission of providing equitable music education to all children in Miami-Dade Public Schools. With a steadfast dedication to community empowerment, she strives to ensure that every child has the opportunity to explore their creative potential through music.
Paulina Victor, Operations Manager
Paulina Victor is a well rounded executive assistant from Los Angeles, California. Her profound love for music has inspired her into pursuing a career within the industry, where she boasts experience in various roles, including song production, DJing, and artist management. “I was very inspired after learning about YMU and what they do for thousands of kids across Miami. I instantly knew it was the perfect fit for me. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to be a part of a team that helps empower the youth through music in such a major way”.
Paul Rabut, Regional Director
Paul Rabut is a drummer/composer born in Baltimore, MD and raised in Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela. After receiving his bachelor degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Paul toured North and South America with Grammy Award-winning artists Beatriz Luengo and Yotuel Romero. Paul then became drummer and director of his own salsa band, Miami on Beat, producing and arranging the group’s self-titled EP. As a music educator over the last 7 years, Paul is passionate about finding new ways to increase the emphasis on music in the classroom in order to help kids discover their passion and find true meaning in their lives.
Pedro Rodriguez, Regional Director
Pedro is a musician who was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Miami, Florida. He started performing professionally at the young age of 11 years old. In the hispanic scene, Pedro has performed with many bands and artists, both locally and internationally, such as salsa legends Oscar DeLeon, Luis Enrique, Tony Succar, and many more. As a Music Educator, Pedro loves to find and help students, who just like him, share that passion for music since a very young age.
Julian Bermudez, Regional Director
Julian is a multi-instrumentalist from Miami, FL. He started playing Piano at the age of 5 at the encouragement of his grandmother and would eventually learn to play the saxophone as well in high school. He’s a jazz-lover at heart who is interested in many other genres ranging from Salsa to Rock to RnB/Soul. He is an active member of the South Florida music scene who currently composes, arranges and performs with his 2 projects: Lotus Collective and Gather ‘Round Live. Julian is passionate about music and sees it as en essential part of the human experience. Fostering a love for music in others is a personal mission of his and a guiding force in his personal and professional life.
Juan Pelaez, Academic Manager
Juan Pelaez was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, where he got his first guitar at the age of 12, and just a year later he was playing in his first band and writing songs. Music played such an important part in his life that he decided to move to the United States to study Jazz Guitar and Music Production at Miami Dade College and continued studying Music Composition at the New World School of the Arts.
Agatha Bove, Graphic Designer & Content Creator
Agatha Bove, a graphic designer and content creator hailing from Venezuela, embarked on her creative journey in 2017. After studying and working in Madrid for several years, she made the bold move to Miami in 2021 to pursue her passion for design and content creation. Agatha's dedication to her craft led her to YMU, where she found a mission that resonated deeply with her.
Being a part of the vibrant creative community, Agatha understands the challenges faced by artists due to underrepresentation and lack of resources. When she learned about YMU's mission, she felt an instant connection. Agatha is committed to assisting the association in providing children with the necessary tools to express themselves through music, fostering creativity, and empowering the next generation of artists.
Sara Lizarazu, Arts Access Coordinator
Sara graduated with a degree in psychology with a focus on creative therapies from New York University. She was introduced to the world of Performing Arts after an internship in arts education at the Adrienne Arsht Center where she got to experience first-hand the social emotional impact of giving young students creative outlets. With her academic background and experience as a teacher artist, she understands that the arts are not only crucial for stimulating creativity, but also for the development of soft skills, emotional regulation, and overall mental wellbeing that make well-rounded adults. She was drawn to Arts Access for the alliance’s efforts to provide free music and arts education to students across Miami-Dade county.
Hakim Lahlou, Production Manager
Hakim is a business developer with 20 years of experience in the Performing Arts. Born in Casablanca, Morocco, he organized and produced successful entertainment concepts and world class events with a portfolio of 350+ shows.
Driven by his passion for the music industry, he felt the need to broaden his scope, hence the decision to move to the United States and start a new chapter in his life. Today, he manages YMU shows department and makes sure all the production needs are met.
Sammy Lamy, Assistant Finance Manager
Sammy Lamy holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Florida A&M University and brings over 12 years of experience in the accounting field, primarily within the private accounting sector. Sammy has developed a strong expertise in managing financial records, preparing detailed reports, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Additionally, Sammy has experience in tax and audit topics, which has further enhanced their ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and provide valuable insights into accounting practices. Outside of work, Sammy is an avid sports fan, passionately supporting the local area teams, the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins. Sammy's diverse background and commitment to excellence make them a valuable asset to any financial team.
Diana Fernandez, Studio Manager
Diana Fernandez is a multiple-woodwind musician with a B.A. in music performance from Florida International University, Private lessons instructor, and Twitch Affiliate. She has 4 years of arts administration experience at Performance Management International LLC. representing artists such as Shesh Besh of the Israel Philharmonic, The Edge Effect, Jeri Sager, Chicago Dance Crash, and more.
As a school volunteer and lifelong brother of Kappa Kappa Psi - service to music programs is a strong passion of hers. She is thrilled to be able to have this opportunity to promulgate and foster a deep appreciation for music in young musicians.
Carlo Barbacci, Audio Engineer
Carlo Barbacci is a Peruvian-born Songwriter and Audio Engineer. Before moving to Miami at 23 years old, Carlo produced well-known independent songwriters in Peru like Camille Jackson, Santino amigo, Elisa Tokeshi, and Paco Barriga, among others. He has also toured internationally with his Beatles Tribute band "Los Rigbys”, named the Best Beatles Tribute Band of South America in 2015.
Once in Miami, Carlo pursued a 9 month audio diploma at SAE Miami and graduated from Miami International University with a B.S. in Audio Production. He also founded the music collective MOLD!, which is gaining popularity very fast in the South Florida scene. The debut album is mixed by Ryan Haft (Jacuzzi Boys, Torche, Las nubes) and mastered by Dave Cooley (Tame Impala, Diiv).
Andrew Gonzalez, Music Production
Andrew is a music composer and producer with over 13 years of experience in music creation. He has met and worked with award-winning artists and producers such as Julie Anne San Jose and Elmo Magalona, Universal Records Philippines. He studied music composition at The New World School of the Arts, where he had the opportunity to compose and make High-Quality Instrumentals music for Fox, Nickelodeon, and Viacom International.
Marte Siebenhar, Fundraising Consultant
Marte Siebenhar is a classically trained professional musician and strategic planner. She has been an arts leader at New World Symphony, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, and served as executive director of Bakehouse Art Complex. Marte is also an alumna of Manhattan School of Music and fellowships with the Kennedy Center and Miami Foundation.
Marte is working to improve the overall experience in the business environment and contribute to the evolution of the Arts on a local scale through her work with Young Musicians Unite.
