Mancini was hand-picked by MHOF’s founder Michael Kamen to help realize his vision of putting musical instruments in the hands of every student in public schools around the country. With a budget barely reaching six figures, Mancini built MHOF into a more than $6M powerhouse, cultivated lasting relationships with artists, individual donors, family foundations, and corporate partners. Over her tenure, MHOF has invested more than $34M in musical instruments distributed to thousands of school music programs nationwide. Notably, Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen, Chris Stapleton, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Keith Urban have all generously supported MHOF over the years joining thousands of other donors who passionately value music in a child’s education. Among many honors during her tenure, in 2016, Felice’s efforts were applauded by Americans for the Arts with their prestigious National Arts Education Award.

In her previous role as Program Director, which she’s held since 1999, Williams has supervised and implemented all aspects of the non-profit’s programming with a special concentration in school district support services. A musician in her own right, Williams performed with the Boston Chamber Ensemble, Brookline Symphony, American Repertory Theatre, New England Brass Band, Disney Grammy Collegiate Orchestra and with former Frank Zappa guitarist Mike Keneally. In 2017, Tricia created the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation’s Music (and Arts) Education District Support Services® (MEDSS), a revolutionary districtwide assessment and consulting service that utilizes data and teacher voices leading to systemic change by removing barriers in order for all interested students to have access to quality, sequential and sustainable music and arts education. To date, districts have used MEDSS results to secure over $14M in new music and arts funding, hire additional teachers, implement new programs, remove barriers for student access and to provide instruments, classroom supplies, teacher professional development and numerous other materials and resources to best support teacher and student needs.

In a related move, Todd Shipley who served as Director of Arts Education for the Tennessee Department of Education has been named Program Director. He launched the Tennessee Arts Education Data Project, a $1 million music education grant program, created the Tennessee Arts Education Network, and implemented a first-of-its-kind statewide arts education landscape study with the collaboration of MHOF and the CMA Foundation. Previously, Todd served as a middle and high school band director and music teacher and earned distinction as the recipient of the inaugural CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence award in 2016 and was named a Metro Nashville Public Schools Blue Ribbon Teacher in 2018. Todd will be working remotely from Nashville and remain active in arts education across the country.