THE Story

Art begins in the in between

In the space between people,
in the exchange of ideas,
in the tension of collaboration,
in the invisible molecules of music and motion,
something starts to stir.
A shift. A spark.

Then,
Kaboom.


The moment when the space between becomes something shared.
When ideas collide and take shape.
When artists, musicians, writers, and creators bring their whole selves to the project
When we build art that’s bigger than all of us.

This is where it happens. This is Kaboom.

Who’s running the show

  • A man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a plaid shirt, stands with arms crossed and looks off to the side against a plain wall background.

    Joe Weagraff, Executive Director

    As Executive Director, Joe fuses sharp strategy with fearless producing to push Kaboom Studio Orchestra into new creative territory and make big ideas real.

  • A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a black shirt smiling in front of a professional audio mixer.

    Liza Grossman, Creative Director

    Liza ignites the creative vision of Kaboom Studio Orchestra, driving daring collaborations, building bold productions, and fueling a culture where musicians level up by creating new art.

  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with glasses holding a violin against a stone wall background.

    Hosanna Carella, Grants + Development Director

    Hosanna shapes the future of Kaboom Studio Orchestra by cultivating support, forging connections, and championing the vision and voices behind every project.

  • A person with long hair and a beard, dressed in winter clothing, outdoors in a snowy forest, with a wolf resting on their shoulder.

    David Kennedy, Audio Director

    David defines the sonic identity of Kaboom Studio Orchestra: recording and mixing productions while mentoring the next generation of engineers and producers through hands-on collaboration.

THE SOUNDBOARD

Our circle of trusted collaborators: artists, producers, composers, educators, and behind-the-scenes powerhouses shaping the future of music, media, and performance. These are the people who know how it’s made, how it moves, and how it lasts. Their expertise fuels our projects, mentors our members, and keeps Kaboom pushing forward with fearless creativity.

  • A woman with long, wavy blonde hair smiling at the camera with mountains and a building in the background.

    Amber Buist

    Amber Buist is a veteran artist manager and music industry strategist known for launching and guiding the career of genre-blending band The Accidentals. With a background in label negotiations, touring logistics, and artist development, she brings a deep commitment to purpose-driven music and building sustainable creative careers.

  • A woman with red hair smiling and laughing, wearing a black top, with her hands clasped near her face, against a dark background.

    Amber Patrick

    Amber Patrick is a force in live music photography, known for capturing the unguarded, electric moments that define performance. With a cinematic eye and a deep love for music, she tells stories through still images that feel anything but still. As the house photographer at Blossom Music Center, her work documents some of the most iconic performances in the region and is quickly gaining attention from artists, venues, and publications alike.

  • A man with glasses, a patterned bandana, and a beard, sitting with his hands clasped near his face, in a cafe setting.

    BIll Ransom

    Bill Ransom is an internationally acclaimed drummer and percussionist who has performed with legends like Aretha Franklin, Gerald LeVert, and Beth Hart, bringing his dynamic style to stages around the world. Equally passionate about education, Bill has mentored generations of drummers and currently serves on the faculty at Cleveland State University, where he teaches drums, percussion, and jazz ensemble.

  • A woman with shoulder-length black hair smiling, wearing a black cardigan over a white pleated top, standing against a plain beige backdrop.

    Callista Koh

    Callista Koh is a versatile violinist and educator who performs with leading orchestras, national tours, and artists across classical, Broadway, and pop music. She leads the Suzuki Department at the Cleveland Music Settlement and founded Arts for Us, a concert series for individuals with special needs and their families.

  • Older man with gray hair in a top knot, wearing glasses, a striped suit jacket, and a white shirt, looking to the side against a dark background.

    Carl Baldassarre

    Carl Baldassarre is an award-winning guitarist, composer, producer, and educator with a career spanning nearly five decades. He founded The Baldassarre Orchestra, a genre-blending ensemble that brings rock and symphonic music together. Through performances, compositions, and his popular YouTube channel, he mentors the next generation of musicians and challenges the limits of musical storytelling.

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair sits on a brown sofa in a room decorated with musical guitars on the wall. He wears a black shirt and jeans, and is smiling at the camera.

    Charlie Brusco

    Charlie Brusco is a legendary artist manager whose career launched with The Outlaws and helped amplify the careers of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx, and other classic rock icons. A key figure in benefit concert production and music education, he currently manages artists at Red Light Management and serves on the board of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

  • A close-up selfie of a man with short dark hair, a full beard, and blue eyes, wearing a gray T-shirt, in a well-lit living room with light-colored curtains and artwork on the wall.

    Dr. Clint Needham

    Clint Needham is an award-winning composer whose music has been performed by major orchestras and ensembles across the U.S. and internationally. Currently Composer in Residence and Associate Professor at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, he has held residencies with the Akron and Albany Symphonies and is widely recognized for his dynamic orchestral and chamber works. Clint is the lead of the Kaboom Composer + Arranger Team.

  • A man with curly hair and a beard stands indoors by a window, wearing a navy blue sweater over a light blue collared shirt and khaki pants.

    Dr. Dan Goldmark

    Dr. Daniel Goldmark is a musicologist and author whose work explores American popular music, film and cartoon scores, and the history of the music industry. He is Professor of Music and Director of the Center for Popular Music Studies at Case Western Reserve University, and previously worked in the animation and music industries with Spümcø and Rhino Entertainment.

  • Portrait of a man with short dark hair and a beard, holding a cello against a black background.

    David Ellis

    David B. Ellis is a Cleveland-based conductor, cellist, and viola da gambist known for his dynamic performances spanning Renaissance to contemporary music. He directs the Case Camerata Chamber Orchestra at Case Western Reserve University and performs with Les Délices.

  • A man wearing glasses and a black sweater sitting at a desk, holding a pen, with a laptop displaying a graph. The background shows shelves with various tools and equipment.

    Dr. David Kazdan

    Dr. David Kazdan is an electrical engineering professor at Case Western Reserve University whose research spans electronics, acoustics, and wave phenomena. With a background in both engineering and medicine, he brings a unique perspective to the intersection of sound, music, and human perception.

  • A man reading a book titled 'Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello' in a room with a cello in the background.

    Derek Snyder

    Derek Snyder is a Cleveland-based cellist, arranger, and educator known for his work with the Oblivion Project and ensembles including BlueWater Chamber Orchestra and Cleveland Pops. His work as a documentary and music video film producer has garnered him awards and is a sought-after director of photography. He teaches cello at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and Hudson Montessori Suzuki School, and his cello arrangements—especially of Piazzolla and Brubeck—have been published and performed internationally, including by the Yale Cellos on the Naxos label.

  • People preparing for a live outdoor musical performance on a wooden stage, with guitars leaning against equipment in the foreground and city buildings in the background.

    Evan Haiman

    Evan Haiman is a veteran producer and media executive with over 30 years of experience across sports, music, and entertainment. He has held senior roles at HBO, Warner Bros., and AXS TV, where he produced more than 200 live concerts and specials. As SVP of Content at Circle Media, he launched a country music lifestyle network reaching over 80 million homes. Currently, he leads Baker Street Productions, focusing on music-driven content and live event production.

  • Portrait of a young man with short hair and a slight smile, wearing a dark jacket, against a dark background.

    Jake Viache

    Jake Viache is a high-impact tour and production manager known for seamlessly running the show behind the scenes for artists like Eric Gales and Jon Pardi. With a sharp eye for logistics and a calm presence under pressure, he builds tour experiences that are as smooth offstage as they are unforgettable on it.

  • A person wearing headphones sitting at a DJ or music production console with multiple screens displaying audio mixing software. The person is smiling and facing the camera, with several electronic devices, a water bottle, and a laptop on the table.

    James Zammikiel

    James Zammikiel is a veteran lighting designer with over 25 years of experience creating dynamic designs for concerts, theatrical productions, and broadcast events. Now teaching at Hiram College, he has designed for artists including Melissa Etheridge, Wynton Marsalis, Graham Nash, and Bootsy Collins, and has served as lighting director for MTV Live and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s American Music Masters Series.

  • Close-up of a woman with dark hair and pink lipstick smiling on a balcony, with a city park, bus, and walking pedestrians in the background on a clear day.

    Jennifer Juan

    Jennifer Juan is a seasoned graphic designer and founder of Maykah Design, with over 20 years of experience in branding, print, digital, and environmental design. Based in Cleveland, she has led creative work for clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies like Burt’s Bees and Parker Hannifin, and previously served as a graphic artist at Ideastream Public Media, supporting cross-platform campaigns for PBS, NPR, and classical radio. She has produced concert art for artists including Melissa Etheridge, Ben Folds, Graham Nash, Jason Mraz, Bootsy Collins, and more. She is the lead of the Kaboom Design Team.

  • A smiling elderly woman with short, curly gray hair, wearing earrings and a dark vest over a red shirt, sitting in an indoor setting with books and shelves behind her.

    Joan Tower

    Joan Tower is a Grammy Award–winning composer and one of the most influential American composers of the last 50 years. Known for works commissioned by leading orchestras and ensembles, she has also served as composer-in-residence with major symphonies and is a longtime educator at Bard College.

  • A man with blond hair playing a silver trumpet on stage, wearing a black shirt.

    Joe Miller

    Joseph Miller is a versatile trumpet player and educator known for his dynamic performances across jazz, funk, salsa, Broadway, and more. He serves on the faculty at Cleveland State University and The Music Settlement, and holds the principal trumpet chair at Playhouse Square, with credits ranging from Wicked to Aretha Franklin and Grammy-nominated jazz recordings. Joe is the lead contractor for Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

  • A smiling woman with long gray hair wearing sunglasses, earrings, and a black top, standing outdoors with pink and white flowers in the background.

    Julie Bernstein

    Julie Bernstein is a four-time Emmy Award–winning composer known for her iconic work on Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and other Warner Bros. Animation classics. With a career spanning film, TV, live concerts, and vocal arranging, she continues to shape the sound of animation, most recently scoring new seasons of Animaniacs for Hulu alongside her longtime collaborator and husband, Steven Bernstein.

  • A woman with brown hair and blue eyes holding a cello over her shoulder, wearing a black sleeveless top, smiling, and looking at the camera with a dark background.

    Julie Myers King

    Julie King is a versatile cellist and educator who performs with the Akron Symphony, Cleveland Pops, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and Blossom Festival Orchestra. She has shared the stage with artists including The Who, Don Henley, the Eagles, and Mannheim Steamroller, and has performed for many Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremonies. She appears on film soundtracks, recordings, and live broadcasts, and has taught at the Cleveland Music School Settlement since 1993.

  • A young woman with long brown hair and glasses smiling outdoors with the Grand Canyon in the background.

    Dr. Kate Rogers

    Dr. Kate Rogers is a musicologist and video game music scholar specializing in the intersection of interactive sound and American popular culture. Based in Portland, she holds a PhD in Historical Musicology from Case Western Reserve University and has presented her research at leading academic conferences while developing a forthcoming manuscript on the soundscape of American video arcades.

  • Young woman with red hair playing an electric cello on stage, wearing a red tank top with floral embroidery, and surrounded by guitars in the background.

    Katie Larson

    Katie Larson is a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer. Best known as a founding member of the genre-blending indie-folk band The Accidentals, she also performs with Brett Young and Kylie Morgan. With over a decade of touring and recording experience, she contributes cello, guitar, bass, and vocals to the band's dynamic sound, while also working as a session musician, arranger, and video editor for various creative projects.

  • A female drummer playing drums with a joyful expression, blonde hair, tattoos on her arms, wearing a black tank top, illuminated by red and white stage lights.

    Katelynn Corll

    Katelynn Corll is a Detroit-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose dynamic musicianship has led her to perform with artists such as Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, and Chloe Moriondo. As the drummer and backing vocalist for The Accidentals, she has appeared on national television and major festival stages, bringing her versatile energy to genres spanning rock, folk, and country.

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair holding a violin against a black background.

    Laura Shuster

    Laura Shuster is a violist and educator who performs with ensembles including BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and Playhouse Square productions. She teaches at Cleveland State University and the Cleveland Center for Suzuki Studies, where she also helps lead the preparatory viola program.

  • A woman with curly blonde hair smiling, holding a violin.

    Liesl Hook

    Liesl Hook is a violinist and educator who has performed with artists including Tony Bennett, Pink Floyd, the Eagles, and Andrea Bocelli. She is a member of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, and Erie Philharmonic. A longtime Suzuki instructor, she has taught across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Japan, and serves on the faculty at Hawken School and the Cleveland Center for Suzuki Studies.

  • A woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a black blouse holding a French horn in a studio with a black background.

    Meghan Guegold Hege

    Meghan Guegold Hege is Assistant/Utility Horn with The Cleveland Orchestra and a highly respected performer and educator with a national career. Formerly Principal Horn of the Akron and Canton Symphony Orchestras, she has appeared with ensembles including the Minnesota Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. A dedicated teacher and mentor, she spent over a decade on faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University, where her students have gone on to study at top institutions across the U.S. and Europe.

  • Close-up of a man wearing dark sunglasses and a black leather jacket against a dark background.

    Michael Bradford

    Michael Bradford is a multi-platinum producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose genre-spanning credits include work with Madonna, Deep Purple, Travis Tritt, Run-DMC, and Ben Folds. Known for his inventive sound design and analog synth expertise, he continues to produce, perform live with artists like Richie Sambora and Dave Stewart, and develop original music blending film score and trip-hop.

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark checked blazer over a gray shirt, sitting at a black table against a dark gray background, looking confidently at the camera with hands clasped.

    Mike Kopp

    Mike Kopp is an artist manager and arts advocate with over 35 years of experience in music, politics, and strategic communications. He manages multi-platinum artist Ben Folds, has advised national political campaigns including serving as press secretary to Al Gore, and serves on boards including the Americana Music Association and the national Arts Action Fund.

  • Black and white portrait of a man wearing a black suit and glasses, with a bald head and hands in pockets, standing against a plain background.

    Mike Garson

    Mike Garson is a renowned pianist, composer, and producer best known as David Bowie’s longtime collaborator, performing over 1,000 concerts with him and contributing to iconic albums like Aladdin Sane. Equally at home in jazz, classical, and rock, Garson has worked with artists including Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, and Seal, and continues to tour globally, compose, and record across genres as one of the music industry’s most versatile and inventive musicians.

  • Woman with curly red hair smiling and holding a large musical instrument, likely a double bass, in front of a wooden wall.

    Nicole Clouser

    Nicole Clouser is Principal Bass of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and a seasoned performer whose career spans leading opera and symphony orchestras across North America. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and McGill University, she is also a dedicated educator, teaching instrumental music in the Shaker Heights City School District.

  • A woman with short, light brown hair, wearing a green top and a black necklace, sitting near a window with colorful autumn trees outside.

    Pamela Kelly

    Pamela Kelly is an award-winning cello educator whose students have gone on to perform with top ensembles and attend elite conservatories including CIM, Eastman, and New England Conservatory. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, she directs the Cleveland Cello Society Scholarship Competition and is widely recognized for her leadership in cello pedagogy.

  • A middle-aged man with glasses, smiling, wearing a button-up shirt with a pattern of small dots, standing against a maroon background.

    Paul Rugg

    Paul Rugg is a Peabody and Emmy Award–winning writer, actor, and producer best known for co-developing Freakazoid! and writing for Animaniacs, where he also launched his career as a voice actor. He has developed series for DreamWorks, Disney, Netflix, and Nickelodeon, and voiced characters in shows like Captain Underpants, Kung Fu Panda, and Scooby Doo.

  • Man in black suit holding a violin, standing on stage of an empty concert hall, smiling.

    Peter Otto

    Peter Otto is Concertmaster of the Nashville Symphony and a prize-winning violinist with an international career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. Formerly First Associate Concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony, he is a Juilliard graduate and active educator with performances across Europe and the U.S.

  • A man playing a double bass on a stage with a brick wall background.

    Peter Seymour

    Peter Seymour is a double bassist and founding member of PROJECT Trio, where he also serves as CEO and education director, leading outreach programs that have reached over 500,000 students worldwide. A versatile performer and Downbeat Award–winning jazz soloist, he has played with ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra and New York City Ballet, and directs PROJECT Trio: The Studio, a postgraduate program focused on 21st-century chamber music and entrepreneurship.

  • A man with glasses and a beard sitting on a staircase, holding a horn, and smiling at the camera.

    Richard King

    Richard King is principal horn emeritus of The Cleveland Orchestra, where he has performed since 1988 and served as principal horn from 1997 to 2015. A Curtis Institute graduate and acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist, he is also on faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Kent/Blossom Music Festival.

  • A woman with blonde hair and red lipstick holding a newspaper, looking up at the camera.

    Sav Madigan

    Sav Madigan is a Nashville-based, award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and audio engineer known for her work with Lainey Wilson, contributing to both live performances and studio projects. A founding member of The Accidentals, she has performed nationally, appeared on over 100 recordings, and earned top honors including the Overall Grand Prize in the USA Songwriting Competition.

  • A man with a styled hair, thick mustache, and goatee looking at the camera, outdoors with a blurred background of trees and a chain-link fence, in black and white.

    Sean Beeson

    Sean Beeson is an award-winning composer and sound designer whose music has been featured in video games, films, trailers, and interactive media for clients including Disney, Google, and Amazon. His work has been heard over 900 million times on YouTube, and he leads Sean Beeson Studios, where he scores projects ranging from Magic: The Gathering to Galactic Civilizations IV.

  • A smiling middle-aged man with gray curly hair and glasses wearing a light gray jacket with a black shirt underneath. There is a colorful framed artwork of birds and flowers on the wall behind him.

    Stefan Podell

    Stefan Podell is a composer, arranger, and orchestrator known for bridging classical and rock music through collaborations with artists including Styx, Tommy Shaw, Kenny Loggins, Bootsy Collins, Graham Nash, Jefferson Starship, Jason Mraz and Jon Anderson of YES. He has been commissioned for solo works for members of The Cleveland Orchestra. His works have been performed by major orchestras across the U.S., and he currently serves as Board President of the San Luis Obispo Symphony.

  • Smiling older man with gray hair and beard wearing sunglasses and a dark blue button-up shirt, standing outdoors next to pink flowers and greenery.

    Steve Bernstein

    Steven Bernstein is a five-time Emmy Award–winning composer, orchestrator, and conductor best known for scoring over 250 episodes of animated television, including Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Freakazoid!. His work spans film, TV, concert music, and orchestration for major Hollywood features like Skyfall and The Amazing Spider-Man, along with live concert conducting and notable collaborations with his wife, composer Julie Bernstein.

  • A woman is playing a wooden marimba while seated on the floor in a concert hall, with metal tubes and percussion instruments visible in the background.

    Valerie Naranjo

    Valerie Naranjo is a world‑renowned percussionist and educator whose transformative work bridges West African traditions, Broadway, and television. A trailblazer on the gyil, longtime percussionist for Saturday Night Live and performer on The Lion King, she also teaches at NYU, mentors global percussion students, and builds inclusive, cross‑cultural musical communities.

  • Smiling woman in beige t-shirt and brown leggings standing outdoors with wooden backdrop and potted plant nearby.

    Ylonda Rosenthal‑Greene

    Ylonda Rosenthal‑Greene brings her classical cellist background and deep yoga practice to Kaboom Studio Orchestra, weaving sound, story, and movement into transformative wellness experiences. An E‑RYT® 500 instructor and founder of Soul Yoga OHC, she crafts classes that balance strength, fluidity, and soulful storytelling, activating both body and spirit.

Always in the room

They’re no longer with us, but always part of us.
Their impact shaped Kaboom. We carry their spirit into every note and every moment.

  • A man with a beard and short hair sitting at a desk in front of two large computer monitors displaying digital audio editing software, smiling at the camera.

    Michael J. Bishop

    Michael J. Bishop was a Grammy-winning recording engineer, producer, and co-founder of Five/Four Productions, known for his groundbreaking work in high-resolution and surround sound recording. With over 1,000 commercial releases across genres from jazz and classical to pop and film, he was a respected innovator, collaborator, and mentor whose legacy continues to shape the world of immersive audio.

  • Smiling man in a blue shirt and bow tie leaning on a table with multiple Grammy awards and a flute, in an auditorium setting with empty seats in the background.

    Thomas C. Moore

    Thomas C. Moore was a four-time Grammy-winning producer, recording editor, and oboist, and a co-founder of Five/Four Productions following a distinguished career at Telarc International. Known for his work with The Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Baroque, and the Atlanta Symphony, he was also an accomplished performer and principal oboist with ensembles including the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.