Executive Director Gabrielle Molina Receives State Arts Fellowship
We are pleased to share that Executive Director Gabrielle Molina has been selected for the Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship through the Connecticut Office of the Arts. This competitive fellowship was awarded to only two recipients statewide this year, reflecting the rigorous selection process and high standards of the program.
Supporting Professional Growth in Arts Administration
The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship provides funding for professional development opportunities that advance careers in arts administration. Named in honor of a dedicated former Connecticut Commission on the Arts staff member who mentored young professionals for over 20 years, this fellowship recognizes commitment to excellence in the field.
Arts administration encompasses the business operations of arts organizations, including staff management, public relations, marketing, budget management, board development, fundraising, and program development. The fellowship supports individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential to grow and lead in these areas.
The fellowship will support Gabrielle's participation in the Welcome Notes training program in Leeds, UK, in January 2026. This intensive five day program, offered by Musicians Without Borders in collaboration with Leeds School of Arts, focuses on using music as a tool for social inclusion with refugees and displaced people.
A Meaningful Training Opportunity
Musicians Without Borders has been using music as a tool for personal, social, and political change for 25 years. Their Welcome Notes program aims to strengthen social inclusion through music, working in reception centers, asylum shelters, and safe houses where people often experience high levels of stress and uncertainty.
The Welcome Notes methodology emphasizes safety, inclusion, equality, creativity, and quality while teaching practical approaches to community music work with people who have experienced displacement and trauma. Participants learn about the biological, social, and psychological effects of music, understanding how music can influence human behavior and counter feelings of disconnection caused by difficult experiences.
This training connects directly to PROJECT MUSIC's commitment to serving young people through our El Sistema-inspired approach, which uses music education as a vehicle for positive social impact and personal development.
Building on Strong Leadership
Gabrielle brings extensive experience to this opportunity, including her work founding Teaching Artists International, a nonprofit that creates teaching artist exchanges spanning four continents. Her background also includes coaching at the Academy for Impact through Music, where she mentors teachers working in music for social action organizations worldwide, and now serving as Lead Program Consultant for El Sistema USA, the national organization supporting El Sistema inspired programs across the United States.
Her achievements include recognition as the winner of the 2020 Sphinx Tank and selection as one of Yamaha's "40 Under 40" in music education. She holds a Master's in International Education Policy from Harvard University and K-12 teaching credentials in both California and Connecticut.
Strengthening Our Community Impact
This professional development opportunity will enhance Gabrielle's leadership as PROJECT MUSIC continues to serve students from 25 different schools across Fairfield County, primarily in Stamford. Our programs provide music instruction, mentorship, and performance opportunities while building meaningful connections with young people who might not otherwise have access to high quality music education.
As Gabrielle has shared, she believes that relationships formed through striving for excellence in music can be life changing, especially for young people who face various systemic barriers. The practical skills and deeper understanding gained from this international training will support PROJECT MUSIC's ongoing work to create access and opportunity through music.
The timing of this fellowship also reflects PROJECT MUSIC's growth and evolution as an organization. As we continue to expand our community partnerships and deepen our impact, having leadership with enhanced expertise in working with diverse populations will strengthen our ability to serve all students effectively.
We are grateful for this recognition of Gabrielle's dedication to arts administration and excited about how this experience will benefit our students, staff, and programs in the months and years ahead.
