PROJECT MUSIC’s Executive Director Chosen to Lead Programs Nationwide
We are thrilled to share that Gabrielle Molina, PROJECT MUSIC’s visionary Executive Director, has been selected as the inaugural Director of Programs for El Sistema USA, the national organization representing all 140 El Sistema-inspired programs across the United States, including PROJECT MUSIC.
This appointment represents not only a tremendous honor for Gabrielle personally, but a powerful testament to the work we’ve built together at PROJECT MUSIC and the impact our organization has made on the national stage.
A Journey of Growth and Impact
Gabrielle’s path to this prestigious national role began right here in our rehearsal rooms. When she first joined PROJECT MUSIC as a clarinet teacher in late 2018, few could have predicted the transformational journey ahead—though perhaps we should have seen the signs of her exceptional leadership from the beginning.
Since stepping into the Executive Director role in 2021, Gabrielle has guided PROJECT MUSIC through a period of remarkable growth and stability. Under her leadership, we’ve moved from operating with budget deficits to building healthy reserves, a foundation that ensures our students and families can count on PROJECT MUSIC for years to come. She expanded our organizational capacity by creating our first full-time programming position and bringing two additional full-time teachers onto our team, directly enhancing the quality and consistency of our students’ musical education.
Perhaps most visibly, Gabrielle championed the development of our string department, which has grown to match the size of our established winds, brass, and percussion programs. This expansion has opened new musical pathways for our students and strengthened our ability to perform full orchestral repertoire: a dream that seemed distant just a few years ago.
Positioning PROJECT MUSIC on the National Stage
Gabrielle’s impact extends far beyond our organizational growth. She cultivated meaningful community partnerships that have enriched our programming and expanded opportunities for our students. Under her guidance, PROJECT MUSIC students have earned spots in prestigious summer programs and performed under world-renowned conductors including Gustavo Dudamel and Marin Alsop, and debuted internationally in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Spain: experiences that have shaped their musical aspirations and opened doors to futures they might never have imagined.
Her strategic vision also elevated PROJECT MUSIC’s profile within the national El Sistema movement. This visibility and the strength of our programming caught the attention of El Sistema USA’s leadership, who recognized in Gabrielle someone who could bring authentic, field-tested experience to their national initiatives.
Continuing Our Partnership in a New Capacity
While we will deeply miss Gabrielle’s daily presence as our Executive Director (her last day in that role is August 15), we’re excited that her connection to PROJECT MUSIC will continue in meaningful ways. Gabrielle will be joining our Advisory Board, where her strategic insights and institutional knowledge will continue to guide our long-term vision. Additionally, she’ll maintain her involvement as a Lead Strategy Consultant, ensuring that the wisdom gained through her years of hands-on leadership remains accessible to our organization. And, of course, she’ll be stopping by time-to-time for clarinet masterclasses and performing with the PM Collective.
This ongoing partnership reflects what we’ve always known about Gabrielle: her commitment to PROJECT MUSIC runs deeper than any single role. She understands that strong organizations are built through sustained relationships and shared vision, not just individual positions.
A Testament to Our Shared Mission
Gabrielle’s appointment to this national leadership role speaks volumes about the quality of work happening at PROJECT MUSIC. When El Sistema USA sought someone to lead their program initiatives across 140 member organizations, serving 25,000 young musicians and 6,000 teaching artists, they chose someone whose experience was forged in our community, with our students, and through our challenges and triumphs.
As Gabrielle herself noted in El Sistema USA’s announcement, “After spending the last decade working in El Sistema-inspired programs… I am thrilled to bring real, lived experience to our national member organization.” That lived experience was cultivated right here, and it carries with it the voices, stories, and needs of our students and families.
Looking Forward Together
This transition represents growth for Gabrielle, for PROJECT MUSIC, and for the broader El Sistema movement. Gabrielle’s new role will amplify the lessons learned and innovations developed within our community, sharing them with organizations across the country while bringing national best practices back to inform our continued evolution.
We are immensely proud of Gabrielle’s achievement and grateful for the foundation she has built at PROJECT MUSIC. Her journey from clarinet teacher to national leader exemplifies the kind of pathways that strong organizations create, not just for the young people they serve, but for the educators and leaders who dedicate themselves to this transformative work.
As we celebrate this milestone, we do so with confidence in our continued mission and excitement for the collaborations ahead. Gabrielle’s success is PROJECT MUSIC’s success, and her continued involvement ensures that the partnership between our organization and the national movement will only grow stronger.
Congratulations, Gabrielle, on this well-deserved recognition of your leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to young musicians everywhere.
