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Meet Our Maestros

Step behind the curtain and meet the driving force of Key to Change Studio – our dedicated staff and esteemed board members. Each member of our team brings a unique melody of skills, experience, and passion for music education and community enrichment. From seasoned educators to accomplished musicians, and visionary leaders, our staff and board are the heartbeat of our studio.

Explore our Team
Learn About Dr. Morris

Board of Directors

Meet the Pillars of Passion: Our Board of Directors at Key to Change Studio. Each board member brings a unique blend of expertise, vision, and dedication to the table, playing a crucial role in steering our mission towards success. These leaders are not just decision-makers; they are advocates and ambassadors of music education, deeply committed to enriching lives through music.

Founder

Dr. Quinton Morris

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Alex Diaz

President

Alex Diaz

Alex Diaz

By Day: Alex Diaz is a Senior Product Marketing Manager for the web development platform, Webflow (previously Global Marketing Manager at Uber), with 9+ years working across a wide range of industries — from startups, ad agencies, and Fortune 500s — focused on go-to-market strategies, driving the strategic marketing framework among internal groups, and executing growth marketing tactics for products and brands.
By Night: creative cooking enthusiast, amateur mixologist, and observer of global cultures + social behavior around tech, motivation, and communities.
In-between: Executive Committee member for Minds Matter Seattle, member of the UW Communication Department Alumni Board of Advisors, and (previously) a long time advisory board member to Key to Change Studio before joining the Board of Directors.
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Treasurer

Susan Smith Leland

Susan Smith Leland

Susan Smith Leland recently retired from a 33-year career in education serving as the CFO for several school districts and most recently serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Support Services for the Renton School District. She earned her BA from Evergreen College in Liberal Arts and Masters of Education from Seattle University in School Business Administration. During her career she served as a board member and President of the Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO), created and served on the Certification Governance Board and was a member of the OSPI School District Accounting Advisory Committee.

In addition, Susan attended the Social Change Institute on Cortes Island in B.C. developing new ideas for school/community engagement in the areas of the environment and social justice. Susan was awarded the Outstanding Student of the Year in the School of Education while at Seattle University. She was also awarded the highest honor from WASBO, their Outstanding Service Award and also received their Unsung Heroine Award, given by the Executive Director of the organization. Susan is a flute player and was a member of the Seattle All-City Band for five years. She is married to the love of her life, her husband Rod and has 3 children. They live in Auburn on Lake Killarney.

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Secretary

Brenda Barnes

Brenda Barnes

Brenda Barnes has been a leader in public radio for more than 30 years, serving as CEO of stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Seattle, among others. She has served on the boards of National Public Radio, the public radio think tank Station Resource Group, Greater Public, and other national organizations in the field. She came to Seattle in 2018 to serve as CEO of Classical KING FM after 20 years of leading the classical stations in Southern California and the Bay Area. She is a member of the Community Development Roundtable, Seattle Rotary, the Seattle Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, and a proud member of the board of Key to Change Studio.
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Board Member

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson is a marketing professional with experience in demand generation and campaign management. He graduated from the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University with a major in marketing. Over the past five years, he has spent time in the real estate and tech industries. Before joining Salesforce as a Digital Campaign Manager and Canada Region Lead, he worked at Tableau, where he managed global full-funnel digital marketing campaigns. At Salesforce, Andrew takes the lead in developing strategic digital marketing initiatives for Canada, using his data-driven approach to drive results and engage potential customers.

Outside of work, Andrew is a dedicated violinist. He discovered his love for the instrument at the age of 7 and has been playing ever since. Andrew currently performs with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra and the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra. Music holds a special place in his heart, which is why he wants to help make the classical music world accessible to everyone.

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Board Member

Matt Feldmeyer

Matt Feldmeyer

Matt Feldmeyer is an architect who has worked in the design & construction industry for more than 25 years.  Since 2016, he has been working for the Renton School District in the Capital Planning & Construction office, where he currently serves as the Executive Director.  Prior to that, he worked for capital projects offices at Seattle University and the State of Washington, as well as architecture firms in Seattle and his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana.  He earned his Master of Public Administration from Seattle University, as well as a Bachelor of Architecture and a B.S. in Environmental Design from Ball State University.  Matt has had the pleasure of working on and learning from a large variety of building types, including K-12 and higher education, community centers, laboratories, government campuses, multi-family & mixed-use, places of worship, restaurants/bars, and many more.  He has received WA Governor’s Smart Community Awards for his work on both Sartori Elementary School and the Family First Community Center.

Matt lives in the Renton community with his wife, three young kids, a dog, and a cat.  His free time is mostly spent with his family, hiking/camping, traveling, and occasionally remodeling homes.  He is very passionate about creating outstanding learning environments and removing barriers that prevent the youth of our communities from pursuing their best potential future.  He is a proud member of the Board of Key to Change and very excited to support the organization’s efforts to develop the youth of South King County and surrounding areas into self-aware leaders.

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Music Instructor & Coach

Noah Geller

Noah Geller

Noah Geller is the Concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony. He comes to Seattle from the Kansas City Symphony, where he was Concertmaster since 2012. Prior to this, he held posts in The Philadelphia Orchestra as a first violin section member and later as Acting Assistant Concertmaster. He attended The Juilliard School for both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and has also performed with many chamber and festival organizations around the U.S. including the Marlboro Music Festival, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Tanglewood Music Center, and here in the Pacific Northwest at the Olympic Music Festival in Port Townsend, Washington.

Geller and his wife, percussionist Mari Yoshinaga, and their dog, Monkey, reside in Seattle. He performs on a violin by Justin Hess made in 2020.

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Music Instructor & Coach

Geoffrey Liu

Geoffrey Liu

A software engineer by trade and a musician at heart, Geoffrey Liu began studying piano at the age of 7, and three years later, picked up the violin. He found his passion for classical music at the age of 13, after listening to a recording of Beethoven’s Waldstein piano sonata. Since then, Mr. Liu has been active in his musical community as a pianist, violinist, and violist. In high school, he was the recipient of numerous awards, including a three-time honorable mention at the Northwest Chopin Festival, and a first place prize at the 2012 WMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest. As a result of winning the latter competition, Mr. Liu was invited to perform his solo at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, an experience he still cherishes as one of his most memorable performances.
Mr. Liu continued his music education at the University of Washington, graduating in 2016 with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Music. During his time at the university, he studied piano with Dr. Dainius Vaicekonis, and regularly performed with the UW Symphony Orchestra on violin and keyboard. He was twice the recipient of a music scholarship, and was a finalist in the 2013 UW Concerto Competition.
After college, Mr. Liu moved to California, where he was an accompanist at the Community School of Music and Art (CSMA) in Mountain View, regularly accompanying students of all ages and for a diverse variety of musical styles. He was also a keyboardist, violinist, and violist with Redwood Symphony, an all-volunteer orchestra in the Bay Area known for performing and premiering ambitious works across the musical repertoire.
Aside from his career aspirations, Mr. Liu enjoys hiking, photography, and travel. He currently resides in Seattle, a place he has considered home for the majority of his life.
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ChrisHeadshot

Pianist & Coach

Chris Powell

Chris Powell

Chris Powell is a pianist and arranger with a broad musical background. He earned his bachelor’s degree in piano performance from The University of Tulsa and a master’s degree in collaborative piano from The University of Colorado Boulder. Chris works across multiple genres, performing classical music, jazz, musical theatre, and pop.

Gavriel is also a passionate musician. Gavriel played guitar and piano growing up, but mostly sang. While Gavriel served as Co-President for their first collegiate a cappella group, they fundraised over $10,000 to successfully fund their 10-song album. Gavriel's second a cappella group competed in the 2022 ICCA, where Gavriel was awarded 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion' at both the quarterfinal and semifinal level.

In their free time, Gavriel enjoys watching cartoons, dancing at concerts, and singing with the Seattle Men's Chorus.

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Development Officer

Robert Simonds

Robert Simonds

Robert H. Simonds comes to Key to Change with over two decades of experience as a concert violinist, educator, and arts management consultant. He has held tenured positions with major orchestras across the U.S., performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician, and has worked behind the scenes to make the performing arts more valuable to their communities.

He believes that arts institutions have a responsibility to promote individual achievement, social cohesion, and economic development. In his previous roles, Rob spearheaded innovative initiatives to collaborate with eclectic artists, connect the arts with diverse populations, and strengthen connections with donors and audiences. To further more public-minded objectives, Rob resigned from his position as principal second violinist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021 to earn a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he focused on economic policy, social entrepreneurship, and non-profit management.

Originally from Massachusetts, Rob began violin lessons at a young age with his grandmother. While the violin became his career, it also opened doors to countless experiences and opportunities. He is excited to join Key to Change’s team and help create opportunities for young people in South King County to unlock their full potential through music.

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Grants Manager

Quenton Baker

Quenton Baker

Quenton Baker is a poet and educator from Seattle. His work has appeared in The Offing, Jubilat, Vinyl, The Rumpus and elsewhere. He is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and the recipient of the 2018 Arts Innovator Award from Artist Trust. He was a 2019 Robert Rauschenberg Artist in Residence and a 2021 NEA Fellow. He is the author of This Glittering Republic (Willow Books, 2016) and we pilot the blood (The 3rd Thing, 2021).

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Creative Content Manager

Nik Harper

Nik Harper

Nik is an Emmy winning commercial and music video director who started his career making videos with his directing partner in his parent’s garage. Now, he has the privilege of working with some of the world’s biggest brands, agencies, and record labels. His work has been featured across the internet and in various print publications. He’s been lucky enough to screen his work at film festivals such as SXSW, the UKMVAs, LA Film Festival, and many more, resulting in a couple of awards.

He’s directed commercial content for Adidas, MTV, KFC, Hellmann’s, and Lakai Footwear among others. Working with ad agencies and record labels such as Ogilvy & Mather, Analog Folk, Virgin Records, Island Records and Columbia Records has been an honor for him.

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Analisa Headshot

String Studio Assistant

Analisa Ruiz

Analisa Ruiz

Analisa is the String Studio Assistant at Key to Change, where she previously served as an intern. During high school, she studied violin and enrolled in group violin lessons all four years of high school. In addition to playing the violin, she is a gifted visual artist. She enjoys spending time with family and working in our office, where she assists with the administrative duties of running the studio and tracking progress reports and metrics of all of our current students.

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Gavriel Miles Headshot

Executive Assistant & Office Manager

Gavriel Miles

Gavriel Miles

Gavriel graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with both Bachelors and Masters in Game Design and Development. He believes understanding each other is key to healing the world, and the interactive element of games appealed to him as the avenue. His project, "Boiling Over," was awarded 'Best Game Impact' in the RIT Games Showcase 2022 and the RPI Gamefest 2022, and represented RIT and MAGIC Spell Studios at the 2022 Game Developers Conference.

Gavriel is also a passionate musician. Gavriel played guitar and piano growing up, but mostly sang. While Gavriel served as Co-President for their first collegiate a cappella group, they fundraised over $10,000 to successfully fund their 10-song album. Gavriel's second a cappella group competed in the 2022 ICCA, where Gavriel was awarded 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion' at both the quarterfinal and semifinal level.

In their free time, Gavriel enjoys watching cartoons, dancing at concerts, and singing with the Seattle Men's Chorus.

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bookkeeper

Viesta Morris

Viesta Morris

Office & Operations Coordinator

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Staff

The Heart and Soul of Key to Change Studio. Our staff is a vibrant ensemble of experienced educators, talented musicians, and dedicated administrators, each bringing their unique note to the symphony of our studio. They are the day-to-day champions who bring our mission to life, nurturing the talents of our students and ensuring a harmonious learning environment.

Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board at Key to Change Studio. Composed of esteemed experts from various fields, our Advisory Board brings a wealth of knowledge, insight, and strategic guidance to our studio. These distinguished individuals lend their expertise in music, education, business, and community engagement, providing valuable perspectives that help shape and enhance our programs and outreach.

  • Bernard Ablola
    Founder, Think Strategy
  • Stephanie Ellis-Smith
    CEO, Phila Giving
  • Peter Drury
    CEO, Strategy Partner, LLC. Wellspring Family Services
  • Mele Miller
    CEO, RiteSize
  • LeAnne Moss
    Executive Director of the Renton Regional Community Foundation
  • Chris Tugwell
    CEO, Be Well Consulting
  • Vivian Phillips
    Arts Consultant
  • Ashley Glovier
    Executive Assistant, New Relic
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Susan Smith Leland

Susan Smith Leland recently retired from a 33-year career in education serving as the CFO for several school districts and most recently serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Support Services for the Renton School District. She earned her BA from Evergreen College in Liberal Arts and Masters of Education from Seattle University in School Business Administration. During her career she served as a board member and President of the Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO), created and served on the Certification Governance Board and was a member of the OSPI School District Accounting Advisory Committee.

In addition, Susan attended the Social Change Institute on Cortes Island in B.C. developing new ideas for school/community engagement in the areas of the environment and social justice. Susan was awarded the Outstanding Student of the Year in the School of Education while at Seattle University. She was also awarded the highest honor from WASBO, their Outstanding Service Award and also received their Unsung Heroine Award, given by the Executive Director of the organization. Susan is a flute player and was a member of the Seattle All-City Band for five years. She is married to the love of her life, her husband Rod and has 3 children. They live in Auburn on Lake Killarney.

Alex Diaz

By Day: Alex Diaz is a Senior Product Marketing Manager for the web development platform, Webflow (previously Global Marketing Manager at Uber), with 9+ years working across a wide range of industries — from startups, ad agencies, and Fortune 500s — focused on go-to-market strategies, driving the strategic marketing framework among internal groups, and executing growth marketing tactics for products and brands.
By Night: creative cooking enthusiast, amateur mixologist, and observer of global cultures + social behavior around tech, motivation, and communities.
In-between: Executive Committee member for Minds Matter Seattle, member of the UW Communication Department Alumni Board of Advisors, and (previously) a long time advisory board member to Key to Change Studio before joining the Board of Directors.