Shelby Archer, Program Operations Specialist

Shelby Archer is a musician, educator, and a soon-to-be graduate from Western Washington University. She grew up in Seattle and Bellevue, WA, and was an active musician throughout her childhood. They played Alto and Tenor Saxophone in Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble, as well as exploring several other instruments, such as Bass, Guitar, and Piano in their free time. She also joined percussion in high school, participating in ECB (Emerald City Boom - Community Drumline), Snowflake Lane (Toy Drummer), and Philharmonic Orchestra (Auxiliary percussion, Mallets, and Timpani), as well as playing the Synthesizer/Piano and Bass in the “Newport Pride” high school marching band. She continued to play music during college, participating in Vocal Jazz, Jazz Combos, and Big Band Jazz while at Western Washington University.

A passionate music educator who has worked with kids of all ages, they are dedicated to creating greater access for students to discover music and community in safe and inclusive learning environments. In her free-time, she loves to compose and produce music, learn to play new instruments and how to repair them, have long & silly deep-talks, bake bread and pastries, and research & discover new communities through music and art.

Walter Cano, Equipment Manager

Walter Cano is an award nominated jazz musician, seasoned music educator and Seattle JazzED almnus. He joins the Seattle JazzED team as the Family Support Advocate and Equipment Specialist.  

His professional career began during his musical education at Michigan State University where he directed Jazz Octet IV and taught private lessons. Upon graduation, he returned to his hometown in Washington state and taught high school jazz as well before focusing on jazz performance. He is currently lead trumpet for Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band and The Jazz Orchestra at the Dr. Phillips Center. In his free time he teaches his cat new tricks.

Equipped with years as a musician and music educator, Walter aims to empower children in music by improving access to education, particularly in Latinx communities. His work seeks remove existing barriers by directly supporting families in need.

Natalie Chan, Development Manager

Natalie Chan graduated with a B.A. in Human Services with a minor in Education and Social Justice from Western Washington University. She has been working in nonprofit fundraising and event planning for the past two years at Denise Louie Education Center and Kin On. For the past three years, she worked as a children’s educator and advocate at the Chinese Information Service Center.

Natalie is passionate about making positive impacts in under-resourced communities. Her experience working closely with communities, as well as her personal experience with institutionalized racism, has deepened her passion for social justice. One of her biggest goals in this field of work is to provide the youth access to endless opportunities and resources that will lay the foundation for their futures. Natalie is also a music fanatic. When you look in her Spotify library you will find a diverse taste in music. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts as well as spending time with her cats.

Kelly Clingan, Education Director

Kelly Clingan is an indigenous educator, trombonist, and mother. She is the Director of Education at Seattle JazzED, a jazz education nonprofit propelling students towards a lifelong appreciation of the art form. A graduate of Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington, her life and work are rooted in Seattle’s celebrated tradition of music education.

Kelly is a frequent adjudicator at jazz festivals across the Pacific Northwest and has become a highly respected and sought-after presenter to groups of music educators and education-based professionals at conferences, workshops, and radio/television interviews. She co-hosts “The Beth and Kelly Show: Music Teaching (and Life)”, a weekly podcast exploring music education-based solutions and highlighting allies in the work of strengthening the practice, with her teaching soulmate Beth Fortune.

In 2016, Kelly was honored as the University of Washington GWSS (Gender Women and Sexuality Studies) Alumni of the Year for her expansive work to increase gender parity in jazz. She provides vision serving on the board of regional and national nonprofit organizations; Earshot Jazz, American String Teachers Assocation (ASTA), Jazz Education Network (JEN), and Washington Music Education Association (WMEA). A seasoned trombonist, “la Kelly del Norte” performs weekly throughout the Puget Sound area in Banda Vagos, a traditional Mexican Banda.

“I am committed to driving gender and racial equity forward through music, from the beginning classroom to the professional stage. Join me in re-imagining music education that links artistic excellence to empowerment and social justice.”

Laurie de Koch, Founding Executive Director

Laurie's professional expertise and her personal passions converge as the Executive Director of Seattle JazzED. With a Master's degree in Arts Management, 25 years of nonprofit management experience, and a deep commitment to equity in arts education, Laurie naturally evolved from co-founder to full-time Executive Director of Seattle JazzED in March of 2011.

Inspired by the impact that music education has made on the lives of her own children who were fortunate enough to be in schools with strong music programs, Laurie devotes herself to ensuring that all students have access to exceptional music education.

In 2016, Laurie received an Executive Non-Profit Leadership Certificate from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.  She is also a member of the 2016-2017 National Art Strategies Chief Executive Cohort through which she received certificates of non-profit leadership from Harvard Business School and University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.  In 2015, she was awarded the Jazz Hero Award by the Jazz Journalist Association in New York City.

Michael Fowlkes, Program Manager

Michael Fowlkes is an experienced youth advocate with a lifelong love and passion for music and its creation. Growing up as the youngest member of a musical family, he was constantly surrounded by singing, dancing, and various instruments which cultivated his passion for music. He further developed this passion in high school by playing for his local church and forming a band with friends that performed at nearby venues. In college, he studied world music and song structure among other courses while pursuing a minor in Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Michael is excited to have the opportunity to support youth in building their confidence and skill in music at JazzED. 

Nicole Harvey, Interim Executive Director

Nicole Harvey is an avid music fan and jazz enthusiast, who brings a depth of knowledge in supporting community-based programs and initiatives in both domestic and international context, with a focus on education and youth development. As a non-traditional student herself, Nicole deeply believes in the power of education in helping a student reach their full potential and she is excited to bring her skills in community engagement and program development to further support the JazzED community. Originally from Alaska, Nicole is a proud Seattle transplant, with a Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Anthropology from Seattle University. 

Erin Hill, Communications and Development Director

Erin Hill is a child of the American South, steeped in a rich musical heritage woven together the soulful tones of gospel, the improvisation of jazz and the heart of rhythm and blues. These genres not only shaped her musical taste but also instilled in her a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling through music. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, she joined the Seattle JazzED team after years of communications strategy in public education. She proudly serves the music education nonprofit with an unwavering belief in the power of relationship building, advocacy and the art of storytelling to move mountains. For her, relaxing looks like a leisurely walk in the woods or diving headfirst into any science fiction thriller written by Octavia Butler.

BJ Montoya, Curriculum Manager and Lead Teacher

BJ’s passion for teaching music must have come from a family history of teachers and musicians. His grandparents were school teachers in the Philippines. And as they immigrated to North America, they were sure to bring and share their musical traditions as instrumentalists and dancers. His musical journey started as a student of Suzuki Violin Method for over 13 years at the University of Louisville School of Music Prep School. He also performed with the Louisville Youth Orchestra and other small local ensembles.

Beyond the classical foundation, the violin has afforded him an opportunity to express a wider range of styles. Since arriving in Seattle in 2001, he has been performing in a range of venues from sanctuaries to coffee shops to night clubs. He has been featured in local indie bands, gospel choirs, theater productions and his longstanding Irish party band, Whiskey Mary. His teaching builds from these experiences emphasizing social playing and creative expression through the many dialects that music has to offer whether fiddle, classical or jazz. BJ looks forward to sharing his passion for music and the joy the wonderfully versatile instrument can offer.

Alyssa Seng, Communications Manager

Alyssa Seng is a second-generation Southeast Asian American and a first-generation graduate. Raised by refugees in a diverse Southern California town, her values and passion for equity and community-building are a product of the unique blend of cultures that surrounded her. 

 After receiving her Bachelors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she began her professional career using storytelling to bring awareness to the transformative impact arts has in the community. Since moving to Seattle in 2019, she immersed herself in advocacy work from amplifying Southeast Asian American student voices to leading a COVID-19 public health campaign across Washington State while earning her Masters from the University of Washington. 

 Alyssa is elated to join Seattle JazzED, using her communications and marketing background to champion equity and increase access to arts and music education for our youth. 

Koru, Unofficial Intern

Koru is excited to be joining the team as a paw-sitive vibes specialist, with a PhD in Treat Seeking and a Master's in Melting Hearts. When he's not perfecting the art of the nap, Koru enjoys pitter pattering down the hallway, offering expert cuddle therapy, and reminding us that life is all about play, treats and the occasional behind-the-ear scratch.