FOUNDER/Director – Seth Mausner

Seth Mausner was a Violist in the San Francisco Symphony from 1981-2009, participating in over 4000 symphonic performances in Davies Hall and in concert halls around the world. He also performed hundreds of chamber music and solo recitals. From 1987-2005 Seth was also the executive director of Chamber Music Sundaes, a concert series featuring symphony musicians in small ensembles. He taught violin and viola at the Community Music Center, and has been a volunteer tutor and mentor for many children. “I was very fortunate to benefit from a great music education, from 4th grade through college. After leaving the San Francisco symphony I was inspired to start this program, so youth with little opportunity could enjoy some of the benefits I had experienced.”

program & development executive – Suzanna Sitomer

As the product of a public-defender father and a depression-era mom (who spent a decade alone struggling to raise my two half-sisters), I was taught that my education, confidence, resilience, and tenacity were the prime factors ensuring my success despite financial uncertainty. A K-12 product of D.C. public schooling, including the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and the D.C. Youth Orchestra, I was given the gift of music at a troubling time in my upbringing, and owe so much of my success to this limitless medium. I grew up with people in my life whose path forward was thwarted by seemingly insurmountable setbacks. Music has given me a community of positive role models, an emotional outlet, and the discipline and consistency of undertaking a lifelong commitment beginning in grade school. Growing up with this model and experience, my mission in life became to give music and the skills it engenders to those who wouldn’t get it otherwise, and use it to build infallible confidence in people who are struggling.

Working with Harmony Project has thus been a dream fulfilled - I now strive to help HPBA grow by building the relationships and cultivating the new resources needed to expand HPBA to Oakland and beyond! 

Education Director – Jerry Pannone

Jerry Pannone was the orchestra conductor at School of the Arts High School in San Francisco from 1988 - 2009. He has taught all grades, from elementary through high school levels, including several years at inner city schools in Oakland. Jerry helped develop the California State Standards for the teaching of music and has facilitated workshops for music educators to develop their curriculum. He has received numerous awards for teaching, including the San Francisco Symphony’s 2003 Agnes Albert Award for excellence in music education and the 2009 Teacher of the Year Award in State Senate District 8.