MEET THE TEAM

HMA has an impact-inspired tEAM from diverse educational backgrounds and waLks of life

Our On-Site Team

At our LA studio every week!

RHEANNA LAUREN


Program Director, Hopeless Music Academy
Songwriter, Youth Mentor, Multidisciplinary Producer

  • Rheanna ‘caedance’ Lauren is an independent Canadian-American songwriter, recording artist, and music industry professional based in Los Angeles. Her sonic palette blends indie rock, emo, trapsoul, and pop, exploring themes of faith, identity, loss, and what it means to stay human in a complicated world, with a heavy focus on healing & honesty. She is affiliated with Donner Music, Hopeless Records, and SongWriteClub.

    As a creative with 13+ years of professional experience, Rheanna has worked on music with dozens of peers across Rio de Janeiro, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, NYC, Miami, and Atlanta. Her accomplished collaborators include Grammy-nominated and awarded peers Matheus Braz, Saint Paul, AUDIOCHUCK, and Bridgez, as well as Def Jam artist Jai'len Josey, Gabriel Lucchini, Ye Ali, Savannah Cristina, and more. Her work has been supported by institutions including SOCAN, The Canadian Consulate, Calgary Arts Development, and Miami-based SongwriteClub.

    As Program Director of Hopeless Records' new nonprofit in North Hollywood, Hopeless Music Academy, Rheanna helps to bring free music industry education to youth from under-resourced communities. She facilitates music business and music creation classes, designs and implements strategic programming, recruits educators and guest speakers, and bridges connections between emerging talent and established industry professionals. She also created an internship program that has provided results-proven mentorship to students from UCLA, USC, LACM, NYU, and more.

Amelia Nelson


Programming Intern

  • Amelia Nelson is a fourth year Music Industry student at the University of California, Los Angeles. She grew up in the Bay Area, where she discovered her love for music and playing the bass in middle school. After performing in chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and pit orchestras throughout high school and community college, she decided to pursue the business side of the industry at UCLA. Her interests lie primarily in event production, global touring, and entertainment law. 

    As an intern at Hopeless Music Academy, she hopes to share her passion for all things music with her students (and create a few new bassists!) Music has had a tremendous impact on her life, and she believes its power to build confidence and creativity is crucial to a well-rounded education. Amelia is excited to collaborate with HMA in making music education and the industry as a whole more equitable and accessible for all.

Tristan Pernito


Programming Intern

  • Tristan Pernito, is a versatile musician, multi-instrumentalist, and seasoned performer with a well-rounded career in music. Captivated by sound from an early age, Tristan began producing music on GarageBand in sixth grade, setting the stage for a lifelong passion. He holds an Associate in Music and a Recording Certificate from Fullerton College, and also a Bachelors in Music Industry Studies from California State University, Northridge and his expertise spans a variety of musical roles.

    Tristan is currently an audio engineer at Savannah Studios, where he works on projects for artists like Westport, Lostcat, and Duz Mancini, bringing his precision and creative touch to every recording. He is also a music teacher, sharing his skills and love for music with the next generation of musicians.

Iris Wu


Media Marketing Intern

  • Hi, I’m Iris, from Taiwan, and currently studying Music Business at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. I began learning classical music at a young age and earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance. Through performing and working with different ensembles, I’ve come to realize that music is more than technique or stage presence — it’s something that brings people together and supports growth.

    Coming from Taiwan to the U.S. to study the music industry has helped me see how music can play different roles across cultures, and it has deepened my appreciation for its value in education and community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more at HMA, and I hope to contribute thoughtfully and responsibly as part of the team.

Myren Bobryk-Ozaki


Marketing & Media Volunteer

  • Myren is an interdisciplinary, multi-hyphenate creative that has been involved in entertainment since their youth spanning dance, theatre, film, music, and fashion. With a B.S. in Communication, an MBA, and diverse hands-on experience across public relations, digital marketing, content development, and civic engagement, Myren is passionate about using marketing, communications, and production as a catalyst for impact.

Our Remote Team

Helping the program run from afar!

Zoe Cassidy


Project Coordination Intern

  • Zoe Cassidy is an Advertising & Marketing Communications student at Humber College in Canada. After graduation, she plans to continue her education in Toronto through a post-graduate certificate in Music Business, with the goal of building a career in music marketing.

    Her passion for music began in the dance studio, where she grew up as a competitive dancer. Through years of performance and now teaching, Zoe has seen firsthand how music shapes confidence, creativity, and personal growth in young people. She is especially passionate about supporting youth in creative spaces and watching them develop both skill and self-expression.

    Zoe is excited to bring her marketing education and lifelong love of music to Hopeless Music Academy and is grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow within a community dedicated to empowerment and access in music education.

Lizbeth Cornejo


Video Editing Volunteer

  • Hey! This is Liz – a big fan of music, art, love, and everything in between. I’m currently working in audiovisual post-production, and I’m totally obsessed with sound and color (periwinkle is my favorite!). Music has always been a huge part of my life, and my biggest dream is to do color grading for music videos… and if it’s for my favorite band one day? That would be the dream of all dreams.

    I’m a total hopeless romantic – always falling in love with love, songs, stories and little moments.

    My favorite plan is spending hours at a café talking about life. But head up: I’m super organized, so I’ll probably need to add it to my agenda first!

    If you’re reading this… want to grab a coffee sometime? :)