MEET THE TEAM
Hma HAS An impact-inspired tEAM from diverse educational backgrounds and waLks of life
Program Director, Hopeless Music Academy
Songwriter, Youth Mentor, Multidisciplinary Producer
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Rheanna Lauren values creativity, social justice, diverse inclusion, and empowerment via access and education–we’re excited to have her bridge her rich experience with youth, music, and programming to trailblaze Hopeless Music Academy. She is busy day-to day programming safe, meaningful experiences in music education for our students, and connecting with potential music industry collaborators to support our vision.
Rheanna is a Canadian-American songwriter, youth director, and project producer based in LA.Spanning 15+ years, she’s worked with adolescents both directly, and in programming via summer camps, after school care, social emotional learning, and arts and sports education. Rheanna studied justice relating to social, political and economic change via the Development Studies program at University of Calgary, Canada. She’s volunteered in various underserved communities, such as working with vulnerable women and children in El Alto, serving food in Skid Row, and living/volunteering in a transitional housing facility in Calgary.
Rheanna enjoys sourcing and orchestrating the people, places, and things needed to achieve a common goal. She’s worked in programming, media, and event production for 14+ years, with clients and projects like Glade, Olivia Rodrigo, USC, UNITY Charity, Socality, Sotheby’s, and more.Having been in the music community as an experiential producer, musician, and video professional for 18+ years, and as a professional songwriter for 4 years, she has worked with talented names in Canada, Brasil, and the USA, such as Def Jam artist Jai’len Josey, Gabriel Lucchini (Anitta), Ye Ali, Wallis Lane, Madden Flow Entertainment, Savannah Cristina, The Canadian National Music Centre, SongwriteClub, and more.
Rheanna studies languages to expand her potential for impact, and currently speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese. With connections in Brazilian favelas, to business owners in Canada, to Grammy nominated creators in North America, Rheanna is a connector with vision and reach. She’s an advocate of representation mattering, and proud to blaze trails where other women, BIPOC, and neurodivergent individuals such as herself have historically not had equal opportunity.
chris yu
Marketing & Project Intern
NYU Intern, Spring 2025
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Born in Nanjing, China, currently based in
Los Angeles, Ruocheng Yu, better known
under the artist name Chris Ruo, has gone
from bedroom producer to one of the most
streamed Chinese electronic artists within a
year. With music being featured on Editorial
Playlists including New Music Friday, Electro
Mix, 電音新浪潮 and more, Chris Ruo’s
signature style—a blend of chill guitars with
rhythmic electronic beats—has resonated
with listeners seeking solace in the rhythm.
His unique sound has led to consistent
collaborations with prestigious labels such
as Warner Music, Paraíso, Lilly Era,
Chillyourmind and more, cementing his
status as a versatile and evolving artist in the
competitive music landscape.
Production & Programming Intern
USC Intern, Spring 2025
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My name is Reese Whitley, and I am currently an undergraduate sophomore studying music industry at USC! I have grown up playing piano and guitar, and I am also currently pursuing a minor in classical saxophone performance, since I have been playing the saxophone for almost ten years. I grew up in California, in a coastal beach town called Ventura, so I spent almost all of my childhood in the ocean, surfing, paddleboarding, and hiking along the coast. My love for music began with television and film soundtracks, and it has since grown into a deep passion for music publishing and sync licensing which is what I hope to pursue in the future. At USC, I’m involved in the university wind ensemble, the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and the Trojan Knights service organization, whom I also enjoy managing social media for.
CARTER COFFEY
Production & Programming Intern
UCLA Intern, Spring 2025
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Carter Coffee is a 21 year old singer, songwriter, producer and visual artist from
Southern California currently attending the Music Industry program at UCLA. Carter’s always
had an insatiable creative urge, dabbling across all styles and genres, collecting an eclectic set
of skills. Whether it’s visual art, music, video/photo editing, writing and more, he always brings
his signature cheery attitude and sparkly flair. As an up and coming artist, as well as a generally
outgoing guy, he’s always looking to connect with the people around him and for meaningful
bonds with others.
jean milan
Production & Content Intern
Intern
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Hello, my name is Jean Milan. I was born in Colombia but was raised in six different countries. I
am currently based in LA. I am a grad student from Icon Collective and work as a freelance
music producer, songwriter, and vocalist. My work blends alternative dark music with electronic
and rock influences, driven by raw emotion and storytelling. With years of experience in music
production and songwriting, I specialize in creating immersive soundscapes that connect deeply
with listeners. I am passionate about collaborating with artists to bring their visions to life and
constantly evolving my craft to push creative boundaries.
LEORA SAGALOVSKI
Talent & Content Intern
Berklee Intern, Spring 2025
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I’m a passionate music business student at Berklee College of Music with real-world experience supporting artists and navigating the industry. I’ve interned at a top music booking agency, where I developed a strong foundation in artist relations and logistics. Most recently, I worked as Merchandise Manager and Personal Assistant for Lola Young’s tour, handling inventory management, creative promotions, scheduling, and seamless day-to-day artist support. These roles taught me how to thrive under pressure, think strategically, and deliver results.
Beyond music, I’ve launched my own e-commerce coffee brand, Java & Dirt, managing operations, branding, and customer engagement. This entrepreneurial journey has sharpened my leadership, creativity, and problem-solving skills—qualities I bring to every project I take on. I’m eager to contribute my experience, drive, and fresh perspective to the music industry. Let’s connect and explore how we can create something impactful together!
vitor siqueira
Education Assistant
Engineer, Producer, and Youth Mentor
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Brazilian educator, bilingually specializing in data analysis for music streaming and social media platforms.
Experienced audio engineer and music producer with a background in freelance work and staff positions at commercial recording studios. Collaborated with independent artists, record labels, visual media companies, and the fashion industry.