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

she/her

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.

Tristan Pernito

he/him

Teaching & 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.

Helena Munoz

she/her

Intern

Helena Munoz is a rising junior at California State University Northridge studying Business Administration, Marketing with a minor in Business Law. Based in San Fernando Valley, she brings organizational skills and bilingual English-Spanish communication to the HMA team. At Hopeless Music Academy, Helena supports community outreach, content creation, student programming, and day-to-day coordination of activities for the summer music program. Outside of HMA, she is passionate about music, event planning and community initiatives that support young people in Los Angeles and abroad.

Denise Diaz

she/her

Intern

Denise is an incoming 4th year student at UCLA studying Political Science with a Minor in Philosophy. Based in Westwood, she brings an operations and legal perspective to the HMA team. Additionally, with being Bilingual in English and Spanish, she loves connecting with people in her local community and providing resources to empower youth . At Hopeless Music Academy, Denise will focus on operations and business work. Outside of HMA, Denise enjoys roaming bookstores, museums and being an AMC A-Lister.

Luke Witting

he/him

Intern

Luke is a rising senior at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying Independent Recording and Production. Based in Orange County, CA, he brings a passion for all things music, a positive attitude and commitment to inspire underserved youth in the community to join the HMA program. At Hopeless Music Academy, Luke is a recording engineer and teacher assistant. He also works closely with the marketing team, capturing behind the scenes content and discussing new ideas to increase community outreach. Luke has produced, written, and released his original music, mainly in the alternative pop genres, and has produced for other artists as well. Outside of work and school, he loves hiking and scuba diving.

Jude Laird

he/him

Intern

Jude Laird is a third year student at the University of Texas studying Psychology. Based in Austin, they bring creative experience and sharp observation to the HMA team. At Hopeless Music Academy, Jude assists in programming and marketing efforts, ensuring the students receive the best possible experience. Outside of HMA, Jude is pursuing a career as a music producer working with pop/indie artists in the blooming music scene of Austin, Texas.

Our Remote Team

Helping the program run from afar!

Lizbeth Cornejo

she/her

Video Editor

Lizbeth Robledo is an audiovisual post-production artist based in Guadalajara, Mexico, with a background in animation and digital arts. She brings creativity, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills to the Hopeless Music Academy team. At Hopeless Music Academy, Lizbeth supports the creative and visual side of the program, helping produce content that reflects its mission and the artists behind it. Outside of work, she's always chasing live music, discovering new cafés, and dreaming of one day color grading music videos for her favorite bands.

Kennedy Wright

she/her

Marketing Intern

Kennedy is a second-year student at DePaul University studying Performing Arts Management (Music Business). Based in Chicago, she brings marketing and interpersonal skills to the HMA team. At Hopeless Music Academy, Kennedy works to market the Academy, connecting families and partners to Hopeless.

Myren Bobryk-Ozaki

they/them

Marketing & Comms Coordinator

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.