Ms. Meier is a board certified music therapist, songwriter and international educator. She received her degree in Music Education/Music Therapy from Wartburg College, and master’s degree in neurologic music therapy from Colorado State University. Ms. Meier is a sought after clinician and presenter with over 20 years of experience working with families with special needs. She currently manages a dynamic team of therapists as co-founder of the The Music Therapy Center of California. In 2015, Ms. Meier was awarded the 2015 Profiles in Music Education Award and California Legislature Assembly Resolution by the Honorable Marie Waldron, 75th Assembly District. Through Banding Together she has helped to pioneer a national music social skill program called “Jam Sessions” that has been the recipient of over twelve grants. She is passionate about helping and serving families, especially those who may not be able to afford or access music therapy services.

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Julie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in flute performance from Central Washington University and a Master’s in Music Therapy from Western Michigan University. She has received training from the Center for Biomedical Training as a neurologic music therapy fellow from Colorado State University. She has been providing music therapy services to youth with special needs and retirees to the San Diego area since 2001. In 2004 Julie co-founded The Music Therapy Center of California (MTCCA), where she is currently vice-president and Internship Director. Her research investigating the effects of music intervention on reducing agitation in hospice patients with dementia has been published in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy.

In her work with children with special needs, Julie co-authored the “In Harmony: Integrated Learning Program with Speech and Music Therapy.” She has help to found, NoteAbilities which produces “Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse” (a DVD series to teach social and communication skills to children with autism) and is co-host of “The Autism Toolkit Podcast” a resources for parents, teachers and therapists. Julie is a founding board member of Banding Together, a San Diego non-profit whose mission is to provide music experiences, mentorships and instruments to youth with special needs. She has also been a guest on the KPBS Radio program “These Days”, KUSI “Good Morning San Diego” and Fox 5 News. She has presented locally and nationally for organizations such as Wayne County Speech and Language Association, Brandman University, La Sierra University, University of California San Diego, Western Michigan University, the Autism Tree Project Foundation, Kids Included Together, the Autism Education Network, and the American Music Therapy Association.

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Kim Levey, Ed.D. joined Banding Together in 2017. Since joining the organization she has seen the power that music can have to transform lives. She loves being a part of the Banding Together events and watching the progress the participants make as they engage with music therapy. Dr. Levey serves as the Associate Vice President for Curriculum & Educational Effectiveness at National University and also is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Education. With a passion for education in all its forms, her career and research are focused on assessment of and for learning, curriculum design, education policy, and organizational dynamics and change. Prior to joining academia, she worked in the non-profit, advertising, and financial services industries. She earned her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University in 2019.

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Chris Modl is an experienced tour manager and audio engineer with extensive experience working in the music industry. He joined Banding Together to bring his understanding of production into the event planning for fundraisers throughout the year. He has seen how impactful the programs of Banding Together help the participants and families of those programs open up and grow together, it changes lives!

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Terry Lewis is the former Executive Vice President of the Yamaha Corporation of America (until 2008) and was in charge of Yamaha’s musical instrument business in the U.S. for many years. He also served as President of two Yamaha subsidiary companies, Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. in New York City and Yamaha Entertainment Group, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. Until 2016, he also served as Chairman of the Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute, an organization that he co-founded in 2005 with CEO and noted neurologist Dr. Barry Bittman and the late Karl T. Bruhn, the acknowledged “Father of Music Making and Wellness” in the music industry.

The Institute has performed and published groundbreaking and persuasive research, including genomic studies that have successfully measured significant and positive social and biological changes among people who engage in active music-making. The Institute has also performed many other research projects in collaboration with MIT, The Cleveland Clinic, The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and many other organizations.

He is now President of International Business Resources, Ltd., a consulting practice that he launched ten years ago, serving the music industry and capital investment clients.

Throughout his career, Lewis has participated in collaboration with NAMM as an advocate for arts education and music therapy on Capitol Hill. In 2012, Lewis represented the musical products industry at the National Arts and Military Roundtable in Washington DC, which included Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius and Rear Admiral Alton Stocks, Commander, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In 2013, Lewis also represented the industry at the National Arts and Military Summit at Walter Reed. These initiatives were convened to develop new music and arts-related programs to support wounded warriors, veterans and military families. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Banding Together, the San Diego-based nonprofit arm of the Music Therapy Center of California whose mission is to bring music opportunities to individuals with special needs in the San Diego Area.

Mr. Lewis holds MBA from Pepperdine University and has frequently served as guest faculty for Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and other colleges and universities.

He lives in North San Diego County, CA with his wife, Sue.

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Seth Marra, CMA is a finance professional with a dozen years of experience in banking, investments, and corporate financial planning. In late 2023, he decided to look for an opportunity to lend his expertise to an arts-focused non-profit organization where he could have an impact. He believes art, music, and literature are essential to development at any age, and was honored to join Banding Together in 2024. Seth has a BA in History from UC Santa Cruz, an MBA from UC Davis, and holds a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Dr. Ritika Bhawal is an accomplished academic professional and Professor, serving as the Program Director of the Bachelor’s in Public Health at the Department of Healthcare Leadership, National University. With a physician’s degree from India and advanced degrees, including a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD in Health Behavior from Indiana University, Dr. Bhawal brings extensive experience and knowledge to her role.

Specializing in human sexuality, Dr. Bhawal has made significant contributions to public health education and healthcare leadership. Her pioneering research explores the impact of social and behavioral factors on sexual health, with a particular focus on developing educational interventions for marginalized groups. Notably, she developed an innovative educational intervention regarding the gynecological exam for women with developmental disabilities, aiming to inform policy changes and improve healthcare outcomes.

Dr. Bhawal is deeply committed to community service and actively promotes community engagement through her volunteer work with the Center on Community Solutions and the Afghan Refugee youth program. Her passion for advocating against domestic violence drives much of her research and community work, as she seeks to support and advocate for the target population.

A visionary and change agent, Dr. Bhawal is adept at leading academic programs and contributing to public health research. She is recognized for her ability to see the visions of tomorrow and the revelations of today, continuously advocating for the underprivileged and underrepresented populations, and making strides toward advancing health education and research. Her work not only enriches her students' learning experiences but also actively contributes to the betterment of public health frameworks locally and globally.

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Jeni Rayle has worked with children for over 30 years. She has been a camp counselor, special education teacher, and now runs a business as a special education advocate, supporting families through the special education process. She discovered Banding Together went she left teaching and found herself without IEPs to write at night and has been volunteering at Jam Sessions since 2017.

Growing up in a Navy family, Jeni found herself moving a lot when she was younger. Her family was lucky to have found their way from the San Joaquin Valley to San Diego when she was in elementary school and they never left. She has lived in San Diego for over 40 years, leaving for Los Angeles for a few years for college only to find her way back to graduate from San Diego State. She went on to earn both multi-subject and special education credentials from San Diego State.

Jeni lives with her husband, 2 teenagers, and a very animated husky/malamute mix, named Ozzy. Her teenagers keep her busy as she volunteers as a marching band mom and serves as president of her daughter’s cheer booster board. The family enjoys camping, skiing, and just about anything that takes them outdoors.

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