melodiesasmedicine@gmail.com
About Us
Executive Team
Board of Directors:
Jonathan Hus
Founder and President
Hello, my name is Jonathan Hus and welcome to Melodies as Medicine! I am a dual neuroscience and music concentrator at Brown University on the pre-med path. I am passionate about piano, medicine, positively serving and impacting my community, and exploring neuroscience research. Music has always been a large and essential part of my life and I am guided by a mission to extrapolate my research within neuroscience to advance music as a healing modality in evidence based medical care.
I established Melodies as Medicine as a global platform that intertwines all of my passions and encourages service-oriented students to engage in the arts as a healing tool and to support seniors living with neurodegenerative diseases through collaborative music concerts, social media advocacy, and fundraising efforts.
Ryan Zhang
Executive Director of Educaton and Outreach
Hi! My name is Ryan Zhang, and I am a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University. I first played the piano in second grade and have fallen in love with it ever since. As a student, I believe that there is virtue in curiosity. I started my podcast, "The Missing Synapse," as a way to share my passion for neuroscience and learn something new every week.
Yuko Xiao
Virtual Concert Director and Lead Organizer
Hi! My name is Yuko Xiao, and I am a freshman in New York Univerisity. I play as a chamber and solo violinist and have been honored to win both national and provincial awards.To me, music transcends the limitations of words, offering a means to connect on a deep level that words often can't fully capture. My aspiration is that anyone who listens to my performances can experience this profound connection.
Catherine Lee
President of East Coast Development and Liason to China
Hi! I’m Catherine and I’m a freshman at New York University in New York City. I have been playing piano since kindergarten. In serving as our President of East Coast Development I will support distribution of our music at nursing facilities in several cantons in China. I feels passionate about music therapy, giving back to my community, and thrilled to join Melodies as Medicine.
Iris Tian
Outreach Liason - East Coast
Hi! My name is Iris and I’m a high school student in Boston! I developed a strong passion for music at a young age. I enjoy performing for others as both a solo violinist and in my local youth orchestra. I’m excited to join Melodies as Medicine and bring its mission to nursing homes in the greater Boston community!
Zachary Kopelman
Outreach Liason - Southeast
Hi! My name is Zachary and I’m a high school student in South Florida! I have a strong passion for musical theater and performing for audiences of all ages. I enjoy volunteering in my community and look forward to supporting Melodies as Medicine’s mission!
Jack Balciumas
Outreach Liaison - Mid-Atlantic
“Hi! My name is Jack and I’m a high school student in Maryland. I’ve always tried my best to help both the special-needs and elderly community. I believe that Melodies as Medicine will help many people with different needs. I am excited to bring Melodies as Medicine to Maryland and the senior and special-needs communities!”
Madison Zhan
Executive Director, North American Outreach
Hello! I am Madison Zhan, a freshman studying Economics at UC Berkeley. I am heavily involved in the non-profit sector, advocating for gender equality globally and ending elderly isolation. Being a part of Melodies at Medicine is fulfilling and inspires me to find new people, connect with others, and foster genuine relationships with like-minded people.
Nathan Farber
Outreach Liason
Hi, my name is Nathan Farber and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida! I am a driven student with a love for microbiology and dentistry. I recognize the profound impact that music can have on individuals and I am a strong community advocate who embodies compassion. I love to actively contribute in creating a positive change within my community through service and with a strong academic drive, I am excited to promote Melodies as Medicine mission supporting seniors in my community !
Tiffany Wong
Outreach Liason
Hi, my name is Tiffany and I am a sophomore at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) dedicated to utilizing technology for the betterment of others. I am thrilled to be a part of Melodies as Medicine, an organization committed to advancing music in healthcare settings worldwide. In addition to my role with Melodies as Medicine, I also host an elderly hub website aimed at assisting senior citizens in finding valuable resources. This platform serves as a central hub where elderly individuals can access valuable information and support tailored to their needs.
Abe Effress
President of West Coast Development
Hi! My name is Abe Effress, and I’m a pianist in California! As a YoungArts winner in jazz composition, I’m passionate about creating music! When I visit seniors in assisted living communities and hand out small instruments to everyone, I experience through their eyes and ears the power of collective music-making. I’m excited to introduce the West Coast to Melodies as Medicine, a cause so close to my heart.
Edward Zhu
(MD chapter)
Edward is an 11 th -grader with a deep love for music, biology, and
technology. He founded Project Pacemaker as a way to aid the
community by combining music and biotechnology. In his leadership
project, he has done two research projects, founded a biotechnology club
at his school, and created a piano tutoring group aimed at helping
beginners learn piano.
Elaina H and
Katheryn Wang
Co-leaders of the California chapter
Our names are Elaina Huang and Katheryn Wang, two high school students living in the Bay Area, California. We are highly motivated about promoting the health benefits of music towards maintaining grace and dignity with age. To that end, we are particularly invested in MM's method of promoting the healing qualities of music and are passionate about putting this into practice through visits to our local senior center. We love to host informational workshops, perform music and distribute CDs to the residents.
Belinda Chen
Belinda is a high school student in Seven Oaks Academy in the UK. Based in London, she has brought the magic of Melodies as Medicine to both her local community in London as well as her boarding community at Seven Oaks. She regularly visits senior centers in the area to bring the joy of musical healing to residents there, as well as to share with them free copies of MM's original CD productions.
Alexis Zhang
Alexis Zhang is a high school student in New Jersey who is passionate about the healing qualities of music, journalling and general mindfulness. She regularly brings the joy of such activities to local senior centers where she practices mindfulness activities with local residents. Since becoming president of the NJ chapter of MM, she has also been sharing the healing properties of classical music during her volunteer sessions.