Our team
We’re a team of professionally trained and experienced performing artists, artisans and creative artists – including opera singers, musicians, dancers, costume designers, photographers, videographers, and writers passionate about music and using our skills to help heal the mental and/or emotional damage from the trauma of violence and poverty.
Joy Bechtler
Artistic Director
Junior Yakusu Itambo
Legal Collaborations Manager
Craig Levesque
Music Director
Dorcas Nende
Public Relations Manager
Samuel Niaty
Program Manager
Niccolo Bechtler
Creative Artist, Editor & Manager
“We are dedicated to bring music to the most despairing places to help bring peace and inspiration. We know music heals. Drastic times require artistic measures. If there is ever an opportunity, or need to present fine music for the people we will always be willing to go.”
Joe McKesson, Founding Member, Board of Trustees
Board of Directors
Tony Gruenewald
Tony Gruenewald works as an archivist for media organizations and is a widely published poet and writer. He has also worked as a production manager for a nonprofit audiobook library for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have a reading disability such as dyslexia. He has also worked in advertising and broadcast journalism and is Production Manager for a critically acclaimed literary journal. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University.
Joy Bechtler
Joy Bechtler has served in multiple capacities with the Operanauts organization since its incorporation in 2013. She currently serves as president on the board of directors.
Through Operanauts’ music training programs, Joy works directly with singers to help their voices grow stronger and more beautiful through customized vocal exercises and developing their repertoire. She holds a master’s in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California.
Vid Raturi
Vid Raturi has been involved with Operanauts since 2015, serving as President of Operanauts Youth and then Vice President of Operanauts. She is passionate about the therapeutic prowess of music. Vid has been researching the effects of music on executive function and neuroplasticity for the past 4 years in the Colombo Laboratory. She is a member of American Medical Women’s Association and is the founder of the chapter at Tulane University.
Joy Bechtler Founder (2014–2024)
Racheal Boezi (2016–2019)
Tony Gruenewald (2017–2022)
Avdi Hamit (2014–2017)
Joe McKesson (2014–2015)
Vid Raturi (2017–2023)
Brendan Teeley (2014–2016, 2020)
Anne Trevisan (2015–2017)
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