Giving all kids a chance to play.

Education Director, cello, Haven String Quartet

Philip Boulanger maintains an active and varied career as a cellist. Prior to joining Music Haven as its Resident Cellist in 2013, Philip served as a Teaching Artist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, designing new and innovative curriculum for a variety of music education and outreach programs across Chicago Public Schools. Philip worked closely with Yo-Yo Ma on the Symphony’s Citizen Musician Initiative, including a performance together of Schubert’s Cello Quintet, and joined the CSO cello section for their MusicNOW series. Philip received his Masters in Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University and was the teaching assistant to Hans Jensen at the Meadowmount School of Music. While at Northwestern, Philip also held the position of Assistant Principal Cellist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Philip received his Bachelors of Music from Boston University, and an Artist Certificate from the Krakow Academy of Music in Poland.

Director of Development and Community Engagement

Lygia holds a BA in International Studies with a minor in Studies of Progressive American Social Movements from Trinity College, a M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. She has worked in the private and public sectors of education for more than a decade. As a teacher and former program assistant for Horizons at Foote School, Lygia has worked diligently to produce successful, inclusive, learning experiences for students of New Haven Public Schools. Music Haven has served as a second home to Lygia and her family for over five years as a parent to several Music Haven students. She also served for two years as a member of the Board of Directors. Lygia’s vested interest and passion for Music Haven stems from a deep appreciation for the arts, and the vision to empower children with opportunity, exposure, and the ability to grow through music.

Resident Musician, violin

Described as a "Compelling Violinist" by the New York Times, Patrick Doane appears with ensembles including Orchestra of St. Luke's, Harrisburg Symphony, Hartford Symphony, New Haven Symphony and American Contemporary Music Ensemble. Busy as a performer, he plays recitals and chamber concerts throughout the United States and has served as concertmaster in international orchestral tours. He has appeared alongside artists such as Savion Glover, and Keith Lockhart, as well as members of the Muir, Portland and Attacca Quartets. Patrick received his Bachelor and Masters degrees from Juilliard studying with Sally Thomas and Naoko Tanaka. As a composer he has had works commissioned for string quartet and chamber orchestra. He is currently working on his Doctorate at The Graduate Center, CUNY in New York City where he has studies with Daniel Phillips and Lara Lev.

Resident Musician, viola, Haven String Quartet

Riana is an American-Indonesian violinist and violist who expresses herself passionately in both solo and chamber music. She made her debut at the Musikverein in Vienna as a first-prize winner of the 2016 Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition. Often praised for her soulful sound and wide range of repertoire, she has given public performances in various concert halls throughout the globe.

Since the age of six, Riana has had the honor of learning under the tutelage of great musicians and masters of their craft, from Pavel Feldman (Moscow Conservatory graduate) to Prof. Wonji Kim-Ozim, earning her a seat at the esteemed Leopold Mozart Institute for highly gifted students. Riana holds a double Bachelor of Arts degree in Violin and Viola Performance from the Mozarteum University and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music.

Administrative & Student Support Manager

Born in Providence, RI, Karina Irizarry has lived in New Haven, CT for 6 years now and calls it home. She attended the University of New Haven (UNH) and graduated in May of 2016 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice: Investigative Services and minored in Psychology and in Music. Karina has a passion for music and graphic design and lets it inspire her every day. She first heard of Music Haven through UNH’s Community Work Study Program during her freshman year. Eager to get to work right away, she became part of the Music Haven family as our Work Study student during all four years at school, and then was hired full time when she graduated! After taking some time in 2021 to pursue more of her music and graphic design, she is back as our Administrative & Student Support Manager.

Communications Manager

Jonathan, known affectionately as Jaylee, is a former Latin Urban recording artist who developed a love for storytelling when he began to storyboard for his own music videos, then transitioned to storyboarding videos for multiple Latin Grammy award-winning artists. After exiting the music industry, Jaylee took an interest in project management and digital marketing & strategy, two skills that have led him to consult for numerous million-dollar companies nationwide on content creation, marketing, and business strategy. He attended the University of New Haven’s Music Industry Program with a focus on Marketing & Communications.

Operations & Outreach Manager

Toccara Joyce moved to New Haven, CT at a young age and discovered a strong passion for music and dance. She danced with the New Haven Ballet Company and then attended Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School for middle school and Wilbur Cross High School where she continued in the arts, cheerleading, and softball, but also developed a love for cooking and baking in her Home Economics class. Toccara attended Southern Connecticut State University and studied Child Psychology, pursuing her passion for helping children. Her son has been a Music Haven violinist since 2017. In her spare time, Toccara continues to dance at Tia Russell Dance Studio, and shares a cupcake business with her step-daughter called Snacks by Snackz. She joined the Music Haven team in 2021 because of her desire to help make a change in our community and to continue spreading her love for children and the arts.

Manager of Student Belonging

Alana Ladson is the Manager of Student Belonging at Music Haven. Alana graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She was an AmeriCorps service member with City Year in Brooklyn, NY, teaching 3-5 grade students core subjects and running extracurricular activities. She was also the Program Coordinator at EVOLUTIONS Afterschool Program at Yale Peabody Museum as well as Project Director at Artspace for their CHANNEL VOICES programming. A New Haven native, Alana brings years of education, youth engagement, admin, and outreach experience from her past and current work. Additionally, Alana is an artist and graphic designer. Her business, Alana Ladson Art, focuses on creating positive and powerful images of BIPOC individuals. She has worked and collaborated with local clients such as the New Haven Arts Council, Elm City Lit Fest, and more. Alana has a deep passion for the arts, social justice, and education which she hopes to bring to her work at Music Haven.

Artistic Director, violin, Haven String Quartet

Yaira Matyakubova has performed in Carnegie Hall with the Silk Road Project in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and Pinchas Zuckerman, and she is a tenured member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. She received her Bachelor’s degree from The Harid Conservatory and her Master’s degree from Rice University in Houston, where she was honored with a President’s Award. Ms. Matyakubova further pursued her musical studies at Yale University from 2003-2005. Her teachers have included Syoko Aki, Kathleen Winkler, Julia Bushkova, and Isaak Reider.

Executive Director

Milda Torres McClain is an enthusiastic and passionate leader, and her commitment to social change and helping children succeed brought her to Music Haven in 2013. She knew she had found her home away from home when she first walked through the Music Haven doors. Prior to becoming Executive Director in July 2022, Milda served as Co-Executive Director and for many years as Music Haven’s Director of Operations and Outreach. Before joining Music Haven, Milda owned and operated her own health and wellness business, and she founded and implemented a nutrition and fitness afterschool program for middle schoolers and pre-k students. Milda also spent 22 years working for the Federal Government, where she held various positions in different agencies. Milda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven and is also a Life Wellness Coach. Milda has lived in New Haven since moving from Puerto Rico, first in the Hill and in Fair Haven since 1990.

Grants Writer

Sydney has a strong academic foundation in Sociology (AA, BA) from California State University, Chico. She has a background in case management, and advocacy work for at-risk youth, and families in reunification services. Sydney has been a grant writer for nonprofit organizations and small minority-owned businesses. She is passionate about securing funding to support programs providing resources to at-risk youth. She brings a unique blend of expertise and advocacy to the table, making a meaningful impact in the nonprofit sector.

Senior Resident Musician, violin, Haven String Quartet, Director of Artistic Operations

Gregory Tompkins is a native of Greenville, S.C. He holds a B.M. in violin performance and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music, where he was a student of Charles Castleman. Recently, he received his Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory as a student of Lucy Chapman and Jennifer Frautschi. Gregory has participated in a variety of summer festivals across the United States, including Music Academy of the West, Spoleto Festival USA, the Castleman Quartet Program, and the National Repertory Orchestra. He concertizes regularly in solo and chamber recitals all over the eastern United States and has performed as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.