Staff

John Ferguson

John Ferguson

Founder & Executive Director

John Ferguson currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand where he carries out his dual roles as pianist and Executive Director of American Voices. His activities include serving as director of the YES Academy, Youth Excellence on Stage, programs in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Sudan, Pakistan and Indonesia. His innovative work in the field of cultural engagement was given a national award at the Summit for U.S. Citizen Diplomacy in November, 2010 where American Voices was named one of the ‘Top Ten Best Practices Organizations’ along with Sundance Institute and the Kennedy Center.

His performing activities include concerts, broadcasts and masterclasses throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Having keen interest in engaging with nations emerging from conflict or isolation, he has performed from El Salvador, Belarus and Kosovo to Cambodia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Recent highlights include the performance of the Schumann Piano Quintet at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul and recital appearances in Rome where the Corriere Della Sere described his performance of George Gershwin as ‘…one of the most intense moments of the evening…’

John Ferguson first studied music at the High School for the Performing Arts in his hometown of Houston, Texas and completed his studies at the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Master’s Diploma. Additional studies took him to Paris where he was a student of Nadia Boulanger, Geneva where he studied with Maroussia le Marc’hadour and Carnegie-Mellon University where he received a License in Dalcroze Eurhythmics with Dr. Marta Sanchez. His piano teachers have included Danielle Martin, Eugene List and Edith Lateiner-Grosz.

In 1992, John Ferguson founded American Voices to fulfill the need for authentic cultural engagement programs with the newly independent nations of central and Eastern Europe. Since then, the focus of American Voices has expanded to include a focus on nations emerging from conflict or isolation in the Middle East, North Africa and Central, South and Southeast Asia.

In 2007, he founded the innovative summer youth performing program, YES Academy, in Iraq. The program has since expanded to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand. The YES Academy programs have been featured on ABC Nightly News, PRI Radio ‘The World’ and CNN in the United States and viewed by millions in local broadcasts in the YES Academy nations. In addition, John Ferguson founded the first international jazz festivals in Azerbaijan, The Caspian Jazz and Blues Festival (2002-2005), and Kazakhstan, Almaty International Jazz Festival (2003-2004).

As a speaker on cultural diplomacy and engagement, he has been a guest speaker at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, the St Louis Cultural Roundtable, New England Conservatory, Carnegie-Mellon University and the Universities of Texas at Austin and North Carolina. His opinion pieces have been published in The Christian Science Monitor and distributed internationally.

As a concert performer, he has appeared in prestigious venues such as Rome’s Teatro Della Colosseo, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Théatre de la Ville and Radio France in Paris, and Bonn’s Kunst- und Austellungshalle. Festival appearances include the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation’s “Flaneries de Reims”, Germany’s “Altmark Musikfest” , “A(r)tlantische Tage” and “American Music Week-Bonn”. Radio and television broadcasts have reached millions in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Germany, France, and India to name only a few.

John Ferguson’s recordings include ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with the Junge Philharmonie Thüringen and ‘Saxofolies’ for EPM. He has been producer and artistic director for several recordings on the American Voices label; ‘Jazz Bridges Afghanistan’, ‘American Voices Around the World’, ‘Jazz Bridges Burma’ and ‘Jazz Mugham Bridges Azerbaijan’. In 2008, he participated in the full-length documentary film by Ryan White about the YES Academy Iraq program, Camp Unity. The film has gone on to garner top awards at the Philadelphia and San Luis Obispo Film Festivals and has been in the official selection of the Montreal Film Festival.

Press Quotes:

“In the ‘Blues’ of George Rochberg, John Ferguson proved himself a pianist of the highest intellectual and performing rank.”
General Anzeiger, Bonn

“Mr. Ferguson made each piece meaningful and alive, and made us want to know more about the composer and his other works….An example of how we Ukranians should learn to present our culture and heritage.”
The Kiev Post, Ukraine

“With rain splattering in from the open sides and the leaky roof of the performance hall, American Voices director John Ferguson treated concert-goers in the central city of Hue to its first performance by an American musician since the end of the Vietnam War. Ferguson’s strong solo renditions of music by Gershwin, Joplin and Charles Ives charged the audience members with enthusiasm for music forms which many of them had never before heard.”
US Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City

“John Ferguson performed (the ‘Concerto in Ragtime’) with a cultivated, temperamental, intuitive Ragtime feeling; virtuosic, yet sensitive. He was not allowed to leave without offering two encores by Zez Confrey and George Gershwin….”
Harzer Volksstimme
European premiere of William Ryden’s “Concerto in Ragtime”

Jacob Volkmar

Jacob Volkmar

Deputy Director

Jacob Volkmar’s passion for travel and cultural exchange was ignited when he participated in Semester at Sea, a global shipboard education program, spending four months circumnavigating the globe and exploring 11 different ports as an undergrad. This experience, coupled with his inherent wanderlust and intrinsic organizational skills, made him the perfect fit as Director of Communications for American Voices where he’s explored the world with musicians performing public diplomacy from East Asia to the Marshall Islands. Volkmar holds a Masters of Public Administration and Policy Analysis and a Bachelors of Science in International Business and Marketing from Southern Illinois University. Prior to American Voices, he worked in the non-profit arts and government sectors.

Alan Alyas

Alan Alyas

Systems Analyst

Born in 1984 and hailing from Sulaimaniyah, a picturesque city nestled in the mountainous Kurdish region of Iraq, Alan discovered his passion for the violin at the age of eight. His musical journey began at the Institute of Fine Arts in Suleimanya, where he earned his Diploma of Music in 2006. During this time, he honed his skills as a violinist and imparted his knowledge as a music teacher in public schools and youth organizations in his hometown.

 Alan’s dedication to music led him to play the first violin with the Suleimanya String Orchestra and later serve as the Kurdish String Orchestra’s principal second violin and operation manager from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, his talent caught the attention of the United States, where he was invited to study Music and English at Saint Louis University. Under the guidance of Marc Thayer, he played first violin with the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.

 In 2010, Alan broadened his musical horizons by performing and teaching a Master class on Middle Eastern music at prestigious institutions such as New England Conservatory and Webster University in Boston. His journey continued as he received his Bachelor’s in Violin Performance from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis (UMSL) in 2016, studying with acclaimed mentors such as John McGrosso, David Gillham, and Julia Sakharova. During his time at UMSL, Alan served as the Concertmaster for the UMSL orchestra from 2014 through 2016. He showcased his versatility by composing, conducting, and leading as the Saint Louis University String Orchestra concertmaster.

 

Alan’s commitment to continuous learning and diversification led him to pursue a Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology, which he successfully completed at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in May 2020. His academic achievements include Information Security, Information Systems Design and Analysis, Database Design and Modeling, Computer Forensics, Business Analysis, and Business Continuity Plan.

 In the realm of cybersecurity, Alan has earned certifications such as CompTIA Security+, a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity from the University of Missouri in Saint Louis, and Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals.  

 Currently serving as a Systems Analyst and Program Manager at the Association of American Voices, Alan has been instrumental in enhancing organizational efficiency. He serves as the point of contact for cybersecurity queries with the State Department, conducts systems reviews, and advises on adjustments to improve the symmetry of virtual and live work environments.

 Alan’s journey reflects a harmonious blend of artistic expression and technical expertise, making him a versatile individual committed to excellence in both the realms of music and information systems.

Maria Stallone

Maria Stallone

Director of Programming

Brings over 25 years of professional experience in international education and programming to her role at American Voices. Following a well-travelled upbringing, she studied abroad in Sweden and London before earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She first traveled to India in 1993 with the prestigious Rotary Foundation Fellowship, where she began her studies in Indian classical music and dance. She went on to complete her graduate work in Ethnomusicology, achieving an Award of Merit, at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. Maria worked as a consultant for Columbia University building an on-line bibliographic database for South Asian studies.  In 2000 she began developing and directing university undergraduate study abroad programs. Before joining American Voices, she worked for the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad), which is headquartered in Chicago and represents a consortium of more than 250 top-tier U.S. colleges and universities. She served as the Director of the IES Delhi Center in India and IES Nice Center in France. Maria is currently based in Bangkok, Thailand, where she is also an active member of the tango dancing community.

 

 

Jasmine Parker

Jasmine Parker

Program Coordinator

Jasmine Parker started her professional career as an educator in the second-largest school district in the country.  As a classroom teacher, she combined her love of travel, music, and culture as often as she could into her lessons, helping her students become better global citizens. Parker received a full scholarship to the University of Southern California, worked in a k-12 public school in the inner-city for over 18 years, and was recognized nationally for her exceptional test scores. She always brought arts to her students using her relationship with neighborhood organizations, such as the Los Angeles Opera.  She believes in experiential learning and loves to expose her students to new things that they wouldn’t otherwise get to experience.  Recently Jasmine has turned her sights on wanting to teach and use her skills and knowledge abroad. She desires to make a world impact just like she has in her local community. Jasmine brings a wealth of organizational skills, knowledge in video and sound recording for film, music videos, and EPKs. She wants to empower the youth of tomorrow to elevate to levels that will eventually surpass her own achievements.  It is no wonder that Parker ended up with American Voices and American Music Abroad.

Chelsea Castellaw

Chelsea Castellaw

Program Coordinator

Chelsea Castellaw is a singer and filmmaker based in St. Louis, MO. She graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography in 2013 with a BFA in Film Production. She went on to produce award-winning short features and music videos. After college, she brought her skills to the post-production world, working for digital powerhouses like 20th Century FOX and Deluxe Digital Studios. Chelsea brings with her a wide set of skills from organizational to creative. She has extensive knowledge in video and sound recording, editing, screenwriting and producing. She is excited and honored to work with American Voices and use her skills to facilitate cultural exchange around the world.

Amr Selim

Amr Selim

Music Director of International Programs

Amr Selim is a musician, educator, cultural entrepreneur, and community leader born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. His work has taken him to most of the Middle East, Europe, and the USA — whether collaborating, performing, teaching, or speaking, Amr aims to advocate for a thoroughly decolonized and inclusive performance and education climate. His endeavors can be seen through his publications, guest talks and lectures, membership of the Presidential Task Force on Leading Change in Music Education, and co-chairing the International Initiative Committee at the College Music Society

 Dr. Selim is a former professor of Music at the Lebanese American University and has held posts at Adelphi University and Stony Brook University in New York, at which he earned his Doctorate in Musical Arts as a Staller Scholar. As a musician, described as “expressive and ghostly wailing [playing] of a kind never heard from the instrument before” Amr has worked closely with renowned artists, conductors, and ensembles such as The Silk Road Ensemble and Yo-Yo Ma, Emerson String Quartet, Imani Winds, Daniel Barenboim, Frank Shipway, Christopher Muller, Ingo Metzmacher, and Gunther Schuller. 

 At American Voices, Amr is working extensively on international projects such as YES Academies, the Heart of Afghanistan, a new Cultural Diplomacy endeavor, organizational development, and the Arts Envoy Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. 

Adam Green

Adam Green

Project Coordinator

Adam Green is an arts administrator, percussionist, and teacher. His passion is finding meaningful ways to connect people to the arts.

 As a United States Air Force Band member in Washington, D.C., Adam managed the Concert Band’s biannual national tours team. He also led the marketing department, developing outreach and advertising products as they traveled across the country. As a producer and collaborator, Adam was able to expand audiences by organizing unique chamber music concerts, commissioning new music, and producing award-winning music videos. In 2021, he was appointed as a Commissioner for the Arts in Arlington, Virginia. Adam currently serves as Chair of the Commission, playing a pivotal role on the grants committee, which makes recommendations for the annual distribution of $200K in arts funding.

 In addition to his work in arts management, Adam is a professional percussionist and teacher. He was selected for two military deployments where he performed in a rock band across Afghanistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. Notably, in 2022, he had the privilege of performing at the FIFA World Cup in Doha and was featured during the ‘FOX NFL Sunday’ Salute to Veterans live broadcast in front of 20 million viewers. Back home in the United States, Adam has performed with orchestras in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Houston, Texas. Earlier in his career, he co-founded the Attacca Percussion Group, allowing him to perform around the United States and lead master classes for students of all ages. As a teacher, Adam joined the faculty of Levine Music in 2013 and has maintained a private home studio since 2010.

 Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Adam holds a bachelor’s degree and the prestigious Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s degree from Rice University in Houston, Texas.

 To go along with his love of music and the arts, Adam enjoys playing ice hockey, exercising, cooking (especially BBQ) and spending time with his wife, two kids and adorable dog. In 2023, Adam concluded his 21-year career with the United States Air Force Concert Band in Washington, D.C.. Currently, his work with American Voices is centered around the Art Envoy Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.