Our Team

Michele Von Haugg, Founder of Clarinets for Conservation, is a native of East Berne, New York. Ms. Von Haugg completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at Ithaca College in 2001. Shortly after graduation, she enlisted as a clarinetist with the United States Air Force band in Massachusetts. After three years of active-duty service, she separated to pursue a Master’s Degree in performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. During her studies at the NEC, Ms. Von Haugg retained a private studio of over 30 students, was actively involved in community outreach performances, and toured regularly across the country. Following graduation in 2006, she spent the next 10 years freelancing, bartending, and nannying--all to support the ongoing work of DMI. In 2017, with a brand-new son in tow, Ms. Von Haugg re-enlisted in the US Air Force band, where she remains today. Ms. Von Haugg has studied clarinet with Brett Wery, Michael Galvan, Tom Martin, and Robert DiLutis. During her free time, she enjoys gardening, yoga, and is working toward a Master’s Degree in mental health counseling. Ms. Von Haugg founded Clarinets for Conservation in 2010.
Dr. Ian Tyson, Executive Director, is a New York City clarinetist. He is a founding member of Trio 212 , was previously a clarinetist with the United States Air Force bands, and a recent Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Fellow. He has performed with orchestras, chamber groups, and given solo recitals in such prestigious venues as The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Merkin Concert Hall. A dedicated pedagogue, Dr. Tyson is on faculty at Vassar College, Bard College Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division, Special Music School, Lucy Moses School, and also maintains a substantial private clarinet studio. Dr. Tyson received a DMA from Stony Brook University, MM from Michigan State University, and BM from Miami University (OH). Dr. Tyson has been involved with DMI since 2014.
"The students we work with in Tanzania are incredible. Their hunger for knowledge about music energizes me and fuels my soul. They have a massive impact on me each and every summer!"      --Ian 
Alexys Bush, Assistant Director, currently teaches K-5 general music and woodwind lessons in the northern Virginia area. Originally from Mississippi, she has her Master’s of Music degree in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from the University of Florida, and she graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from the University of South Alabama. A committed educator, Ms. Bush has taught lessons and sectionals, instructed band camps, judged auditions, presented lectures, and given masterclasses in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia for over 10 years. She has performed internationally in Austria, Canada, France, Germany, and Tanzania, as well as all over the US. Additionally, in 2018, her undergraduate woodwind quintet won third place at the NOLA Chamber Festival and, in 2019, she won the UF Clarinet Studio Concerto Competition. Ms. Bush has been involved with DMI since 2017 and is the creator of the culturally responsive clarinet curriculum and books.
I'm a firm believer that all students, regardless of their background and abilities, should have access to high quality music education and musical experiences, and that is at the heart of DMI's purpose. I continue to volunteer with DMI because I'm continuously inspired by the passion and dedication of our volunteers and students to make the world a better place through music and conservation."     --Alexys
Roselyn Hobbs, Volunteer Coordinator, is a violist, music educator, and fiber artist based in Boston. As a dedicated performer of contemporary music, her work as a musician focuses on bringing communities together to make music relevant to today’s world. Ms. Hobbs was the first violist to graduate from Boston Conservatory with a Master’s degree in contemporary music performance. She regularly performs world premiers and commissions including solo viola and chamber works by John McDonald, Mara Gibson, Daniel J. Choi, Kevin Madison, inti figgis-vizueta, Gregory Rowland Evans, Che Buford, and Paul Zaba. Ms. Hobbs is passionate about environmental conservation and has been involved with DMI since 2016.
"DMI combines two of the things I'm most passionate about--music and plants. Through DMI, I've been able to continuously explore music's connection to our natural world and share my passion with others."   —Roselyn
Dr. Katherine Palmer, Board Member and Clarinet Faculty, enjoys a multifaceted career as an arts educator, museum curator, and non-profit professional. As the curator of education at the Musical Instrument Museum, she oversees the development and teaching of interdisciplinary content. Working with diverse learners from early childhood to older adults, she has been instrumental in molding MIM’s educational approach and overseeing programming content. In 2021, Dr. Palmer served as the Gretsch Fellow in Children’s Music at the Fred Rogers Institute where she investigated how diverse music making and listening can promote empathy and cultural awareness. Dr. Palmer also teaches within the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University and performs with the Mill Ave Chamber Players. She holds degrees from the University of Miami (BM) and Arizona State University (MM, MA, and DMA). Dr. Palmer has been a part of DMI since 2013, and has served as assistant director (2013-2016) and executive director (2017-2023).
"Regardless of country or culture, music has a way of bringing people together. DMI embodies this sense of togetherness and demonstrates the power of community music making."—Katherine
Julia Georges, Board Member and Clarinet Faculty, is a middle school band teacher in Phoenix in the Osborn School District. She has been recognized as the Osborn Teacher of the Year and nominated for the Arizona Teacher of the Year award. Her programs were recently the recipients of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Grant which awarded her students with new instruments. She lives in Phoenix with her husband and two children, Nora and Benny. Julia has been a part of the DMI team since her first summer in Tanzania in 2014. Her primary duties have included volunteer and field trip coordinating, curriculum design and implementation, and teaching.
"My favorite moment with DMI has always been the very first beginning clarinet class she ever taught in Moshi. After several minutes of learning how to put the instrument together, take it apart, put it together again, make an embouchure and use the right amount of air…the students finally made a sound! And their faces lit up with so much joy and excitement filled the room. It was a reminder that beginning band is truly a magical experience all over the world."      —Julia
Dr. Ching-Yi Lin, Board Member and Violin Faculty, is Professor of Violin at Western Kentucky University and also serves on the faculty at the Indiana University Summer String Academy and the WKU Summer String Institute. Previously, she served on the faculty of the Sommersymfoni i Kristiansand in Norway and Chicago Chamber Music Festival. In 2013, she was presented with the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service, recognizing her work in bringing music into the lives of young people throughout her community. And in 2017, Dr. Lin received a Sisterhood Grant from Western Kentucky University to direct student teachers and volunteers in teaching the violin to refugee children in Bowling Green, KY. In 2020, this program developed into a non-profit organization called Bridging Cultures with Music. The program offers college music majors an opportunity to teach, inspire, and make an impact in a global classroom setting. Dr. Lin regularly presents at the American String Teachers Association National Conference and is an active clinician and adjudicator. She also currently serves as the Secretary and is on the Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Dr. Lin holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and she undertook additional studies at the Vienna Conservatory. Dr. Lin has been involved with DMI since 2016, and helped found the beginning strings program at Majengo Primary School.
Dr. Johnathan C. Robinson, Board Member and Clarinet Faculty, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University. Before joining Brophy College Preparatory's faculty in 2019 as the Director of Instrumental Ensembles, Dr. Robinson served as the Director of Bands and as the Single Reed and Bassoon Instructor at Arizona School for the Arts. He has also studied solo and chamber repertoire at the Belgium Clarinet Academy in Oostende, Belgium, with clarinetists Robert Spring and Eddy Vanoosthuyse. Currently, Dr. Robinson serves as member of the Board of Directors for the Cactus Chamber Musicians (CCM). He previously held the position of Principal Clarinetist with the Chandler Symphony Orchestra and the Phoenix Opera. Dr. Robinson has been involved with DMI since 2014.
Gary Sperl, Board Member and Clarinet Faculty, is in his 46th season as the Principal Clarinetist in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and is also a member of the Knoxville Symphony Woodwind Quintet. He was the Professor of Clarinet in the School of Music at The University of Tennessee for 36 years. During the summers, he was very active in music festivals including the Spoleto Festival USA, Festival dei due Mundi (Italy), Assisi Performing Arts Festival, and served as Principal Clarinetist with the Bear Valley (California) Music Festival. Mr. Sperl has been a board member and teacher with Daraja Music Initiative since 2013. 
"I am involved in DMI because I dearly love Tanzania--it’s culture and especially the people. I continue working with DMI because of the students. They are so eager to learn and so appreciative of the opportunity DMI offers them. This is very important and exciting work! DMI is my passion!"      —Gary
Goodluck Chanyika, In-country Operations Coordinator and Community Partner, is a Programmes Officer with Childreach Tanzania, where he implements, monitors, and evaluates Deaf Education Development Programme (DEDP), a project that involves advocacy for deaf individuals and communities. Along with other program management tasks, Goodluck monitors project progress and maintains documentation of program data and lessons learned. He also builds strong relationships with project partners and government officials and provides key technical support. He graduated from the University of Dodoma in July 2013 with a Bachelor of Education in Policy, Planning, and Management. In 2016, Goodluck was awarded an opportunity to participate in the Young African Leaders Initiative Fellowship (YALI) in Nairobi, Kenya. YALI is a U.S. State Department program launched by President Obama to foster excellence among emerging professional in Africa. In 2017, he was invited to participate in the ADA International Fellowship Program in the U.S. at the University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities, Sanford School of Medicine, a program funded by the U.S. State Department to advance inclusive education in Tanzania. Goodluck is instrumental in assisting DMI with educational agendas in Moshi. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and watching international news channels. 
Tanzania Advisory Board
John Machibya- Clarinetist and Educator, Tanzania Police Academy
Samweli Mochiwa- Director of Kiviwama Indigenous Trees
Theresia Msoka - Head Teacher, Majengo Primary School
Randall Stubbs - Program Manager, Cultural Arts Centre, Tumaini University Makumira