Kiri Loehmann
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | KIRI@CYS.ORG
Kiri Loehmann has spent the last 20 years working as an arts administrator, board member, violinist, and teacher. Her experiences in orchestra management include eliminating a planned deficit, increasing contributed income, creating an alumni network, and completing a music director search. As an educator and arts administrator, she has worked for Education Through Music in New York City, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Symphony Orchestra as its General Manager and Artistic Administrator, and Portland Youth Philharmonic where she was Executive Director. From 2009-2015, she served on the board of Music for Autism.
Her passion for music began at age three when she started learning the violin and piano. She has garnered many accolades, including first prize in The Juilliard School violin competition, recognition from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and orchestral pieces commissioned by the Gemini Youth Orchestra (NY) and the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey (NJ). She attended the Aspen Music Festival for six summers and served as concertmaster of the New York Youth Symphony for three years, performing at Carnegie Hall.
Ms. Loehmann graduated with high honors from Princeton University in music theory/composition, Japanese, and environmental studies. She has performed with many ensembles, including the Oregon Symphony, Opera San Jose, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and Opera New Jersey. In the Bay Area, she is a tenured member of Symphony San Jose and Santa Cruz Symphony. In her spare time, she enjoys interviewing high school seniors as part of Princeton University’s Alumni Schools Committee.
CARMINA EYLAR
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | Carmina@cys.org
An alumna of the California Youth Symphony, Carmina Eylar graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance on String Bass. She was under the tutelage of principal bassist Robert Manning from the former San Jose Symphony and Bruce Moyer from Symphony Silicon Valley. Prior to joining CYS, Carmina was as Assistant Account Manager in the commercial casualty and health insurance industry at some of the top insurance brokers worldwide. She was also a co-owner and teacher of a Polynesian dance school in the Bay Area from 1998 - 2002. Carmina is thrilled to be part of the California Youth Symphony - a prestigious organization and leader in arts education and performance.
V. LEONE RIVERS
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR | LEONE@CYS.ORG
Violet Leone Rivers is in her fourth year as the Operations Coordinator at CYS. Leone received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from UC Davis, where she specialized in Percussion Performance. She studied with Chris Froh. She has performed with numerous UC Davis ensembles, as well as Symphony d’Oro Rancho Cordova and Camerata California. She served as Manager for the UCD Concert Band, Music Librarian for the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh, and conductor for the UCD Campus Band. She has premiered pieces in the UC Davis Graduate Composers Concert, and performed in a masterclass with Mayumi Hama. During the pandemic, Leone guided hundreds of 8-80 year olds through the technical aspects of Zoom rehearsals and virtual performances. As of July 2021, she helped put together six virtual concerts, and coached the percussion section of the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Freedom Band for three more! For in-person rehearsals, she helps with rehearsal planning and setup, making sure they run smoothly and safely.
SUSAN SANTOS
FINANCE SPECIALIST | Susan@cys.org
On June 1, 2023, Susan Santos Joined CYS to manage their accounting operation. She has over 25 years of extensive and diverse experience in finance and administration. Before joining CYS, she held a position of Accounting Controller at Ariosa Diagnostic, a division of Roche. Prior to that, she served on the senior leadership team of eProsper, Inc. as VP of Operations, Finance and Administration for 5 years and helped the company transition from start-up to acquisition. Susan was Director of Finance and Corporate Controller for 7 years at Corventis, Inc., a developer of wireless cardiovascular device that was acquired by Medtronic . Prior to Corventis, she spent 4 years and held the same position at EndoTex Interventional Systems, a medical device developer of less-invasive solution to treating carotid artery disease that was acquired by Boston Scientific. Susan has served as CFO, Director of Finance, and Corporate Controller for multiple start-up, multinational, privately and publicly held companies across a range of industries including life sciences, technology, and manufacturing, managing general and cost accounting, internal and external financial reporting, budgetary control and administrative functions, tax and regulatory compliance, ensuring “diligence-readiness” for mergers, acquisitions and IPOs and audits, leading and coordinating financial planning and analysis, and performing worldwide consolidations and foreign currency transactions. Susan holds a B.S. in Commerce from the University of the East, Philippines.
NICOLE JEANS
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR | NICOLE@CYS.ORG
Nicole joined the CYS administrative staff in 2024. She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Justice Reporting from Ashford University. Before joining CYS, Nicole served as Chief of Staff at a nonprofit counseling agency that offers services to individuals and families. With extensive experience supporting nonprofit organizations, Nicole excels in coordinating complex schedules and streamlining office operations. As a strategic operations manager, she brings a wealth of expertise in enhancing business performance.
