Directors of the Nonprofit Board

Joseph Kayne

President / Director

Joseph Kayne is a student at Yale University studying history and music and is the Founder of The Power of Music (POM). Joseph founded the Power of Music in high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the ninth grade. He saw a need in his community (and our nation) that he wanted to address – the dire and painful and sometimes dangerous situation that people face when they are socially isolated and detached from society – and originated a solution that high school students could readily embrace: bring the joy and connectivity of music to the people who need it most. Joseph continues to broaden the impact of POM, visioning high schools and arts groups nationwide starting Power of Music chapters, so the connectivity and wellness POM provides through live music is available everywhere. Joseph's inspiration for the Power of Music came from his 93-year-old Grandma who lives in NY and loves to hear him sing (having been a professional singer and knowing first-hand the joy and wellness benefits of music).
Joseph has been acting and singing since a young age. Joseph was awarded a position with the 2022 & 2023 Ohio Music Education All-State Choir, placed as a semi-finalist in the 2022 & 2023 National Association of Teachers of Singing Great Lakes National Round, and was a Finalist in the 2022 Cincinnati Arts Association Overture Awards Competition. Joseph has also been in over 25 musical theatre productions including his role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserable.

Jody Yetzer

Treasurer / Board of Directors Chair

Jody Yetzer is a committed social justice advocate on hiatus from practicing law. As an attorney in New York, she worked at the ACLU and in private practice on a variety of civil rights cases focused on racial discrimination, constitutional rights, and class actions. Jody is now a consultant for OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence who trains other consultants and leads projects that help Greater Cincinnati-area nonprofits strengthen their operations and most effectively deliver on their missions, including organizational assessment, leadership development, talent management, employee engagement, strategic planning projects, and Diversity Equity & Inclusion projects. Jody is on the Executive Committee of Dress for Success Cincinnati and on the Board of Directors of OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Executive Service Corps-United States (the national association for organizations nationwide, like OneSource Center, that utilize highly-skilled volunteers to capacity-build nonprofits).

Chris Bell

Secretary / Director

Chris Bell has been a strong believer in the power of music for many years. He has a passion for sharing live music with his own teens and, through his involvement with Power of Music, with students and the community at large as well. As a youth, Chris not only enjoyed listening to a variety of music, but also performing with various school and community choirs. This appreciation for music continued into adulthood where he has continued performing on stage with his family in community choirs and theatre productions. Some of his fondest family memories are of the many years he and his wife performed together with their three children in a holiday musical variety show that traveled to numerous retirement and nursing communities around the Greater Cincinnati area. Chris and his family have been residents of Cincinnati for over 20 years, where he works as the North America Application Services Manager for Givaudan.

Valerie Davis

Director

Valerie Davis is the proud parent of two musical and theatre performers. Her ownchildhood was steeped in music. She grew up performing in children's choirs and watching her parents perform in community choral groups. Her grandfather, a professional musician, trained opera singer and radio show host, was a great source of inspiration for Valerie and her family. Now Valerie has seen that passion flourish in her own children as they develop their singing and musical talents in high school and in college. For many years, she was a financial operations manager for IBM. She also spent many years as a member of the Indian Hill Mothers' Group, serving as vice-president and president. In addition, she has been an active volunteer in the Indian Hill School District Theater program. Valerie and her family are proud supporters of the Power of Music and look forward to its continued growth in the community.

Luis Vega-Torres

Director

Luis Vega-Torres is a voice student at the Manhattan School of Music and is passionate about POM’s mission. During his high school years at Indian Hill, he led as male section leader and as an advisor since POM’s inception. Luis began his musical journey at the age of 7 with the classical guitar, and later began studying vocal music in middle school. Throughout high school, he was an active member of the choir program, church youth choir, theater program, and of course, the Power of Music. Luis is ecstatic about the direction this organization has taken in the last few years and looks forward to helping students in Cincinnati enrich their community with the transformative power of singing. At conservatory, Luis is studying classical voice with the aspiration of pursuing a career in classical music and opera performance.

Preston Marx

Director

Preston Marx will be attending Berklee College of Music next year to study jazz piano and composition. Alongside Joseph Kayne and Luis Vega-Torres, Preston led as a music director and advisor of the Power of Music. He was first introduced to the piano at age 9, playing classical music. In high school, he participated in musical theater and choir, and began exploring jazz. Preston is beyond excited to continue supporting the future of this organization, both in the Indian Hill community and beyond.