Women in the Music Industry

Zenobia looked forward to church every Sunday growing up in the Los Angeles area. She loved to sing and cut her teeth on the old gospel hymns. Zenobia pursued singing and was cast in the Broadway musical Hair, worked with director/choreographer Michael Bennett and became a successful backup singer. She also worked in radio production and has many interesting stories working with the likes of Luther Vandross and Lou Rawles.

Kyshona grew up in South Carolina, immersed in the rich musical tapestry of gospel, rhythm & blues, and roots music. Her early passion for sound led her to the guitar and a formal study of oboe at the University of Georgia, where she earned a degree in music therapy. As a dedicated therapist for over 17 years, she worked compassionately with veterans, at-risk youth, and incarcerated individuals, witnessing the transformative power of music. Seeing how personalized songs could spark healing and connection, she began writing her own music—not just for her clients but for the wid

Pam Aalbers is a wonderful example of the notion that it take a team to accomplish great things. Always working behind the scenes, Pam has been a steady support to the staff at Ted Brown Music in Tacoma since 1976. When she started working at the store she helped out in the mail room but soon advanced into becoming a buyer for all of the locations of the company.

Susan Aberbach is the president of the music publishing company, Hill & Range, which was formed by her husband and his brother. The two brothers wanted to publish country music and went to Nashville in the early 1950s representing a new company named to conjure up thoughts of country music.  In the early days of the publishing firm, they signed many well known stars and a few up and coming artists, one by the name of Elvis Presley.  After Susan's husband's passing, she took over the role as president and continues to run the company today.

Laurie Abshire found her way into the music products industry by chance but has become a proud and passionate contributor. Though not a musician herself, Laurie has always loved music, with fond memories of her father strumming his guitar. An unexpected opportunity to write a business plan for a guitar maker in Lafayette, Louisiana, launched her career. She later assisted in developing a guitar manufacturing plant and worked for a sheet metal company serving NAMM members. Since 2017, Laurie has led W-Music Distribution USA as CEO, overseeing brands like Warwick Basses and Framus,

Tonya Adams played piano beginning at the age of six, switching to the flute in the fifth grade and realizing music was going to be a key part of her life. She finished her degree in music education, and not sure teaching was her path, she responded to an opportunity at West Music to sit with the repair technician to learn the ins and outs of that role and she was hooked. She enjoyed the team at West Music and their Flute Authority branch and the energy around providing musical instruments for people of all ages. She rose to the position of Assistant Director, which she thoroughly

Edna Adams has been a mentor to many within the music publishing and music retail business since first entering the industry in the early 1970s. She joined Charlie Hansen Music Publishing and Warner Brothers Publishing for which she traveled to dealers around the country. Her extra attention to details provided suggestions on product placement in the stores and ideas on bringing more customers to the store through special programs and promotions. Edna approached her customers with the theory that if they succeeded, she would be successful. After leaving Warner Brothers she worked

Margaret “Maggie” Addison has built a rewarding career in the music industry by helping others experience the joy of making music. Although she once dreamed of becoming a professional musician herself, Maggie found her true calling in supporting others on their musical journeys. She began playing violin at the age of five and cherished the satisfaction that came with each new level of progress. After earning her master’s degree in music, she unfortunately sustained an overuse injury that prevented her from continuing to play at the same intensity.

Dominique Agnew has been dedicated to the music industry, serving NAMM for over 25 years -- most notably as the Associate Director for Trade Show Sales. She bore witness to the growth of the Anaheim Show in the late 1980s and played a vital role in the expansion of international exhibitors over the years. Dominique began her career at NAMM covering nearly every aspect of the trade show, from meetings and events to registration and sales. Her perspective on the development of the industry has been important to the Oral History Collection for documenting our industry’s history. 

 Joy Akerman was one of the first volunteers in the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music docent programs back in 1999.  Over the years, she became active in many elements of the museum, including the store and the monthly volunteer training classes.  Her love of people and music made her role at the museum a perfect fit.  More recently, Joy was hired as the receptionist who greets all NAMM visitors and holds court behind the much talked-about lobby desk, which is in the shape of a grand piano. 

Emily Achieng Akuno became the first music professor from Kenya to be elected president of the International Music Council (IMC). This took place in 2018. The position allowed her the opportunity to bring attention to the challenges African nations face regarding music programs. Emily earned her Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University in Kenya, a Master of Music from Northwestern State University in Louisiana, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Kingston University in England. She is also an active member of the International Society for Music Education (ISME). Her NAMM Oral

Luann Alesio has been a familiar and beloved presence at the NAMM Show since 1998, serving primarily as a dedicated and detail-oriented floor manager. Her very first job out of school was in trade show management, a field where she seamlessly blended her artistic background with her strong organizational skills. Over the years, Luann has taken on a variety of roles, from designing intricate show maps to leading efficient teams and participating in critical safety education sessions. Her genuine dedication to exhibitors has endeared her to NAMM members, often resulting in lifelong

Gayle Alldredge joined the NAMM Show team in 2014 and has since become a highly valued floor manager. Her diverse professional background began in catering, where she successfully built and managed her own business, serving major trade show events and corporate clients. Transitioning into event management, she spent several years at the San Jose Convention Center, overseeing a variety of high-profile events, special programs, and large-scale trade shows. Gayle describes her move to NAMM as a joyful and fulfilling experience, expressing her deep appreciation for working alongside t

Grace Altieri has a background in law but was willing to put that career on hold when her husband decided to open a drum shop in Tampa. AJ was working for a local music store and was really growing the drum segment of the business, so, when a chance came along to open his own store he jumped at it. Grace soon took over the books, the sales and sheet music department and found that as the store grew so did her love of the industry. Grace recalls many meaningful memories of the ten years she and AJ owned the store including several late night jam sessions and successful clinics in t

Ally Amaral grew up surrounded by music. Her father playing piano and her sister in the marching band were important influences on her, particularly when she began playing clarinet in the school band. As her passion developed and she began playing guitar and singing in musical theater, she found her love of physics and engineering developing as well. In 2019 she began combining these interests when she was hired by Earthquaker Devices as their Electronic Repair Technician, with a focus on repairing effects pedals.

Rachel Amick was immersed in a rich musical environment from a young age, with both parents being music educators. Witnessing their entrepreneurial spirit, Rachel and her parents ventured into providing musical lessons at their local retail store, Scales Street Music in North Carolina. Recognizing Rachel's unwavering commitment, dedication, and passion for music, upon retirement the store owner offered the store to Rachel, becoming the perfect fit to lead the store. In addition to her managerial role, Rachel is a talented jazz vocalist who also enjoys performing on her five-string

Muriel Anderson sure puts her heart and soul into her music as both a performer and songwriter. Over the years the music products industry has been lucky to be closely associated with Murial thanks to her endorsement of instruments and accessories as well as her widely successful All Star Guitar Nights, a feature at NAMM Shows since 2000. Her many projects include raising funds for school music programs and music education.  

 Eleanor Anderson helped establish Woodbury Music Company with her late husband, Leroy Anderson.  The company is managed by their three children (Kurt, Rolf and Jane) with a third generation very active in music as well.  As composer and arranger, Leroy Anderson published popular classical music that helped create a whole new musical genre during the late 1940s and 1950s.  The Boston Pops featured most of Leroy’s works with several becoming hit recordings, including “Sleigh Ride” and “Blue Tango.”  Since Leroy’s passing in the early 1970s, Eleanor worked to ensure her husband’s mu

Angela Gammon remembers 2015, a pivotal year when their youngest child went off to college, and her husband, Gregg, lost his job as Buddy Roger’s Music closed its doors. While it was a nerve-wracking period, Gregg’s ambition to open their own store became a shared dream. Despite the imperfect timing, Angela fully embraced the endeavor, and together they created Third Rock Music—a welcoming haven for musicians in Cincinnati. The store's success has allowed Angela to pursue her passion for giving back to the community.

Rebecca Apodaca was the President of A & D Music Incorporated in Southern California. She played music as a child and gravitated to the electric bass. Her father and others such as Doc Kauffman (Leo Fender’s partner) and Bernardo Rico (BC Rich founder) taught her guitar repair. She grew up replacing strings and adjusting necks on guitars. Over the years she received her Certifications and Degrees in Music, Musical Instrument Repair and expanded the services of her business to include appraising musical instruments. She was the first person certified as an “Accredited Senior Ap

Emiko Araki is a passionate musician and a proud member of the New Horizons Band at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Originally from Japan, Emiko’s early love for music took root when she first picked up the recorder in elementary school. Her journey blossomed in middle school with the clarinet and even expanded to playing drums in a rock band during her teenage years. After a long break from the clarinet, her desire to reconnect with her musical side brought her to the New Horizons Band.

Helena Armandula was a shining example of a dedicated volunteer serving at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. In fact, in 2023, at the time of her interview, Helena was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award!

Vivian Artley’s brother formed the Artley Flute Company in Elkhart, IN, during the 1930s.  With an innovation that allowed the instrument to be made cheaper, Artley became a successful product for school band programs as well as a well-established and noted professional line of products.  Vivian’s brother, Hube, and their cousin Don went into business together developing a brand of flutes still being made today.  The family history has not been well documented until our interview with Vivian, which was full of family stories and her memories of the flute making days.     

Julia Arza is the Director of Operations and a passionate advocate for AIMM, the Alliance of Independent Music Merchants. She joined the organization in 2017 and has helped expand its summits, held at the NAMM Show as well as its website and online educational programs. For those who know Julia, it’s easy to see why she has accomplished so much with AIMM. Music is in her blood. Her great grandparents were both band directors and she began playing guitar in the third grade (thanks to a very influential teacher) and singing in church groups and for weddings.

Bernice Ash began working at the Sam Ash Music Store in New York City in 1947, one year before marrying the founder’s eldest son, Jerry. Bernice and Jerry continued the tradition of keeping the retail store in the Ash family. Bernice is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the development of the sheet music department, which included purchasing and inventory. As the head of sheet music for all of the Sam Ash locations, Bernice designed methods and procedures that resulted in great working relationships with the publishers as well as many satisfied customers. She and Jerry w

Charlotte Atkinson was an organist extraordinaire! Showing an aptitude for music early on, Charlotte continued with formal education earning Bachelor and Masters degrees in music. At San Diego State University, she first met her husband, William, in Howard Brubeck's theory class. In her junior year at SDSU, she and William (Bill) were married and spent the next several decades touring as the Atkinson Duo with Charlotte on piano, organ and harpsichord and Bill on flute and choir directing. They were organist and music directors of several churches and were actively involved in many

Lois Bach proudly worked beside her husband, Greg, to expand his music business into a strong retail and repair service. Lois joined Greg in the business after a successful career in television. She could see that Greg needed help and brought her business and social media skills to the store. Their shop, Classic Bows Violin Shop, was located in San Diego, and was an early user of the Internet to publicize their goods and services. Lois' early interest in using social media furthered the store's reach around the world. The couple sold the business property to retire in 2017.

Sue Bagnall is quick to point out that her favorite part of working for Conn-Selmer and being involved with the music industry are the people!  She was hired by Selmer and stayed with the company during the merge with CG Conn, working primarily in the office.  Over the years, she feels the greatest change to her job has been in the development of the computer and the changing technology since that time.

Rosemary Bailey began her remarkable musical career at an early age after demonstrating perfect pitch and studying classical piano at DePaul University under Dr. Florence Galijikian. A national television appearance at age six, performing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, introduced audiences to her extraordinary talent, but it was the discovery of the Hammond organ that defined her path.

Adriana Balic is a vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter, producer, bandleader, and educator, covering styles from classical to pop/rock and jazz. From 2003 she served as keyboardist and vocalist to the Grammy Award winning artist “P!NK” on tours in the United States, Canada, and Europe. She is seen playing live on the P!nk DVDs Live from Wembley Arena, London, England (2007) and Live In Europe (2004). Adriana left the band in 2008 to start a family and in 2017 was asked to come back.

Becki Barabas has a real heart for helping others, so it should come as no surprise that each of her professional job descriptions throughout her career have always been expanded as soon as she detected an area of need. This spirit extends into her personal life as Becki has been a volunteer for several charities, including helping children with special needs learn to surf. Becki was on the team at Harman in 2012 that formed a volunteer group in which the company supports its employees to work together once a month to assist a local charity.

Janet Barrett feels strongly that if each person played their part in music education, the American system would gain the strength it needs to provide a meaningful element in the lives of each student. After serving as general music and choral teacher in the public school system, Janet became Associate Professor of Music Education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. In this position she has studied and written on the subject of enhancing music education and serves as an advocate to ensure students have the opportunity to be involved in music making.