About us
At Musical Soulmates
Musical Soulmates thrives thanks to the heartfelt efforts and unwavering dedicated parents and community members who share our passion for making our programs accessible to all. To the listeners: You are the most important people in the room! We play for you.
Introducing our Co-Artistic Directors
Candace Y. Johnson
Co-Artistic Director
Candace Johnson is a voice teacher and director of the Gospel Choir at UC Berkeley. She is also a playwright, actress, and musician who performs her original one-woman shows on the subjects of voice, identity, and Blacks in Classical music. Candace is the creator of FitnesSing, a unique method that combines physical fitness and singing in one coaching session. Her latest show Scat-ter Brain: The Music of ADHD ran in the Marsh Theater of both San Francisco and Berkeley.
Kate Saphir
Co-Artistic Director
Kate has found that her love for and affinity for collaboration in music extends to collaboration in Artistic Direction. Together we can do so much!
First introduced by then- Musical Soulmate Artist-in-Residence, Victoria Theodore, in 2024, Candace and Kate have worked together on every aspect of Musical Soulmates programming for the last 18 months, organically becoming Artistic Co-Directors, and intentionally cultivating that partnership since June of 2025. As such, Musical Soulmates has created a two-year term of Artistic Co-Directorship and has also formed an Artistic Advisory (to be introduced in the Spring) to meet with them annually. The team will create space to reflect and to ensure that our programming is relevant, is on point, and is expansive.
Introducing our Harmony Youth Choir Program Director
Tiphanie
Program Director
Tiphanie first met HYC as a Bass player for their Showcase in 2025. She also joined the Collaborative onstage at the Kuumbwa during Let The Caged Bird Sing III. We are so grateful to have her on board as program manager for Harmony Youth Choir, She says she wishes she could have been a part of a program like HYC when she was a kid: thank you, Tiphanie, for your capable, organised leadership and your generous, enthusiastic and delightful vibe!
Introducing our Social Media Intern
Maya Hoffman
Social Media Intern
Currently a Senior at Santa Cruz High, Maya has been a part of the Soulmates organization since 2022, when seh began collaborating as Teen Pianist with HYC. She has taken piano since age 6 and has been our Social Media intern since 2025.
Meet our Founder and Board of Directors
Kate Saphir Alm
Founder, President /Artistic Director
A lifelong musician, I’ve been a devoted and dedicated performer, teacher, and producer in Santa Cruz since 1991. I have been producing expansive Musical Soulmates events since 2019 and in this journey, I’ve not only integrated my training in different modalities of music but I have deepened and broadened my community ties. Musical Soulmates has moved forward with constant support and creative energy from my Soulmates performers and from my community. As Musical Soulmates becomes a nonprofit, I am overjoyed to literally transform from “I” to a “We” and to be a part of ensuring the legacy of our mission and vision.
Victoria Theodore
Moving to Artistic Advisory to be announced soon.
Victoria Theodore is an acclaimed pianist who has performed with luminary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Ariana Debose. Victoria is also a composer, arranger and lyricist. She is co-composer for the new musicals “MARIAN” and “Co-Founders”, pianist for the Oscar-winning film “CODA”, an actor in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tick, Tick…BOOM!”, an on-stage performer in the improvisational hip-hop show "Freestyle Love Supreme." She is a published author, has 2 Bachelor’s degrees from Oberlin College / Conservatory, a Masters degree from Stanford University, and is co-founder of her band, EnSPirits. Victoria is also a motivational speaker, yogi, dancer and polyglot.
Victoria is excited to bring her focus on being in service to music to Musical Soulmates.
Sonia Swain
Sonia is a passionate, community-focused supporter of arts, crafts, and music. As a board member of Musical Soulmates, Sonia intends to inspire and collaborate on ways to spread love, connection, and rhythm throughout Santa Cruz County.
Alexandra Montreal
As a lifelong connoisseur of music, food, wine and arts, it is a privilege to support Musical Soulmates’ unique and purposeful endeavor.
I intend to continue bringing ease to Musical Soulmates at their performances and look forward to being a strong and reliable teammate to the project and Board.
Ana Elizabeth
SURETHING Productions
As a lifelong arts advocate, I look forward to bringing the vision and programs of Musical Soulmates to benefit as many in our community as possible.
Selam Woldetensaye
I am a lifelong learner, entrepreneur and practitioner with more than 15 years experience in the corporate and global development working with international and federal partners. I strive to contribute to the betterment of the world in all that I do. I have a deep love for music and the art, and I am honored to serve on the Musical Soulmates Board to help foster joy, healing and connection through music.
Informal In person meetup of several Board members at Mariposa Café
L-R: Selam, Alexandra, Kate, Victoria, Jessica (past Board Member)
And a huge thank you to Santa Cruz Arts Council for a two-year Support Grant
Thank you for your confidence in us and your support that enables us to continue our vibrant and dynamic programming in our hometown of Santa Cruz!
Introducing our Small Business Level Sponsors for Let The Caged Bird Sing III:
Sofie Salama and David Feldheim
Truly Toned Fitness
The William H Nadeau Fund: promoting and rewarding excellence in Jazz performance: Sponsoring Etienne Franc
If you’d like to see yourself or your business listed under either Small Business Level or Corporate Level, please contact us!
Our program thrives thanks to the heartfelt efforts and unwavering dedication of our valued volunteers, talented musicians, and passionate performers. We are deeply grateful for the support we receive from our warm and devoted community members who share our passion for making accessible to all. Your involvement is what makes our musical family so special.
Please send donations of any amount to:
Musical Soulmates PO Box 145
Davenport, CA 95017
Venmo: @MusicalSoulmates
To donate through Square CLICK HERE
Musical Soulmates is registered with Benevity: Musical Soulmates is a nonprofit organization that is tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Contributions made to it are tax deductible, subject to the general limitations otherwise applicable to contributions for income tax reporting purposes. Musical Soulmates is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests under Section 2055: Please search us through your corporation, who will match a donation… Thank you for your attention, care, and support. We can’t do this without you!
