Face The Music is a collaboration between great musicians and experienced organizational consultants who bring a uniquely powerful mix to clients’ programs and events.

And while we are definitely entertaining, we are not mere entertainment.

Rather, our music events are a powerful catalyst for teamwork and organizational change — using a variety of musical genres as our toolkit — to help organizations become higher performing, more innovative, and just plain cooler places to work.

The Founders

Paul Kwiecinski is a consultant, speaker, and executive coach known for energizing and creative work with teams and large groups. In 1999 Paul co-founded Face The Music, incorporating music and songwriting into his organizational work. This synthesi… — Paul Kwiecinski is a consultant, speaker, and executive coach known for energizing and creative work with teams and large groups. In 1999 Paul co-founded **Face The Music**, incorporating music and songwriting into his organizational work. This synthesis was hailed as a pioneering breakthrough in experiential and organizational learning. Paul also sings, writes songs, and plays bass in the FTM band. Paul has a degree in business management from the University of Notre Dame and is a professional certified coach.

Mitch is the co-Founder of Face The Music, along with Paul Kwiecinski. In 2005, he sold his share of the business and moved on to other projects. But now, after a 17-year hiatus, he is back, bringing his unique set of skills and sensibilities to help Face The Music take its next step. In addition to writing some of Face the Music’s first songs and facilitating more than 1,000 ideation sessions for his corporate clients, Mitch is also the author of two award-winning books on the power of personal storytelling. Hear what Mitch has to say about FTM in this CNN video.

Mitch Ditkoff
Marketing Director and Lyricist

Paul Kwiecinski
Managing Partner, MC, Bass, Vocals

The Musicians

Akie is a Brooklyn native raised in a musical household full of jazz and politics. His singing began in church and he’s now equally adept singing neo-soul, funk, contemporary jazz, alternative rock, and hip hop. A visible contributor to the Brooklyn… — Akie is a Brooklyn native raised in a musical household full of jazz and politics. His singing began in church and he’s now equally adept singing neo-soul, funk, contemporary jazz, alternative rock, and hip hop. A visible contributor to the Brooklyn music scene as a pianist singer/ songwriter, composer, arranger with groups such as; Lake Street Dive, FutureSoul band, Aabaraki, the Screaming Headless Torsos, Miri Ben-Ari and Soul Khan.
Akie earned a degree in music composition at Bard College. He is also the author of the children’s book “I Hate to Be Sick” (Scholastic).

Akie Bermiss
Vocals, keyboard

Hayan Charlston-Mashayekhi also known as “The Queen of Saxophone is an international woodwind artist (oboe/English horn, saxophones, flute, clarinet, EWI), performer, song writer, producer, entertainer, and educator. Holding M.M. degree in music per… — Hayan Charlston-Mashayekhi also known as “The Queen of Saxophone is an international woodwind artist (oboe/English horn, saxophones, flute, clarinet, EWI), performer, song writer, producer, entertainer, and educator. Holding M.M. degree in music performance from USC, she is a CEO of HCwinds. HC has performed at venues all over the world including Greek Amphitheater, Dolby, Nokia, Verizon, almost every 5-star resorts and event halls and theaters in CA, and other states nationally and internationally as performing arenas in Dubai, Turkey, South America, Asia, and Europe.

Hayan Charlston-Mashayekh - Sax

Born: Simleul Silvanie, Romania 26 November 1989 Now: Woodstock, New York Kristen gravitated guitar driven music. She has shared the stage with Lady Antebellum, Gavin DeGraw, Bret Michaels, Wyclef Jean, Kenny Greenberg, Michael Schenker Group, Les P… — Born: Simleul Silvanie, Romania 26 November 1989 Now: Woodstock, New York Kristen gravitated guitar driven music. She has shared the stage with Lady Antebellum, Gavin DeGraw, Bret Michaels, Wyclef Jean, Kenny Greenberg, Michael Schenker Group, Les Paul, James Burton and Al DiMeola. Kristen’s Vocal Coach; Don Lawrence whose
resume includes such talent as Mick Jagger, Bono, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett .Kristen endorsements include” Gibson Guitars, Epiphone Guitars, PRS Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Eminence Speakers and Wampler.

Kristen Capolino
Guitar, Vocals

Robert Frazza, Producer, Recording Engineer, Sound Consultant and Live Sound Engineer for many well-known artists such as Joe Jackson, Todd Rundgren, Tony Levin, Trey Gunn, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Adrian Belew, Orleans, Robbie Dupree, Donna Lewis… — Robert Frazza, Producer, Recording Engineer, Sound Consultant and Live Sound Engineer for many well-known artists such as Joe Jackson, Todd Rundgren, Tony Levin, Trey Gunn, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Adrian Belew, Orleans, Robbie Dupree, Donna Lewis, Crimson Project, Stick Men to name only a few. Founder of "Ashokan Talent Group" in Woodstock, NY. A Production and Management company handling artists such as Robbie Dupree, Donna Lewis, Stick Men, Beyond The Wall and Security Project as well as promoting local and regional events.

Robert Frazza
Soundman extrodinaire

Amy Fradon’s career in music and the Healing Arts spans 30 years. She has recorded 10 solo and duo records. “Take Me Home” with Leslie Ritter garnished charting airplay and a spot in Billboard. Amy has performed and recorded: Rick Danko, Happy and A… — Amy Fradon’s career in music and the Healing Arts spans 30 years. She has recorded 10 solo and duo records. “Take Me Home” with Leslie Ritter garnished charting airplay and a spot in Billboard. Amy has performed and recorded: Rick Danko, Happy and Artie Traum, John Sebastian, Garth Hudson, Maria Muldaur, Orleans, the Fugs, Robbie Dupree and Tiny Tim.

Amy played lead role in the NTC of the smash Broadway hit, Pump Boys and Dinettes. Vocal Visionary Work for personal transformation founder.

Amy Fradon
Vocals

Percussionist, composer, producer and remixer. Dean has played and/or recorded Moby, Brad Mehldau, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elliott Sharp, Marc Ribot, Carter Burwell, David Torn, Todd Sickafoose’s Blood Orange, Melissa Ferrick, Ani Defranco, Greg … — Percussionist, composer, producer and remixer. Dean has played and/or recorded Moby, Brad Mehldau, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elliott Sharp, Marc Ribot, Carter Burwell, David Torn, Todd Sickafoose’s Blood Orange, Melissa Ferrick, Ani Defranco, Greg Brown, Donna Lewis, MIMI Goese, Ben Neill, Kenny Werner, John Stubblefield, Mario Pavone, Jill Sobule and Jane Siberry. Presently he works with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company amongst others resides as musician/soundscapist for the dance department at Bard College in collaboration with the Trisha Brown Dance Company.

Dean Sharp
Drums

Erick Ballard got his start to music in the gospel church at the young age of 4. Through out his career he has toured the world with artist such as GB Leighton, Alexander O’Neal, & Bernard Allison. Currently Erick is the top call in Minnesota fo… — Erick Ballard got his start to music in the gospel church at the young age of 4. Through out his career he has toured the world with artist such as GB Leighton, Alexander O’Neal, & Bernard Allison. Currently Erick is the top call in Minnesota for the top variety wedding/corporate party bands Elán Artist NorthStar, Blue Water Kings Band, Bella Diva, & The R Factor. Erick is a proud endorsed artist for Pearl Drums, Vater Drumstick, & Drumlite.

Erick Ballard
Drums

Consultants

Val Vadeboncoeur is an independent corporate facilitator and trainer focused on innovation and creativity. He designs and facilitates ideation sessions and programs and teaches others how to do so as well both virtually and in-person. Some of his cl… — Val Vadeboncoeur is an independent corporate facilitator and trainer focused on innovation and creativity. He designs and facilitates ideation sessions and programs and teaches others how to do so as well both virtually and in-person. Some of his clients in his 25 years of experience include MTV, GE, Price Waterhouse, TIAA-CREF and Blue State Digital. He currently lives in the partly sunny hills of Accord, NY.

Lisa Murrell is the founding partner of MetaSystem Integrated Strategies and founder of Equine Alchemy, a ground breaking approach to leadership and coaching through experiential learning with horses. She has spent the last 20 years working globall… — Lisa Murrell is the founding partner of MetaSystem Integrated Strategies and founder of Equine Alchemy, a ground breaking approach to leadership and coaching through experiential learning with horses.

She has spent the last 20 years working globally to help clients achieve transformational results in the areas of organization development, innovation, and executive and team coaching.

Val Vadeboncoeur
Consultant, MC

Lisa Murrell
Consultant, facilitator