Current Members
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Alumni
You may have spotted some of these familiar faces around some college campuses! Many of our alumni have gone on to pursue music and/or STEM studies.
BEATS FOR A CAUSE
BEATS FOR A CAUSE
Joseph Maggiore
Founder/Director 2012-2015
My passion for music began early on as a pianist, at the age of seven. In elementary school, I transferred my piano skills over to an additional instrument, trombone. After five years of trombone, I began to play tuba. I was in the school band ever since fourth grade, and was the Tuba/Sousaphone Section Leader for the Freehold Township Marching Band. Through playing Tuba, I have played in multiple select ensembles including the Region II New Jersey High School Symphonic Band. Throughout middle school I participated in multiple ensembles including a steel pan ensemble and a percussion ensemble. In these bands, I learned the basics of creating percussion music and directing an ensemble. I have always had a passion for music and helping people. Creating Beats for a Cause has let me fuse these two passions. Beats for a Cause changes people's lives through music and directing this musical ensemble has most definitely changed my life in more ways than I probably know.
rEINA SAMUEL
Director, Age 17
Music has always been a very important part of my life. I have been playing piano since I was 7 years old, and I've been singing practically since birth! I enjoy participating in my school's musicals and coffeehouses, and also have a passion for choral music. I am a co-director of BTHS choir, and am part of a high school choir, VoicesNext. I also participated in NJ ACDA All State Choir, and am part of a teen handbell ensemble, Impulse Handbell Ensemble. I like to use my passion for music as a way to give back to my community by singing in senior-living centers throughout the year. I love being in this group and having the opportunity to work alongside such talented musicians!
ISABELLE PAPA
Director, Age 17
Music is a huge part of my life and I have loved participating in Beats for a Cause! My main instrument is piano and I have participated in several competitions. I also play flute in the RFH marching band and the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra. I love Beats for a Cause because it gives me an opportunity to combine my passion for music with giving back to the community!
GAURI LAHOTI
Age 15
Music has been a large part of my life since 4th grade, when I first started playing the clarinet. It started as just something I did in my free time, but as I entered middle school I started playing instruments more passionately, with my eyes on our school’s Jazz Band, Handbells Ensemble, and All Shore Band. In high school, keeping music with me was a little bit of a struggle at first, but then I joined Marching Band and Beats for a Cause, a fun way to give back to the community through something that I love to do, making music.
SKANDA SKAI
Age 15
From a very little age, I have had a deep love for music. In third grade, I started to play my first instrument, the piano. This helped increase my passion for music and in sixth grade, I joined my schools choir. Later on, I would be selected into their select choir program and also into the New Jersey select state choir. My passion for music has only increased throughout, and I am so happy to participate in this program, where I can continue my passion for music, but for a good cause.
JOYCE LEE
Age 15
Music has been the only constant in my everchanging life. I started playing violin at 6 years old and continued to pick up instruments from then on. In sixth grade I started playing clarinet and ascended to first chair by eighth grade. As an instrumentalist for middle school choir, I quickly picked up bass and mandolin while also filling in gaps with my guitar playing. As a leader in the choir, I helped direct voice parts while also working on independent projects with friends for feature performances at each choir concert. In high school I took up a temporary stint in Impulse Bell Choir before becoming co-director of BTHS Choir. I occasionally volunteer my violin playing for local churches and I’m excited to extend this work through Beats for a Cause with boomwhackers :)
GRACE ABBUD
Age 16
I have been playing piano for longer than I can remember. Though it started out as a chore that I was forced to complete, playing piano is now very high on my list of favorite things to do. I have been in both school band and chorus since they were available to me. Currently, I participate in marching band on the glockenspiel, concert band on the bass clarinet, and pit band on keyboard, all at my local high school. Music is a huge part of my life; I wouldn't be the same person without it. I am so excited to make music with a group of my peers and support an important cause by doing so!
SYDNEY YAN
Age 16
Music has been my life for as long as I can remember. From breaking bow hair in Germany to serenading people in Manhattan bathrooms, I've spread my love for music everywhere. I've always enjoyed giving back to the community with all sorts of music, and I'm a classical violinist, a pianist, an upcoming melodica-ist, and a new boomwhacker-whacker. I also love playing music with my friends! I've been in many ensembles, programs, performances, and competitions. Looking forward to having fun and making music for everyone!
OLIVER GU
Age 16
I started my adventure with music when I was 5 with piano. I found other exciting instruments to play with the recorder in 2nd grade and the clarinet in 4th grade. Playing in concerts was some the most fun I had in elementary and middle school, especially with Wind Ensemble in middle school, where I had the opportunity to create music and travel with my close friends. Finding time to make music has been harder in high school, but I plan to make the best of my time with Beats for a Cause by helping others through my passion for music.
Rutgers University
Justin Hall
2012-2015
Justin is a senior at Rutgers majoring in pharmacy.
JULIANA DIGIACOMO
2015-2017
Juliana is a sophomore at Rutgers majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience.
NATALIE PUGLIESE
2015-2017
Natalie is a sophomore at Rutgers majoring in management and global business.
DEVONN SMITH
2013-2017
DeVonn is a sophomore at Rutgers majoring in music.
NICOLE SELTZER
2012-2013
Nicole recently graduated from Rutgers with a BS in Criminal Justice in 2017.
CHRIS DINH
2015-2019
Chris is a freshman at Rutgers at the College of Engineering.
George Washington University
Alex Kaunzinger
2012-2015
Alex is a senior at GW majoring in biology on a pre-med track.
ALISON PAGALILAUAN
2013-2017
Alison is a sophomore at GW majoring in biology and biological anthropology.
University of Pennsylannia
Joe Maggiore
2012-2015
Joe is a senior at UPenn majoring in biology.
Dylan Cook
2015-2017
Dylan is a sophomore at UPenn majoring in biology.
Pennsylvania State university
Hunter Davey
2012-2015
Hunter is a senior at Penn State majoring in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering.
BrookDale community college
Alec Battaglia
2012-2016
Alec is a junior at Brookdale majoring in biology.
Cornell University
Ethan Seltzer
2012-2016
Ethan is a junior at Cornell University majoring in biology.
CAREY LAU
2015-2018
Carey is a freshman at Cornell University majoring in biology.
DUKE UNIVERSITY
PHOEBE DIJOUR
2015-2018
Phoebe is a freshman at Duke University majoring in biomedical engineering.
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
JULIA NAGER
2016-2018
Julia is a freshman at Hofstra University in the Physician Assistant Studies Program.
GEORGETOWN UNIVRESITY
NAM VU
2017-2018
Nam is a freshman at Georgetown University majoring in environmental biology.
University of Rhode Island
Michael Brennan
2015-2017
Michael is a sophomore at URI majoring in cell and molecular biology.
University of Michigan
Robbie Greenberg
2012-2015
Robbie is a senior at UMich majoring in mechanical engineering.
University of Hartford
Ethan Wagner
2012-2015
Ethan is a senior at Hartford majoring in acoustic engineering and music.
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
NEHA NANDIWADA
2015-2019
Neha is a freshman at Johns Hopkins.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
BRADLEY LOUI
2015-2019
Bradley is a freshman at USC.