Our Team

Tim has been recording and documenting artists since the early age of 16, when he became interested in ethnomusicology. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Friends World College and a master’s from the Curriculum in Folklore at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Tim and his wife Denise founded Music Maker in 1994 to assist traditional musicians in need. Tim works very closely with partner artists on a daily basis while also overseeing program operations. For his work with Music Maker, Tim was recognized by ABC Evening News as the “Person of the Week” in April 2004 and was voted Living Blues Producer of the Year in 1999. Tim has also received honors from National Resophonic Guitars and the North Carolina Folklore Society. Since Music Maker’s founding, he has produced more than 151 albums, produced two films, and has presented dozens of traditional Southern musicians at prestigious venues around the world.

Denise has a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College and joined husband Tim in managing Music Maker after leaving a successful career in the fashion industry. Denise’s business experience is invaluable to Music Maker, as she wears many hats within the organization: She is responsible for operations, financial management, government compliance and strategic planning. Denise finds bringing people of diverse backgrounds together in musical celebration the most rewarding aspect of her work at Music Maker. She finds inspiration in these bold senior artists launching new careers and blazing new trails around the globe. She and Tim have two children.

Gabi received her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Tufts University. The breadth of curriculum in her program included music history and music sociology courses that shifted her perspective and her approach to roles people play at visual arts and music organizations. Gabi’s passion for storytelling and her drive to learn about  the roots of the music she loves brought her to Music Maker in January 2021. Gabi works to grow Music Maker’s resource base, ensuring our partner artists continue to receive the support they need.

Brittany has a bachelor’s degree in Human Services & Sociology from Elon University and a master’s of Social Work from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Brittany has been in the social work field since 2007 and has a passion to advocate for underrepresented and underserved communities.  Brittany became our inaugural social worker in 2018 and has returned due to her love of working with our artists, helping connect them with the various resources in their communities that they were unaware of. Brittany finds fulfillment in assisting artists obtain a higher quality of life and increasing their ability to bring their art to the masses.

Tess is from Music Maker’s original home, Winston-Salem, NC. A lover of North Carolina’s blue ridge mountains, green valleys, and hidden waterways, Tess grew to love the music interwoven with these places. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she studied languages and global culture. Since graduating, her work has been focused in community engagement and experiential education. She is excited to combine her love for music with her passion for transformative justice and storytelling. When she’s not at Music Maker, you can probably find her on a bicycle, taking in the view.

Taylor has a bachelor's in Fine Arts from Appalachian State University and is a working artist herself. During her time there she was able to see what it takes to put on exhibitions and live music performances alongside the artists. She joined Music Maker to further her knowledge of arts management within a non-profit organization setting, and helps to facilitate communications and promotions between Music Maker and their supporters through mail.

Ardie has spent three decades as a drummer and award-winning producer for the Music Maker Foundation. This music-industry veteran has performed at the most prestigious venues around the globe. He attributes his long association with Music Maker to his belief that “the more you give, the more you get.”