Music Will is honored to welcome four new members to its National Board of Directors: Stefani Scamardo, founder of Hard Head Management and Evil Teen records, Brian Hardgroove, record producer, bassist, drummer and member (on hiatus) of the legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy, Priscilla Shaw Rahn, 26-year veteran public school Master Teacher, and Farid Naib, financial technology entrepreneur, investor and manager. With extensive professional experience and acumen, the new Board members join the organization as it works to expand its reach and impact, serving teachers and students in school and home environments.
Chris Donohoe, Music Will’s Board Chair, shared, “We are so proud and honored to welcome a distinguished and diverse group of new Board members to help propel our unique mission forward. Stefani, Brian, Priscilla and Farid will undoubtedly add important new perspectives and leadership to our efforts to transform lives through music education.”
Please see bios of the new Board members below.
Stefani Scamardo
Stefani Scamardo is the founder of Hard Head Management and Evil Teen records. She has a wide variety of musical influences dating back to her early days as an avid record collector and live show enthusiast. Stefani came through the ranks of the A&R department of Island Records at the start of her music business career and she spent 16 years as the face and voice of SXM’s Jam On where she hosted “Jam On with Stef Scamardo.” Stefani also co-founded Mountain Jam, one of the country’s premier music festivals in Hunter, NY.
Stefani has managed Gov’t Mule for 20 years and under her guidance, they have solidified themself as one of the most influential rock bands of the modern era, developing a robust touring regimen and showcasing their virtuosity over the course of 27 studio and live albums, millions of album and track sales, and over 2,000 live performances. Simultaneously, she has overseen Warren Haynes’ impressive balance of Gov’t Mule, The Allman Brothers Band, The Dead, his solo acts, and more. She’s worked closely and consulted with both the Dead and the Allman Brothers Band, most recently co-managing and producing The Brothers sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden.
Stefani serves as a philanthropist having co-founded the W&S Charitable Foundation and recently raising funds from a show of over a half-million dollars, advising on the boards of Headcount, and the NY Chapter of the Recording Academy. She moves from serving in an advisory capacity for Music Will to a National Board role.
Brian Hardgroove
Brian Hardgroove is a record producer, bassist, drummer and member (on hiatus) of the legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy. Although he’s done productions that include the extraordinary talents of Chuck D (Public Enemy), Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Burning Spear, Marc Anthony, Supertramp and The Fine Arts Militia, his most cherished work is the production of two of China’s premier punk rock bands Demerit and Brain Failure. Brian’s musical repertoire spans the genres of hip-hop, soul, rhythm and blues, rock, and reggae.
In 2013 Brian joined the faculty of Santa Fe University of Art & Design as Artist in Residence until shortly before the school began closing in 2017. In 2009, Gov. Bill Richardson proclaimed May 8th as “Brian Hardgroove Day” in the state of New Mexico for Brian’s commitment to the regional music scene and for using his position as a touring musician, radio personality, writer, performer, and producer to promote the state in interviews while touring the world with Public Enemy and Bootsy Collins. Santa Fe Mayor David Coss proclaimed June 7 as “Brian Hardgroove Day” in the city of Santa Fe as well.
Brian is currently producing two separate album projects with Stewart Copeland (The Police) and Fred Schneider (The B-52’s).
Priscilla Shaw Rahn
Priscilla is a 26-year veteran public school Master Teacher; an elite distinction held by less than 1% of Colorado’s teachers. She was the first teacher in Colorado to become National Board Certified in Early Adolescent/Young Adult Music. Priscilla has worked in urban, suburban and rural schools in Texas, Colorado and Alaska as a public school teacher, principal, Regional Team Specialist, teacher evaluator/coach, Summer English language arts (ELA) Site Leader, high school tennis and volleyball coach and higher education Student Teacher Supervisor at Colorado Christian University (CCU). Priscilla volunteers her time as Secretary of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, DUU Board alternate for the Colorado Education Associaion.
Priscilla’s husband is Darren Rahn, an accomplished saxophonist, with over 25 #1 radio singles and multiple Grammy nominations over the past 11 years as an artist, producer and mixing engineer. He has become urban jazz’s premiere sonic architect, the “go-to” guy for established genre greats and up and comers looking for their next sure-fire hit.
Farid Naib
Farid has 30 years of experience in the financial technology industry as an entrepreneur, investor and manager. Previously, he founded FNX Limited, a leading provider of global over-the-counter trading technology to the world’s largest financial institutions. FNX was acquired by GL Trade (now part of SunGard) in 2007. Farid also has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, as a board member of Gain Capital and is an operating partner at LLR. He joined Lightspeed Financials’ Board of Directors (now Professional Trading Solutions) in September 2012 and became CEO in 2014. He holds a Series 7 and 24 licenses.
Farid has been a longtime supporter of Music Will, having served on the organization’s New York Area Advisory Board. In addition, Farid has been a member of YPO International’s Board of Directors.
To learn more, visit Music Will’s National Board of Directors page.
