Administration – Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras

Lindsey Nova

Executive Director

Mrs. Nova became executive director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras at the start of the 2011-12 season. During her tenure, TRYPO has dramatically expanded its program offerings, significantly increased the number of students it serves annually, and created numerous new community partnerships, resulting in a thriving and fiscally sound organization that is truly making a difference in the lives of Pittsburgh’s musically talented youth.

Mrs. Nova has a Bachelor’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the Eastman School of Music, where she also received the prestigious Performer’s Certificate, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in French from the University of Rochester. After graduating from Eastman, she spent a year as a guest lecturer at the Université de Rennes II in Rennes, France before earning a Master’s of Music Performance in French Horn from the University of Utah. She was the Director of Operations for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera prior to moving to Pittsburgh with her husband James Nova, who is the second/utility trombonist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs. Nova serves on the Arts Advisory Council of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, as well as on the boards of the League of American Orchestras Youth Orchestra Division, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus. She is proud have participated in Leadership Pittsburgh XXXIV.

Ana María Díaz

Program Manager

Ana María Díaz is a graduate of Duquesne University where she majored in cello performance with Misha Quint. Ms. Díaz began her musical studies in her native Venezuela as a member of the famous Youth Orchestra Program known as “El Sistema;” she studied music at Conservatorio de Música “Vicente Emilio Sojo,” Conservatorio Superior de Música “Simón Bolívar” and Centro Universitario de Estudios Musicales (IUDEM) under the guidance of Miguel Rojas and William Molina and served in the faculty of Conservatorio de Música “Vicente Emilio Sojo” where she taught cello, kinder music, theory & solfege and coached the cello sections for the children and youth orchestras. Ms. Díaz has performed in Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, McKeesport Symphony and Washington County Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Ms. Díaz is the Program Manager of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras; she is a member of Butler County Symphony Orchestra, and teaches cello at the Elizabeth Seton Center and the Hope Academy of Music and the Arts.

Alyssa Hensley

Manager of Youth Chamber Connection and Special Projects

Harpist Alyssa Hensley takes on the role of manager for Youth Chamber Connection this year! Having performed as a chamber and orchestral musician, she is excited to take on new projects and grow the chamber performance opportunities for students in the Pittsburgh area.

Ms. Hensley holds a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from Northwestern University, where she studied with Lynn Williams and Liz Cifani, and her Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studies with Gretchen Van Hoesen. Her other teachers include Laura Fako-Utley and Joan Holland.

Coming from a very musical family, Ms. Hensley was thrown into playing chamber music with her brothers and sister when she began at age seven. She is an advocate for new music and serves on the board of directors for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Harp Society.

Robin Thompson

Marketing and Communications Manager

Robin Thompson is the newest member of the TRYPO team!

After earning her B.A. in Music and Arts Administration from Westminster Choir College, where she studied with Robin Leigh Massie, Robin returned to Western Pennsylvania to pursue her passion for performing arts marketing. She has held positions in client services, house management, performing arts box office management, and more. While she’s not working hard to spread the word about TRYPO, she works as a section leader singing at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Robin and her husband Terry are settling into their new home with their two furr-babies.

Emily Bovan

UniSound Program Coordinator and TRYPO Marketing Assistant

Emily Bovan is the Program Coordinator for UniSound. After working in that position for five months, she joined the TRYPO staff full-time and she also now works as the TRYPO Marketing Assistant as well.

Emily is a Pittsburgh local and grew up in Gibsonia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management from Point Park University and her master’s degree in Performing Arts Leadership and Management from Shenandoah University Conservatory. While in college, she interned with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Playhouse, and Pittsburgh Youth Chorus.

Emily has been involved in music programming for as long as she can remember; playing piano, flute, and singing. Emily sang in numerous choirs throughout her time in school and college and currently sings in the Soprano section with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. In her roles, Emily is excited to bring those musical opportunities to other kids and teenagers around the Pittsburgh area.

Ethan Schwartz

Development Associate and Executive Assistant

Ethan Schwartz joins the TRYPO staff as Development Associate and Executive Assistant. Ethan is a graduate of Penn State, earning his B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Music Cello Performance. During his time at Penn State, Ethan played in the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra and Cello Choir. He was also a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. Before joining the TRYPO team, Ethan worked for Centre County Government as an Administrative Assistant.

Shannon Sheldrick

Operations Coordinator and Librarian

New to the Pittsburgh area, Shannon Sheldrick is a trumpet player who just finished a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance at Oakland University in Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from Michigan State University and taught middle school band during the pandemic. Shannon has special interests in chamber music, instrumental pedagogy, and arts administration. During her undergraduate and graduate degrees, she worked as a music librarian and graduate chamber ensemble coordinator. She also enjoyed working for the Spartan Marching Band on their Physical Operations team to help with performances during the football and basketball seasons. She has also marched in Michigan State’s marching band and Drum Corp International’s Carolina Crown. Shannon enjoys freelancing in local orchestras, chamber groups, and brass bands in the Detroit area and is looking forward to getting established in Pittsburgh!

Amaya Williams

Program Assistant

Amaya Williams joined the TRYPO team in 2021 as a Program Assistant, working both administratively and artistically with students. A native of Lancaster, PA, she began her violin studies at age five. Amaya is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Violin Performance at Duquesne University where she studies under Rachel Stegeman and in May of 2023, Amaya earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Summa Cum Laude also from Duquesne University. In 2022, Amaya began teaching private string lessons at Newlonsburg Music Academy in Murrysville, PA. She also enjoys performing in orchestras around the Pittsburgh Region.

Carolina Roy

Operations Assistant

Carolina Roy is a senior at Duquesne University, where she is a Music Education and Cello Performance double major at the Mary Pappert School of Music. Carolina has taught cello lessons for six years and hopes to continue performing and teaching young musicians in the future.

Danielle Polizzi

Operations Assistant

Danielle Polizzi is a current senior at Duquesne University, majoring in music education with a primary focus on violin. At Duquesne, she studies violin under Rachel Stegeman of the Wheeling and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras. Danielle is also a member of the American String Teacher Association and serves as the co-president of the chapter at Duquesne. Outside of music, Danielle is also a Resident Assistant, working with current students residing in the Living Learning Centers and building community on campus.

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Hailey Flood

Operations Assistant

Hailey Flood has been working with TRYPO since the Fall of 2023 as an Operations Assistant, where she works administratively and closely with students. Hailey is a Bethel Park native and began her cello studies at age nine. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Duquesne University, where she studies cello under Pittsburgh Symphony Cellist, Adam Liu. Outside of TRYPO, Hailey also works with the High Note Festival and in the summers, she works closely with Allison Craig at her string summer camp.