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Girls Play Trumpets Too is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that empowers girls ages (8-19) to play the trumpet on a novice and advanced level to enhance equal representation in a male dominant music industry.

MISSION

We believe that playing the trumpet helps to develop leadership skills, builds musical fundamentals, motivates social entrepreneurship, increases empathy and joy that will uplift their community and beyond.

Offbeat Magazine Cover Story

TROY SAWYER

“we want to put a trumpet in the hands of as many girls as possible”

— TROY SAWYER

Executive Director

Girls Play Trumpets Too is a part of my musical journey while growing up in a special place called New Orleans, the birth place of Jazz, where I was thrusted into a gumbo pot of creativity and heritage. The musical lineage of my family gave birth to my interest to play the violin and the trumpet. The trumpet eventually chose me because I felt that the trumpet represented Cool like Miles Davis, Fire like Freddie Hubbard, Spirituality like Lee Morgan, and Soul like Louis Armstrong. And so I was driven to practice to get better each and every day. I realized that I was growing as a trumpet player but I didn’t realize that my bias towards female trumpet players was growing also. I had never seen or heard a professional female trumpet player at the time. As a result, I thought that girls could not play the trumpet on a high professional level, which was supported by the history that was taught to me about the Germans, who were the creators of brass instruments and that they believed that brass instruments represented power and masculinity.

However, it wasn’t until I met a “girl trumpet player” that could play really well at Loyola University’s Jazz Camp while we were both in high school. She was a nice person and she was one of the best sight readers.

Thereafter, I remembered going to Dillard University to check out a female Jazz trumpeter from Canada while attending Xavier University at New Orleans majoring in performance. She played music from Miles Davis - a great jazz trumpeter. She was phenomenal. That experience destroyed all of those misconceptions and generalizations that I had towards female trumpet players.

Currently, I am a professional trumpet player and music educator. I have inspired a substantial amount of girls to play the trumpet throughout the years of educating the youth in New Orleans. As a result, I am on a mission-along with the girls that rock on trumpet-to change the narrative of female trumpet players by putting trumpets in the hands of as many girls as possible!

MEET THE TEAM

LISA BARTHELEMY

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Lisa's career encompasses a reputation as a focused, results-driven leader with a broad understanding of the insurance industry. She is deeply committed to, not just achieving target career and community objectives, but to exceeding expectations. Her ability to leverage experience with superior collaboration, communication and technical skills supports significant contributions to all initiatives and organizations. Lisa understands committment to community organizations is the foundation to our future. Her countless hours dedicated to New Orleans School Communities support her passion for not only local education, but youth development and beyond.
LAURA STEIN

BOARD MEMBER
Laura Stein is a nonprofit management consultant, dance teacher, and movement facilitator. From 2012-2022, she was co-founder and Executive Director of Dancing Grounds (DG), a New Orleans nonprofit organization that develops young leaders, promotes health and wellness, and advocates for social change through dance. From 2003-2011, worked in arts education and public policy at various nonprofits in New York City. In 2010, she helped create a girls’ hip hop program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the NGO, Tiny Toones. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from New York University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. Originally from Philadelphia, Laura grew up dancing, cheerleading, singing, playing piano, and french horn. She is a passionate anti-racist organizer, working in her white and Jewish communities to do political education and mobilize resources for justice. She is also Undoing Racism® workshop trainer in training with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond.
SEAN VAPPIE

BOARD MEMBER/TRUMPET INSTRUCTOR
Sean Vappie is a native New Orleanian that grew up in a musical family. His father, Don Vappie (guitarist, bassist, banjo, and composer), is a banjo hall of fame inductee. Sean attended St. Leo the Great elementary school where he was introduced to the trumpet and attended NOCCA in high school. He studied music at UNO and SUNO. Over the years, he studied with great instructors like Clyde Kerr, Kidd Jordan, Wendal Brunious, and more. After being displaced by the events of hurricane Katrina, Sean moved back to New Orleans and began a career in the financial service industry. He spent the last 16 years working and excelling in the financial service industry and is currently a Financial Advisor at Chase Bank serving clients in the Greater New Orleans area.
CASEY FERRAND

MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS
Casey Ferrand is a New Orleans native who has a television and media career spanning more than 20 years, from her days as a child actress in New Orleans to her career as a nationally award-winning journalist. She started acting at the age of 8, starring in commercials for the New Orleans Children's Museum, the Louisiana Dairy Association, and Freeport-McMoran, Inc. In 1995, she joined a youth theater group called Stage to Stage, and during her eight years with the company, she was cast in an ensemble or starring role in at least ten productions. During her eight years with the theater company, Casey performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, with the New Orleans Opera Association and on local morning news broadcasts. Those times behind the scenes in a bustling newsroom opened a new world of possibilities for the teen.
DAMIAN KENNEDY

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Damian A. Kennedy, MBA is the appointed Executive Director Of Development for Girls Play Trumpets Too non-profit organization. In his role as Executive Director of Development, he oversees the creation of plans, the implementation of strategies, and the supervision of fund-raising programs of the organization. Mr. Kennedy comes to GPTT with extensive knowledge and experience in marketing, operation strategy, digital fundraising, and the establishment of an organization's financial footprint. A visionary and native New Orleanian, Mr. Kennedy is armed with a passion and desire to impact this organization with a customized approach to problem-solving, organizational growth, and scalability.
EMILY MADERO

ADVISORY BOARD
Emily Madero is the president and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.. Madero joined the organization after serving as acting CEO of The Idea Village, a non-profit organization that identifies, supports and retains entrepreneurial talent in New Orleans. Emily has extensive fundraising, nonprofit, and leadership experience. She has devoted over a decade of her career to building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Orleans with The Idea Village. While there, she worked as a critical part of economic recovery in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Formerly serving as COO and most recently acting CEO, Madero was a critical player in starting and building New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, a festival celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation in the city, FQFI reps said. Madero has developed and taught business curriculum at Tulane and Loyola University and to corporate clients including GE. Madero said she is thrilled to combine her career passion for driving innovation and positive impact, with her love for New Orleans' time honored traditions and culture.
COSTANTINE MGALLE

SWAHILI INSTRUCTOR
Costantine Mgalle grew up in Tanzania, Africa and early on developed a passion for languages and literacy. His world opened up when he learned the English language and was able to access the full library of literature in high school. In college, he studied and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at the Salvatorian Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Tanzania. Constantine was then offered a scholarship for graduate studies at the University of Dallas, Texas where he graduated with a Masters of Arts in Humanities.
Since moving to New Orleans in 2009, Constantine has worked as a K-8 educator in literacy and humanities.