Our Mission

To use the power of music to provide healing, raise awareness, and promote positive social change for survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence.

How It All Came About

The inspiration for The Angel Band Project came from an unthinkable tragedy. In July 2009, a young man crept through an open window in the middle of the night at the home of Teresa Butz and her partner. After repeatedly raping and stabbing both women, Teresa fought back. According to police, her actions saved her partner's life, but cost Teresa her own.

After witnessing the emotionally powerful singing at the funeral from Teresa's musically-talented family and partner, Teresa's lifelong best friends were inspired to record them. Teresa's brother, two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz, and Teresa's surviving partner, Jennifer Hopper, joined their efforts.

Their aim was simple: to capture the power in the music they heard to help others heal from the effects of sexual violence. The resulting benefit album not only helped them heal, but gave them the inspiration to create the country's first music therapy program designed to treat survivors of sexual violence.

The Angel Band Project

Using music to break the silence

Our Staff

Rachel Ebeling

Co-founder, Executive Director

Co-founder and Executive Director of The Angel Band Project and lifelong lover of music, Rachel is responsible for day-to-day operations of the organization with a focus on growing The Angel Band Project into a meaningful force for healing and social change. Traveling the country, Rachel shares our story of providing hope and healing to survivors, while bringing our music therapy program to new cities and regions. She has been the keynote speaker at conferences large and small and was recently honored as a Woman of Achievement, honoring the efforts of volunteer women.

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Rachel Ebeling
Co-founder, Executive Director

Jean Haegele

Co-founder, Communications Specialist

Jean had the idea for making the benefit album that launched the The Angel Band Project while driving in her car listening to tunes. Passionate about using the power of music to promote healing and social change, Jean uses her background in marketing and creative strategy to help drive initiatives and programs for the organization. She lives in Chicago with her two daughters.

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Jean Haegele
Co-founder, Communications Specialist

Dawn Nemanick

Executive Assistant

Dawn spent the early part of her career in bank and franchise marketing, and marketing communications agencies. After several years of staying at home with daughters Sarah & Katie, she was inspired to “join the band” and put her marketing, project management, and event planning background to use for a cause in which she strongly believes.  In her spare time, Dawn enjoys gardening, watching her girls perform on violin and Irish fiddle, and exploring other cities with husband, Rik.

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Dawn Nemanick
Executive Assistant

Aurielle Macchi Carter

Music Therapy Program Director

Aurielle Macchi received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Missouri State University in 2017 and has since been working towards her Master of Music Therapy at Maryville University. Music is one of Aurielle’s greatest joys in life; she is honored to be able to unite her love of music and passion for music therapy with such an important cause.

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Aurielle Macchi Carter
Music Therapy Program Director

Caitlin Bell

Music Therapy Adminsitrator - NYC

Caitlin Bell, MA, LCAT, MT-BC (she/her) is board-certified music therapist and licensed creativearts therapist in New York City. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and NewYork University, Caitlin practices music psychotherapy through atrauma-informed and psychodynamic lens. The focus of Caitlin’s work lies at theintersection of community, connection, and creativity. Caitlin is engaged insupporting individuals and groups to discover meaning and purpose, processgrief, and develop life skills through musical and creative outlets. Her areasof specialty include substance use disorders, trauma and PTSD andindividualized care with children, adolescents, and adults. Caitlin is agraduate of the Kint Institute, a post-graduate training program intrauma-informed creative arts therapies. She is currently working onpost-graduate training in Analytical Music Therapy and is a staff therapist atAscendant NY in New York City.

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Caitlin Bell
Music Therapy Adminsitrator - NYC

Board of Directors

Beth Blissman
Beth Blissman
United Nations Representative, Loretto Community
Cynthia Briggs
Cynthia Briggs
Music Therapy Professor, Maryville University
Tim Burke
Tim Burke
Retired Principle - Edward Jones
Deb Busch
Deb Busch
Advocate, Survivor
Norbert Leo Butz
Norbert Leo Butz
Actor, Honorary Board Member, NYC
Patti Catalano
Patti Catalano
Retired Music Therapy Program Manager, Music Works Northwest
Carmela Davis
Carmela Davis
Director Talent Acquisition
Dana Fornasar
Dana Fornasar
Senior Director-Partner Marketing, Mastercard
Jennifer Hopper
Jennifer Hopper
Survivor, Musician, Honorary Board Member, Seattle
Tim Hof
Tim Hof
Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Holdings
Steve Kramer
Steve Kramer
Senior Vice President, US Bancorp
SooJin Kwoun
SooJin Kwoun
Music Therapist, Professor
Heather Miele
Heather Miele
Owner, White Honey
Jennifer Moran
Jennifer Moran
Manager, Carter Subaru, Seattle
Michael Moritz, Jr.
Michael Moritz, Jr.
Musician, Producer, Founder of Moritz Theatricals, NYC
Kelly O'Malley
Kelly O'Malley
Principal, O'Malley Hansen Communications
Steve Rygelski
Steve Rygelski
CPA, Chief Financial Officer,National Real Estate Management Corporation(NRE), St. Louis
Peter Salsich III
Peter Salsich III
Attorney, Capes Sokol, St. Louis
Jon Tiede
Jon Tiede
Owner, Jump Company
Trish Harrison, Board Chairman
Trish Harrison, Board Chairman
Retired Professor/Attorney, St. Louis
Mark Levine, Emeritus Board Chairman
Mark Levine, Emeritus Board Chairman
Franchise Owner, Budget Blinds, St. Louis

The Angel Band Project Media Inquiries should be directed
to Rachel Ebeling, Executive Director

(314) 240-5525
rachel.ebeling@angelbandproject.org

Contact Us

We have many volunteer opportunities in our three key cities: 
St. Louis, Seattle and New York City.
If you are interested in volunteering, have questions or just want to learn more, please fill out the form below.

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