Our Mission
Willie Mae Rock Camp integrates music, technology and STEM to empower girls and gender-expansive youth with the skills and confidence to thrive as creative leaders in a tech-driven future.
What We Believe
We believe in building a creative culture where all voices are heard and represented. That's why our youth programs are tuition-free, require no prior experience for participation and are centered on BIPOC girls and gender-expansive youth.
What We Do
We provide a range of interdisciplinary music technology programs for in-school, after-school, summer camp and online learning, plus community workshops and events in our Brooklyn music laboratory.
How We Do It
We integrate acoustic and electronic instrument instruction with music software and STEM learning to give students creative skill-building opportunities with technologies so they can thrive as creators in the tech driven future. Programming is delivered by music pros, teaching artists and professionals in creative technology fields.
History
Founded in 2004 by a group of NYC female musicians, Willie Mae Rock Camp was the second rock camp for girls in the U.S. Over time, we expanded beyond the summer to year-round programming in partnership with organizations and schools throughout NYC.
In 2020, we integrated STEM learning with music education to engage students with the physics of sound and electronic musical instruments, creative software and recording technology. Then in 2021, we opened our very own sound laboratory in Brooklyn where students can access over 30 digital, analog and modular synthesizers, computer stations, iPads, guitars, basses and electronic drum kits, as well as a state of the art quadrophonic sound system.
Willie Mae Rock Camp
Willie Mae Rock Camp
Willie Mae Thornton
We stand on the shoulders of Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, a musical pioneer and the inspiration for our name. Born in 1926, Willie Mae Thornton was a singer, songwriter, and self-taught drummer known for her powerful voice and stage presence. She is considered one of the founders of Rock and Roll, and recorded “Hound Dog” and “Ball and Chain” years before both songs became hits for Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin. As a strong, Black, female voice in a field dominated by men, Willie Mae Thornton transgressed gender and racial barriers. Underrecognized in her time, her groundbreaking work paved the way for generations of female and gender nonbinary musicians to come.
Our Staff
LaFrae Sci
Executive Director
LaFrae Sci is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, educator, and composer with a career spanning 30 years and 38 countries. A founding member of Willie Mae Rock Camp and former lead teaching artist, she was appointed as executive director in 2020, and has spearheaded the organization’s expansion to a full suite of year-round, STEM-informed programming.
Sci has extensive experience developing music education programs in the United States and internationally. As a composer, she writes for film, theater, and jazz and classical orchestras, with a range spanning immersive and ambisonic music, blues, ethnomusicological traditions, rock, pop, hip-hop, and deconstructed techno soul. Her practice is grounded in the origins and extended influence of the blues, from spirituals to afro-futuristic soundscapes.
Celia Manley
Deputy Director
As Deputy Director, Celia Manley works across departments to ensure that Willie Mae Rock Camp has the resources and systems it needs to meet its goals and operate effectively. Celia has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in roles focused on public and private grants management, operations, and program evaluation. She has a fine arts background, with a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and an MFA from California College of the Arts.
Kambaba Jasper
Sound lab manager
As Sound Lab Manager, Kambaba Jasper maintains our Brooklyn sound lab facility and collection of gear and leads on-site program instruction. Kambaba first joined Willie Mae Rock Camp as a teaching artist in 2021. She is a musician and artist from North Carolina living and creating art of all kinds in Brooklyn. Her creative expression ranges from fluid, journal-esque, experimentally curated or improvised, to intentionally reflective pieces exploring her intersections of Blackness, Transness, and Neurodiversity.
Nala Duma
Program c00rdinator
Nala Duma is a musician, choreographer, and educator whose work explores Blackness, gender, and modernity through music, dance, and theater performance. Nala has over five years of experience in arts administration and an extensive background creating work for such arts institutions as the Kitchen and Times Square Arts. Nala obtained her B.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. As Willie Mae Rock Camp’s program coordinator, she supports program instruction, operations and outreach across our youth programs.
Pilot Viruet
Communications Manager
Pilot Viruet is a screenwriter, digital media editor, and essayist. Their writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Vulture, and The Atlantic while their television credits, which have earned them an Emmy nomination, include Sesame Street and Pinecone & Pony. In addition to a communications and development background, Pilot is also the co-founder of The Rolling Library, a mutual aid group that provides free books and Little Free Libraries to the NYC area. As Communications Manager, Pilot works across platforms to amplify student voices and engage audiences in our work.
Maria Soriano
Director of Programs
As Director of Programs, Maria is responsible for managing and developing the programs team. Maria has over 20 years experience developing Arts and Arts-integrated programming, serving traditionally disinvested and BIPOC communities. She has toured internationally, served as the Programs Director at the Straz Performing Arts Center, and, most recently, was the Director of Education at Hook Arts Media. She holds a BFA from Eckerd College.
Denise Terrero
program aide
Working as Program Aide, Denise helps ensure that programs run smoothly by providing assistance wherever necessary while also assisting in community involvements for Willie Mae Rock Camp. Born and raised in Queens, Denise is inspired by the bustling DIY music scene in New York City. Denise is a bassist and songwriter, valuing playfulness and simplicity in her music-making.
Board of Directors
Laura Greer
Senior Producer, Apollo Theater
Sabrina Shulman
Chief Political Officer, Vote Run Lead
Gina Izzo
Manager of Learning and Engagement Programs, Carnegie Hall
Carolina Siles
Partner and Managing Director, Lucid Management and Capital Partners
Shirley Taylor
Executive Director, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center
Marisa Zalabak
Founder, Open Channel Culture
Leena Punjabi
Chief Investment Officer, F&G