About Us

Lee Elliff Pound currently serves as Executive Director of Pro Musica. Lee’s background as a seasoned event planner and fund raiser through healthcare marketing and education has led her to lead Pro Musica. She has served as a Marketing Director for Oak Hill Hospital and the Freeman Health System, and for 28 years at Missouri Southern State University; 26 years as the Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations, and then as Director of Major Gifts. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from Missouri Southern State University and an M.S. in Administration from Southwest Baptist University. She has worked with sports greats such as Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin; entertainers including Dennis Weaver, Linda Gray, Ed Beagley, Jr., and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; Grammy nominated and Country Music Duo of the Year winner, Thompson Square; and astronaut and Center Director at NASA Glenn Research Center, Dr. Janet Kavandi. Lee is responsible for the overall operations of Pro Musica, reporting to the Board of Directors

Joani Zibert serves as the incoming Executive Director of Pro Musica, bringing more than 17 years of executive leadership experience across nonprofit governance, arts education innovation, K-12 and postsecondary education development, public and private funding strategy, legal compliance, and organizational growth. A nationally recognized school founder and non-profit executive, she has secured millions in public and private funding, built high-performing organizations from the ground up, and guided boards through periods of transformation, scale, and long-term sustainability at the local, state, and national levels.

Joani is the founder and former Board President of Doral Academy of Nevada, where she led the creation and expansion of an arts-integrated school system now serving over 5,000 students, transforming community frustration over the loss of arts education into an award-winning model of creative excellence.

Originally from the 4-States area, with Slovenian grandparents, she has worked nationally gaining a professional background that includes serving in varying roles including President of nonprofits, Director of Operations, Director of Law & Policy, Director of Grants, Director of Marketing, and senior executive advisor roles. Joani is known for aligning missions with measurable impact while bridging vision, governance, and execution. Her work is rooted in the belief that the arts are not an accessory to education or community life, but a catalyst for connection, economic vitality, and generational change.

As Executive Director of Pro Musica, Joani brings a bold, forward-focused approach centered on organizational excellence, financial sustainability, expanded community engagement, and the elevation of Pro Musica’s role as a cultural cornerstone. She leads with clarity, courage, and collaboration while committed to honoring Pro Musica’s legacy as we build the next chapter with strength and momentum.

Emlyn Johnson currently serves as Creative Director of Pro Musica. Emlyn’s background as a classically trained flutist, educator, and presenter eventually led her to Missouri, where she taught in the music department at Missouri State University and was the Executive Director for Pro Musica from 2021 – 2023. She is the co-director of the American Wild Ensemble and performs regularly around the state and beyond, and is an adjunct instructor of Flute at UMKC Conservatory in Kansas City, MO. Emlyn holds a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music and holds additional degrees from Eastman and the University of Michigan. She is responsible for creative and artistic aspects of Pro Musica and guides the selection process of concerts, reporting to the Board of Directors