About Pro Musica Joplin
For over four decades, we’ve championed one belief: everyone deserves access to the highest quality classical chamber music.
Our Chamber Series presents touring national and international ensembles free-of-charge to the public. Musicians also engage in rich Arts Education residencies with area public, private, and home school students, and facilitate masterclasses with Missouri Southern State University students.
We also host an annual ticketed Jazz Concert benefit, produce intergenerational Bach-A-Bye Baby concerts in partnership with the Joplin Library, and present outreach performances at assisted living centers, hospitals, domestic violence shelters; and cultivate the next generation of classical music fans with adventurous presentations in coffee shops, restaurants, and outdoors.
We rely on the support of dozens of donors, business sponsors, foundations, and taxpayers via Missouri Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Our Executive Director
Joani Zibert, Executive Director
Joani 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.
2025-2026 Board of Directors
Jud Fisher, President
Staff VP Segment Reporting Leggett & Platt (retired)
Shelly Tarter, Vice President
Administrator, Joplin Schools Virtual & Alternative Program
Alex Curchin, Treasurer
Director & Attorney, Crossland Construction
Kathy Stammer, Secretary
Accountant Ozark Christian College (retired)
Wally Bloss, member
Executive Director, Cache Valley Ctr of Arts (retired)
Cleo Copeland, member
Owner, Cleo’s Picture Framing & Design
Nick Kyle, member
Department Chair/Professor of Art, MSSU (retired)
Will Mountz, member
Director, Adult Degree Completion, MSSU
The Hon. David B. Mouton, member
Circuit Judge, Division 3, 29th Judicial Circuit, Jasper County, MO
Justin Thomas, member
Owner, The Wild Flower
Annette Thurston, member
Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House (retired)
Martin Williams, member
CEO Cox-Monett Hospital (retired)
Our Artistic Director
Emlyn Johnson, Artistic Director
Emlyn 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
Our Office Manager
Emily Rose, Office Manager
Emily currently serves as Office Manager of Pro Musica. A California native, Emily has a profound passion for classical music, theatre, and the visual arts. With a degree in accounting from Morrison University, she brings her extensive business expertise to Pro Musica’s mission. She is constantly thrilled by the culturally rich experiences in her new home.
