Music Helps was founded in 2022 with the mission to make making music accessible to everyone in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire, regardless of financial means. It is run by a Board of Directors who all know from personal experience that music helps make life better in too many ways to count.
Meet the Board
Troy Collin, President. Troy Collin was introduced to the acoustic guitar by his uncle a couple years ago, and has since taken lessons with him over Zoom in exchange for consulting work for his business. Along with trying new recipes, staying active, and working through a good book, guitar has provided Troy with a fun means of keeping his mind active, while developing a sense of rhythm, something he once sorely lacked. Troy studied finance at Central Washington University and received his MBA from Gonzaga University in 2020. The first few years of his career were spent in personal finance, before moving into the corporate world in his current role at Boeing. Troy is a native to Washington State and currently resides in Washington D.C. on a temporary assignment.
Eliza Goodell, Secretary. Eliza Goodell has lived in Newbury, VT her whole life. She began learning French horn in elementary school, and took up the fiddle in high school. She has played in classical and folk settings across Vermont and New England, and has traveled with Young Tradition Vermont to Cape Breton, Scotland, and Japan. (Young Tradition Vermont has a free instrument loan program for people 25 years old and younger.) Most recently, Eliza has taken her music to Oberlin College in Ohio, where she will soon graduate with a degree in Geology with a minor in Music.
Susan Goodell, Treasurer. Susan started playing the cello when her younger child left for college, packing as many instruments as she could into the car. The cello did not fit. She was a third-grade teacher at Newbury Elementary school before changing careers to become a fee-only financial planner. She is a graduate of Bates College, has a Master’s Degree from Antioch New England, and completed her financial planning training with The College for Financial Planning. She lives in Newbury with her husband, Jeff, and a menagerie of animals. She has two adult children, one of whom serves on the Music Helps Board with her.
Paul Sachs. Paul has lived in Newbury, VT since 1974 where he started a business and raised a family with his wife, Ruth. Though not professionally involved in music, Paul has been playing guitar most of his life. He became friends with Patrick Ross a few years ago and learned about Music Helps. He’s acutely aware from his own experience how much of a confidence builder playing an instrument can be and thought, “what a great idea,” providing scholarships for students interested in learning to play but unable to afford lessons…or the cost of an instrument. It’s Paul’s firm belief that if you can learn how to play music, you can accomplish almost anything you set your mind to. Paul is founder and owner of North Country Organics, a manufacturer of organic amendments for certified organic farms and other organic applications throughout the northeastern US.
Noah Ahles. Noah is a data analyst and musician who is inspired by how music can help bring mental well-being. His project, breathe2music, which can be found on Instagram and Tiktok, guides deep breathing exercises synced to the tempo of popular music.