Promotions of Longtime Staffers and Alumni at Zumix

Zumix’s Jenny Shulman’s decision to leave Zumix in December after eight years as the popular East Boston youth music nonprofit’s Director of Programs has led to the promotions of three longtime Zumix alumni and staffers. 

“We are so excited to finally get to share three announcements,” said Zumix in a statement. “After eight years of service, Jenny Shulman will be passing the baton to Corey DePina, an alumnus of Zumix and a staff member since 2002.”

Corey DePina and Zumix’s former Director of Programs Jenny Shulman. DePina will take over as Director of Programming.

Shulman announced in September that she would leave Zumix. She finished her tenure at the end of December and DePina will now assume the role of Director of Programs. 

DePina started with Zumix as a student in the program’s second year of existence back in 1992. DePina came back as a staff member in 2002. 

“Corey is a musician, community advocate, and award winning teaching artist,” said Zumix. “In 2019, Corey received the Black Excellence on the Hill award from the State of Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus for both his role at ZUMIX, and as the founder of the Fogo Project, which is working to build a music school and recording studio on the island of Fogo in Cabo Verde where his family is from.”

Zumix’s Kadahj Bennett will be stepping into DePina’s former role of Songwriting and Performance Manager. 

Bennett joined the staff in 2019 as the Instrumental Music Manager, and studied under DePina to craft his teaching artistry. 

“Kadahj is an alumnus of Zumix and Boston Arts Academy, graduating in 2008,” said Zumix. “Kadahj went on to receive a Posse scholarship to Hamilton College, where he graduated from in 2012. Kadahj received the Elliot Norton Award for Best Actor in 2020, and has performed with the New Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, and Company One. Kadahj continues to be an Artist in Residence at Harvard University, and Neighborhood Salon Luminary at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.”

Finally, Omar Sosa, another Zumix alumnus, will be stepping into Bennett’s role of Instrumental Music Manager. Sosa has served as Zumix’s Administrative Assistant and Teaching Artist since 2016, 

“We are also excited to announce that Kadahj will be passing the baton of Instrumental Music Manager to Omar Sosa,” said Zumix. “Omar is an alumnus of Zumix, starting at the age of 6, and has been working as an Administrative Assistant and Teaching Artist for Zumix since 2016. He is a gifted teaching artist, musician, and leader of Boston based band Pangea.”

Sosa graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Jazz Composition after receiving a full-tuition scholarship.

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