Our Story
The Anatolia Music Foundation was inspired by Juan’s grandmother, Anatolia Del Carmen Villegas, a nurse who dedicated over 40 years to serving others in Venezuela. She walked through her city, often using her own resources to provide vaccines and medicine to those in need. Her compassion, courage, and selflessness shaped Juan’s vision to give back through music.
Growing up amid Venezuela’s humanitarian and economic crisis, Juan faced daily hardships. To help his family survive, he sold water, vegetables, and other goods, yet music remained his guiding light and inspiration. He studied in El Sistema, trained at the Conservatorio de Música José Luis Paz, and in 2018 performed as a soloist with the Rafael Urdaneta University Orchestra.
In 2025, Juan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. Motivated by his grandmother’s legacy and supported by mentors at Lynn Conservatory, he gathered close friends and, in 2026, founded the Anatolia Music Foundation. Today, we offer music classes in multiple instruments taught by professional musicians, creating pathways from beginner to advanced levels, and empowering students in the U.S. and internationally — carrying forward a legacy of hope, service, and the transformative power of music.
Board of Directors
Juan Fernandez
Founder, President and Executive Director
Amanda Rearden
Board Secretary and Director of Music Programs
Miguelangel Garcia
Board Vice President and Director of Music Logistics 
Brooke Garcia
Board Treasurer, Director of Finances and Marketing ManagerOur Team
Juan Fernandez
Juan José Fernández Villegas is a Venezuelan oboist and educator dedicated to using music as a tool for social impact. Born in Trujillo, Venezuela, he began his musical journey in El Sistema under Jose Luis Cegarra and continued his studies at the Conservatorio de Música José Luis Paz in Maracaibo with Luis Daniel Marquez. In 2018, he performed as a soloist with the Rafael Urdaneta University Orchestra.
In January 2022, Juan was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Lynn University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Performance in 2025. During his undergraduate studies, he trained under Joseph Robinson, retired Principal Oboe of the New York Philharmonic, and Nathan Hughes, Principal Oboe of the Minnesota Orchestra and faculty member at The Juilliard School. He has participated in masterclasses with distinguished oboists such as Philippe Tondre, Ryan Roberts, Frank Rosenwein, and Robert Walters. Additionally, he attended the John Mack Oboe Camp in North Carolina during the summer of 2023. With over eight years of experience, Juan has performed with major ensembles in Venezuela and has served as an oboe instructor, music teacher, and woodwind faculty member in both Venezuela and the United States.
In 2026, inspired by the legacy of his grandmother, Anatolia Del Carmen Villegas, Juan founded the Anatolia Music Foundation to provide accessible music education to underserved communities internationally. In the fall of 2026, Juan will begin his Master of Music in Oboe Performance at Temple University on a full-tuition scholarship, serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant under the guidance of Jonathan Blumenfeld.
Amanda Rearden
Amanda Rearden is an oboist and English horn player based in South Florida, experienced in orchestral, operatic, and chamber settings across both traditional and contemporary repertoire.
She has performed with ensembles including the Minnesota Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, and the Palm Beach Symphony and has studied with distinguished oboists Nathan Hughes, Jonathan Blumenfeld, and Elizabeth Masoudnia. Amanda has participated in major festivals such as the Kent Blossom Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival and Brevard Music Center, and is the recipient of distinguished awards including the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award and the Barbara Rothman Orchestra Scholarship.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Oboe Performance with a Minor in Psychology from Temple University and is currently pursuing her Master of Music at Lynn Conservatory.
Amanda is passionate about music education. She aims to foster inclusivity in her approach to teaching and has experience working with students with special needs. At the Anatolia Music Foundation, Amanda serves as the Director of Music Programs, as we as Oboe and English horn Instructor, providing high-level instruction and mentorship to developing musicians.
Will Penn
A native of South Florida, Will began his musical studies at the age of eleven with Dr. Douglas Ferreira. He later attended the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts, where he developed his orchestral experience performing works by composers such as Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. In 2019, he was selected to participate in the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) National Festival, where he performed under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel and Roderick Cox at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Will holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Lynn Conservatory, where he studied with Timothy Cobb, and he recently earned his Master’s degree at the University of Texas under Joel Braun. He is a recipient of the Harold and Barbara Rothman Endowed Orchestra Scholarship.
An active performer and educator, Will is a member of the Palm Beach Symphony and appears on substitute lists for the Ocala Symphony and the Gainesville Orchestra.
At the Anatolia Music Foundation, Will serves as Double Bass Instructor, providing high-level instruction and mentorship to aspiring bassists.
Paola Nava
Paola Nava is a Venezuelan-Mexican violinist recognized for her artistic versatility and extensive international orchestral career. She is currently pursuing a degree in Violin Performance at the Lynn Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Maestro Guillermo Figueroa in Boca Raton, Florida. She has performed with major orchestras across the Americas and Europe, including the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco (2015–2024), where she participated in international tours and recordings. She has also served as concertmaster of the Orquesta de Cámara Beethoven and held principal roles in orchestras within El Sistema in Venezuela.
Paola has appeared in renowned international festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, Prisma Festival, and Busan Maru International Festival, and has received top prizes in multiple international competitions, including first place in the Lynn Concerto Competition (2025). She has also contributed to Latin Grammy–nominated recordings.
At the Anatolia Music Foundation, Paola serves as Violin Instructor, where she provides high-level, personalized instruction to students of all levels
Miguelangel Garcia
Miguelangel Garcia is a versatile Venezuelan trombonist, composer, and educator. Originally trained in "El Sistema," he holds a bachelor's degree in trombone performance and was the winner of the 2022 Lynn University Concerto Competition. He maintains an active performance schedule, playing with the Miami Symphony and the Nu Deco Ensemble, and leading his jazz group, Boca Train, with whom he has released two albums and performed extensively throughout South Florida.
Currently pursuing a Master's in Music Composition at the Lynn Conservatory, Miguelangel studies under Harvard graduate Dr. Thomas McKinley and is furthering his film scoring training with Michael Whittaker. An active composer, his works have seen multiple premieres, most notably his 2025 orchestral piece Sagittarius A*, performed by the Lynn Philharmonia Orchestra. In addition to his performance and creative career, Miguelangel serves as an advanced music instructor at The Greene School.
At the Anatolia Music Foundation, Miguelangel serves as Trombone Instructor, Music Theory and Composition Professor.
Jafet Diaz Martin
Born in Panama, Jafet Díaz Martin is a versatile trumpeter, educator, and arranger currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance at Boston University. He is a former fellow of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and previously served for three years as a member of the Panama Municipal Symphonic Band.
Jafet has appeared as a guest musician with the Palm Beach Symphony, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, and the Panama Jazz Festival Big Band. He has also shared the stage with artists such as Yuja Wang, Emmanuel Ax, Adrianne Warren, Aoife O’Donovan, Maelo Ruiz, and Willy Chirino. In 2020, he was a finalist in the Next Generation Trumpet Competition, and in 2023 he won First Prize in the National Society of Arts and Letters Collaborative Piano and Brass Duo Competition.
He holds degrees from the Lynn University Conservatory of Music and the University of Panama, and is a Yamaha Ambassador Artist and Latin American Music Workshop Artist.
At the Anatolia Music Foundation, Jafet serves as Trumpet Professor, where he is dedicated to inspiring students through high-level instruction, mentorship, and artistic excellence.
Joseph Muhl
Joseph Muhl is a French horn player from Akron, Ohio, and an experienced orchestral and chamber musician. He performs in a variety of settings, including orchestra, chamber ensembles, and musical theater productions.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Denise Tryon, Elizabeth Freimuth, and Dr. Margaret Tung, and won First Prize in the Howell Scholarship Competition. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree at the Lynn Conservatory of Music, studying with Gregory Miller, and is active as a freelance horn player and singer in South Florida.
Passionate about education, Joseph teaches private lessons and coaches horn sections for students from 5th through 12th grade.
At the Anatolia Music Foundation, he serves as French Horn Professor, mentoring students in both technical excellence and musical expression.
Betania Cañas
Venezuelan flutist, recording artist, and educator Betania Cañas grew up in the renowned program El Sistema, where she served as principal flutist in multiple orchestras for over a decade. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Michigan, a Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati, and an Artist Diploma in Orchestral Studies from OAcademy, and is currently pursuing a Professional Performance Certificate at Lynn University.
A prizewinner of several international competitions, including the Samnium International Competition and Charleston International Competition, her career extends beyond the classical stage into recordings for video games, Latin music, and experimental projects. She has also collaborated with artists such as Jacob Collier and toured in large-scale productions.
Her orchestral experience includes performances with ensembles such as the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Miami Symphony, and Kentucky Symphony, among others. A passionate teaching artist, she has worked with El Sistema–inspired programs like MYCincinnati and Kids’ Orchestra, providing access to high-quality music education for underserved communities.
Betania currently serves as Flute Professor at Anatolia Music Foundation, where she continues her mission of inspiring and educating the next generation of musicians. She also leads Paw Hero, a non-profit initiative supporting stray animals in Venezuela and South Florida.