About Us
Sound Mind, (formerly known as “Classical Musicians Roundtable,”) was founded in 2019 by three musicians in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago who were passionate about conversations around mental health.
Musicians face unique circumstances that put us at a higher risk of mental illness. According to Music Minds Matter, musicians are three times more likely to experience depression than the general public. 71% of musicians have suffered from panic attacks and/or high levels of anxiety, and 68.5% have suffered from depression. In response, Sound Mind is creating the space in the music community for artists to relate to and empathize with one another through open conversations about how classical music has affected their wellbeing. Starting this conversation is the essential first step in destigmatizing mental health.
Our Team
Alexandria Hoffman
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Alexandria Hoffman is a flutist, mental health therapist, and advocate whose work bridges artistry and healing. As a full-time therapist, she works with high-achieving professionals and musicians on identity exploration, perfectionism, and burnout informed by her own experience as a multiracial, queer woman and professional musician.
Alex has performed with the Chicago Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, and as a soloist alongside Yo-Yo Ma. She has held positions at the Auckland Philharmonia, the New World Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Alex is co-founder and Executive Director of Sound Mind, where she leads workshops helping musicians build resilience and has spoken widely about her own mental health journey to reduce stigma. In her free time, she enjoys video games, exploring the world with her partner, and playing with her dog, Barry.
Dan Monte
Podcast Editor
Dan comes from a long line of Portuguese and Canadian musicians settled in Southeastern Coastal Massachusetts. He deeply enjoys collaborating with other artists, and has been seen playing Off-Broadway (J2 Spotlight Theatre Comp.), and accompanying Modern & Improv Dance Classes (Rutgers University). Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Ithaca College, and a master’s degree in Music Performance from Rutgers University. Dan is also an avid composer of contemporary classical music, jazz, pop, and commercial music. Currently, Dan lives in Massachusetts, where he teaches music at UMASS Dartmouth, produces podcasts, and enjoys drinking coffee, cooking, and playing chess.
Board of Directors
Nicolas Gonzalez
Board Chair
Nicolas Gonzalez is the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Innovation and Special Initiatives at Manhattan School of Music, leading the School's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives and overseeing its strategic plan. He collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to promote inclusive learning, community partnerships, and professional development. With a focus on arts accessibility, Nicolas fosters innovation through socially responsible, community-driven programming. He chairs Sound Mind, an initiative combatting mental illness stigma in classical music, and is a Sphinx LEAD cohort member. His prior roles include positions at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the National Repertory Orchestra. Nicolas holds advanced degrees in Arts Administration and Nonprofit Management from Indiana University, along with certifications in DEI, philanthropy, and global awareness.
Carl Evans
Board Member
Carl is the CEO/Chairperson of the Hope for Us Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to catalyzing transformational change in mental health care through proactive prevention practices to achieve effective mental health care and suicide prevention. Carl has developed the Proactive Suicide Prevention Theory and his work disrupts the highest risk factors for mental health crises. He works to implement transformational change in mental healthcare at community and institutional levels nationwide. Previously, Carl worked for Hope for the Day.
Jessica Blackwell
Board Member
Jessica is a clinical mental health therapist at Live Full Therapy in Nashville, TN. In 2023, Jessica graduated with academic distinction from Northwestern University in clinical mental health counseling. Jessica specializes in working with adolescents and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and those who have been in relationship with others exhibiting narcissistic tendencies. From 2009-2021, Jessica was a tenured violinist with the Nashville Symphony. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance from Rice University and Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, Jessica is an Artist Teacher of Violin at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. In addition to teaching private lessons at Blair, Jessica created and launched the course, “Nurturing the Mental Health of Musicians”.
Jeannette Marie Lewis
Board Member
Dr. Jeannette Marie Lewis is an imaginative flutist, teacher, and arts administrator based in Arlington, VA. She is an active freelancer in the DC-Metro area, frequently performing with professional ensembles across the East Coast. With over a decade of teaching experience, Jeannette is the Wind Ensemble Conductor and Flute Teaching Artist at the DC Youth Orchestra Program while maintaining an active private flute studio. She is also the Artistic Administrator at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Jeannette completed music education and performance degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park and Ithaca College. She is addicted to bubble tea and reality TV, and she loves spending time outdoors with her husband, Michael, and her Italian greyhound/pitbull mix, Kodie.