Special thanks go to the members of our
Board of Directors:

Awilda I. Ramos, MD, President
Robert Leckie, JD, Secretary
Judy Crabb, Treasurer
Suhail Arastu
Aspasia Erian
Susan C. Franklin
Kevin Hall, MD
Eric Miller, MD
Luis Ramos, MD

Awilda I. Ramos, M.D. has served on the Board of Directors for Musical Bridges Around the World for five years, the last three as President. She was born in Puerto Rico, obtained her medical degree at the Universidad Central del Caribe, Puerto Rico, and completed her Pediatric Residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. After 30 years, she retired from the Army Reserve with the rank of Colonel in 2010. She currently practices Pediatrics in New Braunfels, Texas. Both she and her husband, Dr. Luis R. Ramos, and their two children, Luis and Rafael, share a love of music and the arts.

Aspasia Erian was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She attended McGill University where she graduated with an honors B.A. in Linguistics (she speaks English, Greek, French and Spanish) and a minor in Business Administration. While living in Montreal, Aspasia was a simultaneous interpreter for the Municipal Court, worked at the Greek Consulate, was an interpreter for the athletes at the Olympics as well as a manager of an art gallery for several years. She and her husband, Ralph, moved to San Antonio in 1987. Since living in San Antonio she has served on several boards. She was president of the Spouses Alliance at the Health Science Center, Vice President of the Bexar County Medical Alliance for two years as well as a director for the Texas Medical Alliance for two years. She is presently serving on the board of Any Baby Can. Aspasia and Ralph are the proud parents of Marc, Sophia and Peter.

Robert B. Leckie, J.D. is a consultant on mergers, acquisitions and technology transfer. Mr. Leckie left the private practice of law to join CCL Industries, Inc. of Toronto in 1981, became General Counsel of Indal Limited in Toronto in 1988, and moved to the U.S. with Novar PLC in 1993. Mr. Leckie’s legal practice also encompassed the management of business litigation, insurance, and technology transfer. His legal career has been interspersed with a number of line management assignments, including a role as Chief Executive of Novar’s North American Industrial Division. He holds an LL.B. and M.Eng. (Elect. Hons.) from McGill University, and has practiced both law and engineering.

Judy Piatek Crabb was born in Pleasanton and raised in Jourdanton, Texas. She spent 15 years as a vocal performer in the entertainment field. She married Jefferson A Crabb, Jr. and is an Office Manager in his busy real estate law practice in McAllen and San Antonio. Judy and Jefferson have two daughters attending college: Jordan at Trinity University and Jeryn at the Texas State School of Music. Mrs. Crabb enjoys supporting Musical Bridges Around the World and looks forward to its continued success.

Suhail Arastu was raised in San Antonio and completed his Bachelors of Arts & Science in Classics and Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley while competing in NCAA Gymnastics. In Philadelphia he continued research and began graduate studies before realizing he needed a break from academia and moved to a small fishing village in Japan for what he likes to call his “time at Walden Pond.”  After a year and a half of contemplation, deep sea fishing, hiking, skiing and teaching he began working in development, traveling the world by ship under the auspices of the United Nations Economic & Social Council. In 2008 he returned to San Antonio to assist with the expansion of the family businesses—Alamo Gymnastics Center and Live Oak Allergy & Asthma Clinic—but spends every spare moment consumed by the Arts!

Susan C. Franklin is the co-owner and co-founder of Franklin Development Company. Franklin Development Company has holdings in San Antonio, Plano, North Richland Hills, and Lewisville, Texas. Susan currently sits on the boards of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Arts San Antonio, and Musical Bridges Around the World. Her other activities include: Guild Member for New York City Ballet, Chicks for Chan Organization for District 9 Councilwoman, and enthusiastic donor/attendee for many other worthy causes and endeavors. She has opened her home on multiple occasions to host such notable musicians as Nobuyuki Tsjuii, 2009 Gold medalist from the Van Cliburn International Competition and Yeol Eum Son, 2009 Silver medalist from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Kevin Hall, M.D. attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was awarded a B.S. in Chemistry/Engineering. He received his M.D. in 1983 from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Hall completed his residency training in 1987 and fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology in 1993 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Before joining the department, Dr. Hall completed a military career, achieving the rank of Colonel before his retirement in May 2003. He joined the faculty at The University of Texas in San Antonio in June 2003 where he is currently Professor and Director of the Division of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology.


Eric Miller, M.D. is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and founded the Central Texas Pain Center in 2004 in New Braunfels, TX. His practice now has over 7000 patients. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Washington and Jefferson College in 1995 and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in 1999. He completed a one year internship at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh and then completed both his anesthesiology residency and pain fellowship at Duke University. He is the owner of Hunter’s Creek Pharmacy and Positive Returns (a medical billing company). He is also a general partner for New Braunfels Sports and Spine Physical Therapy Center. In his spare time he enjoys travel with his family, tennis, and golf.

Luis R. Ramos, M.D. has served on the Musical Bridges Board of Directors for five years, two of them as Treasurer. He was born in Puerto Rico and obtained his medical degree at the Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico. He completed his Internal Medicine residency in Mount Vernon, New York and his Anesthesia Residency at New York Medical College, Westchester County, New York. He currently is an anesthesiologist in New Braunfels, Texas. Dr. Ramos, his wife Awilda, and their children, Luis and Rafael, have devoted many years to supporting music and the arts.

as well as our Board of Advisors:

Richardson B. Gill, Ph.D, Jo Long, Gustavo Medellin, M.D., and Eliseo Rios

We are also grateful to our loyal volunteers and professional contractors, including:

Artistic Director /General Manager Anya Grokhovski DMA
Program Manager Diana Day
Media Producer James Sanders of Standard Definition
Photographer Ken Mahnke
Graphic Designer Lia Lam
Webmaster Susan Smylie of The Box

Others who have given countless hours to the cause are:

Victoria and Sophia Acuna; Irina Alekseeva; Roberta Cohen; Amy Erwin; Cristina Hotea; Catherine Lee; Lisa Lopez; Ray McDonald; Erik Michaelson; Dr. Robert Michaelson; Elena Portnaya; and Rafael A. and Luis A. Ramos.