CAT 5 2021-2022 STAFF
President
NICHOLAS KIEFFER
Nicholas (Cole) Kieffer graduated from UM in 2020 in jazz performance and is now back to get a music business masters degree. Cole is an accomplished upright and electric bass player who has played with artist of every genre. Cole is currently working on his own band “The Cole Kieffer Collective” which is playing all original music of Coles. Cole has also worked on various arrangements for songwriters, helping them turn a song they wrote on guitar/piano into a playable song for a full band. Currently, he is working on film scoring by practicing writing scores for various commercials and films.
Vice President
DYLAN WACKSMAN
Dylan Wacksman is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Honolulu, Hawaii studying Music Business and Entertainment Industries and Jazz Guitar Performance. His goal is to be able to help independent artists in both a creative and business aspect, helping up and coming artists achieve their goals. In his free time, Wacksman enjoys skating, surfing, cooking, and making/playing music!
Admin Manager
YOONSU KIM
Yoonsu is currently a second year graduate student enrolled in the Music Business and Entertainment Industry program at the Frost School of Music. She has previously attended Cleveland Institute of Music as a cello performance major and is now transitioning to the business side with a strong interest in the publishing field. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, cooking, and going out to find the best places to eat in Miami!
Director of Business Affairs
WILL HYLAND
Will Hyland is currently a third year graduate student and is enrolled in both the University of Miami School of Law and the Frost School of Music under the JD/MA dual degree program, pursuing interests in both law and music business. He is originally from Philadelphia and graduated from Wake Forest University in 2019, and he was a concert pianist through the end of his undergraduate education. In his free time, Will enjoys playing piano and cheering for Philadelphia’s sports teams!
Creative Director
SARAH RUIZ
Sarah Ruiz is a first semester graduate student studying Music Business & Entertainment Industries. Originally from Washington D.C. she grew up in the music and the performing arts community. This led her to move to Miami to immerse herself in the latin entertainment culture. She chose to attend Barry University and graduate with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising. Her goal is to work in the Latin music industry by either becoming a publicist, tour manager, A & R or anything related. In her free time, she enjoys taking dance classes.
Social Media Manager
ELIAS GERSTEIN
Elias Gerstein is currently a 2nd-year student from New York City studying marketing and music industry studies at the University of Miami. In high school, Gerstein worked as a digital marketing intern at Q-Prime Artist Management in New York City working with top artists such as Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cage the Elephant, Eric Church, Declan McKenna, and Foals. Gerstein is passionate about helping artists develop their careers in all aspects of the industry.
Event Coordinator
LIANA STERN
Liana Stern is a second year undergraduate student from New York City, studying Public Relations and Music Business. Her goal is to work in the live entertainment field and help promote events like concerts and festivals for big artists and bands. She has worked at the Historical Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York and was the Public Relations Ambassador for the Frost School of Music in the 2021 spring semester. Stern enjoys making playlists, going to concerts and live sporting events, and traveling to new places in her free time.
Event Coordinator
JACK DAVIS
Jack Davis is a third-year undergraduate student from Phoenix, Arizona. He is studying Marketing and pursuing minors in Finance, Psychology, Music Industry, and Africana Studies. His goal is to find work in the entertainment industry representing artists. Davis enjoys music, traveling, golf, and weightlifting.
Social Media Manager
MADDY SEITLES
Maddy Seitles is a singer/songwriter from Long Island, New York. She is currently a senior at the University of Miami pursuing a double major in Musicianship Artistry Development and Entrepreneurship and Spanish Language, as well as minors in both Music Business and Jazz Studies. Right now, she is working as a part-time Digital Marketing Associate for The Spellbound Group, a company that manages marketing and social media for legacy artists. Her goal is to release her own original music, and to find a job working in the music industry. In her free time, she enjoys writing songs, reading, cooking, and going to the beach!
Administration Manager
CHRISTINA SMILEY
Christina is a senior at the University of Miami studying Communication with minors in Music Business and History. She hails from the quaint town of Okeechobee, Florida. Prior to attending the “U”, she obtained her A.A. degree in Music from Indian River State College. She is a vocalist, songwriter, and music scholar, passionate about music and advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys writing novels and poetry, trying new foods, and binging her favorite TV shows.
A&R
ZACH NEISS
Zach is a trombonist and sample composer from Arlington, Virginia currently studying Music Business with a Minor in Marketing and a Principle in Jazz Trombone. Outside of school, he enjoys nature, exercising, making/playing music, record collecting and listening to music. Zach is excited to be joining the Cat 5 team!
A&R
EVA HOCHHAUS
Eva Hochhaus is a sophomore at UM from Los Angeles studying Music Industry and Jazz Voice. Eva is passionate about helping artists build their creative image, as she managed artists at her high school’s student-run record label. She also loves live entertainment, even working at the iconic Hollywood Bowl amphitheater during her time in LA. Eva loves concerts, movie soundtracks, vintage clothing, and hosting her radio show, and is excited to work with the Cat 5 artists this year!
Website Designer
SAM KOPEC
Sam Kopec is a clarinetist and undergraduate student from Tampa, FL. She is pursuing a Music Industry major at the University of Miami with minors in Interactive Media and Business Law and is currently a freshman. She works as a freelance website designer and founded Feeding the Fosters Inc. Nonprofit to serve her local community. Sam is the Treasurer and Community Service Chair of the Music Industry Association and is involved in Patio Jams. She loves to perform, cook, travel, and listen to podcasts, and she is excited to join Cat 5 as Website Designer this year!