Leadership

BAM Leadership

Clint Velazquez, Executive Director

A talented performer, speaker, and teacher, Clint finds joy is helping others achieve more than they thought possible. The visionary and driving force of Base Academy of Music, he is an inspiring leader who cares deeply for his staff and the people they serve.

Clint holds a degree in musical theatre from Kansas State University. After 10 years as a private music instructor, Clint founded Base Academy of Music in 2012 to improve access to instrumental music education for students of all economic backgrounds in the Kansas City area. Clint completed the Nonprofit Management Certificate program with UMKC Bloch School of Management in 2013, he was selected as a LEANLAB education fellow in 2018, and in 2020 was selected as a fellow of Network for Good and the Gate’s Foundation Jumpstart Fellowship.

Grace Odell, Program Director

A pianist, musicologist, educator, and writer from South Carolina, Grace Odell has masters degrees from the University of Missouri Kansas City in

both piano performance and musicology. Prior to moving to Kansas City, Grace received a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Furman University.

Grace has been teaching at BAM since 2018 and is active in Kansas City’s nonprofit scene, previously serving on the board of the Westport Center for the Arts as well as the committee that launched the Puerto Rico Center for

Collaborative Piano. In 2020, she created Resonate, an online subscription that teaches improvisation at the piano through meditation.

Imani Mason, Lessons Facilitator

Imani is a Mechanical Engineer, the owner of a traveling Loctician business, SweetRolls Traveling Loctician Services, and a professional musician (and yes, he plays your favorite instrument, THE BASS).

Prior to joining BAM, Imani worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer at National Aerospace Solutions in Nashville, TN before he decided to build his Loctician business and pursue his passion for music.

As a professional musician, he has played all over, including Canada & Spain.

In his free time he indulges himself in his passions of Magic: The Gathering and jamming on his 6-string bass with friends!

Imani will be overseeing the BAM's expansion of our lessons program at our partner school, AFIA, as well as teaching bass and guitar.