Executive Board California
Rowen Weeramantry - President
Rowen is thrilled to be President and co-founder of the California based chapter of Notes4U. He is a rising senior at Head Royce School and has had the privilege of working on many Bay Area stages. He has a deep passion for musical theater and from a young age he has been inspired by the remarkable impact that music and storytelling have. Over the years he has witnessed first hand the power that music can have on cognitive function and how melodies can help people retrieve memories, reduce stress and improve overall quality of life. He is excited to continue working with memory care facilities and hopes to expand Notes4U’s reach. He believes music brings joy, laughter, and nostalgia that cannot be found anywhere else and provides us the perfect avenue to share stories and experiences that would otherwise be lost.
Shaye Weeramantry - Vice President
Shaye is honored to be the vice president and co-founder of the California based chapter of Notes4U. He is a rising Sophomore at Head Royce School. His connection to residents at memory care facilities began as a freshman and opened his eyes to how essential cognitive health and meaningful social interaction were to their overall well-being. He has a deep respect for the musical arts and as a sound engineer for many Bay Area theaters, he understands the role that music plays in connecting communities. He is excited to continue the important work Notes4U is doing and expand its reach to California!
Noam Epelman- Director of Development
Noam is excited for the opportunity to be the Director of Development of Notes4U’s California chapter. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he is a rising high school sophomore with passions in sports, international relations, cooking, and of course, music. Born into a musical family, Noam has been exposed to the tunes of piano, guitar, and violin from a very young age. When his grandmother was diagnosed with dementia in 2023, he became a first-hand witness to the impact of cognitive decline in older adults and their families, sparking his personal mission to preserve memory and cognitive health in the elderly. In the final weeks before his grandmother passed away in mid-2025, Noam and his family found comfort and strength through music, playing it for her and for each other. Noam is eager to be a part of Notes4U to serve the elderly experiencing cognitive decline and help spread comfort and joy through music.
Addison Au - Director of Operations
Addie Au is a Junior at San Ramon Valley High School and is SO excited to be the Director of Operations for Notes4U California. Music has been an integral and joyful part of her life and she has grown up singing, performing and dancing. The mission of Notes4U holds a special place in her heart as her grandmother had Alzheimer’s and dementia, and she witnessed first hand the power music has to uplift and bring together senior communities in the most positive way. She looks forward to helping Notes4U spread this joy throughout the Bay Area and beyond!!
Max Karol - Director of Music
Max is honored to be the Director of Music for the California chapter of Notes4U. He is a senior at Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley and frequently gets to play piano at various retirement communities as well as in jazz bands and in the orchestras for musical theater. Max believes in the power of music to heal people and help people, and appreciates its ability to connect all types of people from all walks of life.
Lia Epelman- Director of Outreach
Lia is so excited to join the California chapter of Notes4U. She is a rising senior at Castro Valley High School and music has always played a huge role in her life. She enjoys singing, playing piano and guitar, and turned to music during and after the passing of her grandmother in the summer of 2025. Through her grandmother’s dementia and working in an elderly care facility this summer, Lia has been exposed to the hardships of cognitive impairment in the elderly. She believes that music connects people together in a way that nothing else can and hopes to help be a part of that for others.
Jason Zhang- Director of Fundraising
Jason is a rising sophomore at Head-Royce School and a Life Scout in Scouting America. Through years of community service and leadership, he has developed a deep appreciation for giving back and building meaningful connections with others. As a former pianist, he understands the unique ability that music has to bring comfort, evoke memories, and bring people together. He can't wait to help Notes4U's mission of enriching the lives of seniors through music and bringing this opportunity to California!
Avery Geisert - Director of Finance
Avery is excited to serve as the Treasurer for the California chapter of Notes4U. She is a rising sophomore at Bishop O'Dowd High School. Avery lives with her grandparents and has always found joy in spending time with and supporting older adults. Because dementia has affected members of her own family, the mission of Notes4U is especially meaningful to her. She is passionate about bringing comfort, connection, and joy through music to individuals living in memory care communities. Avery is honored to help expand Notes4U's impact and support its mission of enriching the lives of those experiencing memory loss.
Sophia Geisert - Director of Media
Sophia is a rising senior at Bishop O’Dowd Highschool. She is passionate about music and has loved it from a young age, appreciating its ability to bring people together, tell stories, and create lasting memories. Living with her grandparents has given her a unique perspective on the importance of intergenerational connections and has allowed her to see firsthand the value of spending quality time with mature adults. Through these experiences, she has developed a deep appreciation for the impact music can have in bringing comfort, joy, and connection to people of all ages. As Media Director, she is excited to share the mission and impact of Notes4U, inspire others to get involved, and help expand the organization's reach.
Members
Lucy Fisch
Lucy is a senior at Berkeley High School and is absolutely thrilled to be a part of Notes4U California! Growing up the only singer in a music-loving family, Lucy has been singing for as long as she can remember, both at home and onstage in musicals. Music has shaped her into who she is today, and she truly believes it is the greatest medicine. Lucy has been able to share her love of musical theater with the kids she babysits, and is honored to now be able to do the same with the senior community. She hopes you enjoy the music!
Claire Van Riper
Claire is a rising high school senior at Head-Royce School from Oakland, California. She is beyond excited to be a member of Notes4U and work with residents in memory care facilities. Claire loves music in many forms; from playing classical piano and acoustic guitar to listening to any genre she can find. She is passionate about music’s ability to create connections between people. She has seen the impacts of a brain injury in her own family, and she found firsthand that music is a concrete way for her to help and to reconnect. She trusts in the healing power that music has and the value of singing together. She is committed to the mission of Notes4U and ready to make an impact!
Jeffrey Cao
Jeffrey is a sophomore at Head-Royce School, Class of 2029, and a pianist with ten years of experience at the keys. Music has been part of his life for as long as he can remember, and so has service; volunteering isn't something new for him, it's something he's grown up doing. Through Notes4U, he brings those two passions together, using piano to build real connections with seniors and remind them, one melody at a time, that they're seen and cared for. For Jeffrey, playing isn't just about technique or performance; it's about the moments of joy and connection that happen when music crosses generations.
Liam Ahn
Liam is a freshman currently attending school in Oakland California. He has worked with music for almost a decade and plays a variety of different instruments. He has played lots of music publicly in the past and is very excited to work with Notes4U and broaden the work of music in the Bay Area!