Our Two Founders

A sophomore at Stanford University, Richelle has expanded SAPA’s outreach to the Bay Area, working closely with students in East Palo Alto to increase access to collaborative piano accompaniment and music education opportunities.  Since 2026, she has played an active leadership role in SAPA's IRB approved Drum Circle Initiative and collaborated with research mentor on the development of an NIH funding proposal, advancing research on the use of music-based interventions. 

A formally trained pianist under Sylvia Wang, Richelle is a National YoungArts Winner, a national finalist in both piano and woodwind performance for the Music Teachers National Association Competition (MTNA), and the winner of 11 national young artist concerto competitions.

Rosabelle Shi is a freshman at Adlai E. Stevenson High School and Co-Founder of SAPA. In addition to creating the Piano Duet Initiative, she co-leads SAPA's IRB-approved Drum Circle Program, contributing to program development, participant/facility engagement, data collection, data analysis, and other research activities that examine how music interventions can support healthy aging and social connectedness. 

Rosabelle studies both piano solo and piano duet under Sylvia Wang. She is a winner of the national Steinway Piano Competition, a two-time national finalist in piano duet performance for the Music Teachers National Association Competition (MTNA), and the winner of numerous international piano duet competitions.

Director of Activity

 Alina Liu is a junior at New Trier High School and leads SAPA’s North Shore chapter. She also co-facilitates SAPA’s In Rhythm Together initiative, where she helps coordinate engaging drum circles while exploring music’s role in supporting cognitive health and healthy aging. She is passionate about using music to foster connection, uplift others, and make a meaningful social impact.

Alina has an extensive musical background and began studying piano at age six with Dr. Yumy Lee Kim. She has received recognition in numerous competitions, performed at Carnegie Hall, and was a national finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Piano Duet Competition.