TEAM
Click any Team Member’s image to read their full biography.
Sam Hollister
Artistic Director and Founder
Sam is a conductor, pianist, and composer born and raised in Rhode Island. His conducting has taken him around the globe, from Austria to Ukraine to Bulgaria to South Africa. Beyond management and direction of Aurora, Sam also participates in events as a pianist, composer, and arranger. He is obsessed with learning languages. Learn more at samhollister.com.
Kaela Kennedy
Event and Graphic Designer
Kaela Kennedy is a designer and multimedia artist based in Rhode Island. Her work approaches concepts through multiple mediums, from digital design to fabric installation. Kaela works with artists and with Sam to develop advertising, social media, and other visual content. If you would like to learn more about her work, visit kaelamkennedy.com.
Antonio Forte
Composer and Creative Director
Antonio Forte is a composer, sound artist, pianist, trumpeter, and educator based in Providence. He is the Music Specialist at Quest Montessori School, where he teaches music and conducts the OrQuestra. Antonio is also faculty at the RI Philharmonic Music School. His original compositions have been featured in podcasts, documentary films, and plays around the country.
Victoria Gardiner
Outreach Director
Vickie Gardiner is an undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island College of Business majoring in marketing. Vickie has developed a reputation for encouraging collaboration, with the belief that it helps individuals become the best versions of themselves. She is also a clarinetist and a master dogspotter: she will immediately inform those around her if a dog is present.