Turning Passion into Possibility

Nicole Owenburg, LPC, NCC is the Founder of The Future of Sound Scholarship Foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Professional Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of New Jersey.

During her own education, Nicole was the recipient of several scholarships from organizations that supported students pursuing higher education. Those experiences had a lasting impact on her and inspired a long-term goal of one day creating a scholarship foundation to help provide similar opportunities to future students.

In recent years, Nicole has worked behind the scenes within New Jersey’s music and live production community, assisting with audio work, administrative operations for a sound company, and supporting the day-to-day operations of a local music school and rehearsal studio. Through this work, she has had the opportunity to meet many talented students pursuing careers in music performance, education, theater, and audio production.

Nicole founded The Future of Sound Scholarship Foundation with the goal of helping students pursuing music-related education feel supported as they take the next steps toward their future. 

 Erik Reynolds, BA is the Secretary of The Future of Sound Scholarship Foundation and the owner of Red House Music & Rehearsal Studio in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Monmouth University.

Driven by a passion for music and community, Erik built Red House Music & Rehearsal Studio from the ground up with the goal of creating a welcoming and supportive environment where students of all ages feel encouraged to pursue music creatively and confidently. Over the years, the studio has grown into a space that supports music education, collaboration, and community involvement throughout the local area.

Through his work with students, families, musicians, and live events, Erik has seen firsthand the dedication and talent many young musicians possess, as well as the financial barriers that can come with pursuing higher education in music-related fields.

As a board member of The Future of Sound Scholarship Foundation, Erik is committed to helping expand opportunities for students pursuing their passion for music and the arts.

 Carly Yasenchak, MT-BC is the Assistant Treasurer of The Future of Sound Scholarship Foundation. She is a Board-Certified Music Therapist. Carly completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at Marywood University with a concentration in classical guitar. In addition to her college degree, she completed her internship hours in both hospice and palliative care and intensive online study. Carly has been a practicing MT-BC since 2019 and currently works with adolescents and adults in inpatient treatment.

Carly has always had a passion for music and began teaching herself ukulele and guitar as a teenager. She soon developed an interest in analyzing song lyrics to gain a deeper understanding of how music relates to personal experiences. This love of music formed her desire to seek higher education in a degree program focused on helping others connect, process, and use music as a creative outlet.

In her daily work as an MT-BC, Carly sees daily how music and the arts connect her patients. As a board member, Carly is excited to give young musicians a chance to further develop their abilities and reach others with their talent while seeking higher education in music.