FOUNDER & PRESIDENT | TENOR & PROFESSOR

Chilean-American tenor Dr. José Miguel Santelices is an educator, stage director, producer, and cultural entrepreneur committed to expanding opportunity in the performing arts. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and teaches applied voice and directs the Opera Workshop at Dallas College. His international work has included performances, masterclasses, and presentations in the United States, Latin America, China, and Taiwan. He is also the creator, producer, and featured performer of Arias of the Vine, an immersive concert series that has presented multiple sold-out performances. He founded the Santelices Foundation and the Colchagua Vocal Institute to support emerging artists, celebrate Hispanic repertoire, and build meaningful cultural exchange across borders.

TREASURER | LEAD DATA ANALYST

Šejla Palić is a Lead Data Analyst in the retirement industry whose analytical experience supports thoughtful planning, financial stewardship, and institutional decision-making. For five years, she has been an active member of the Young Affiliates of The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributing to fundraising efforts and the expansion of artist programming. She has also volunteered with the Winston-Salem Film Festival and is a longtime supporter of classical music and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. As Treasurer of the Santelices Foundation, Šejla brings analytical discipline, nonprofit engagement, and a sincere commitment to ensuring that artists and cultural initiatives receive the support necessary to thrive.

DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | MEDICAL STUDENT

Jack Gambassi is a bassoonist, former Rotaract president, and medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. His background in music, service leadership, the social sciences, and the humanities informs his commitment to equitable access and community-centered arts programming. Through international experiences and nonprofit service, he has developed a strong belief in responsible leadership and the ability of education and cultural exchange to connect communities. As both a Director and Secretary of the Santelices Foundation, Jack supports organizational governance, institutional documentation, and the Foundation’s commitment to service, opportunity, and long-term impact.

BOARD DIRECTOR | PHYSICIAN & PERFORMING ARTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST

Dr. Ricardo Fuentes is a Colombian-born physician and tenor whose work connects the performing arts with artist health. He serves as a Performing Arts Medicine specialist at UNT Health in Fort Worth and completed his training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Montefiore Medical Center, where he later served as an assistant professor. His clinical work includes electrodiagnostic medicine and musculoskeletal care for artists. As a singer, he has performed opera, zarzuela, choral repertoire, and art-song recitals in Colombia and the United States, with particular interest in Latin American and Colombian composers. He brings the Board a valuable perspective at the intersection of medicine, performance, cultural advocacy, and artist well-being.

BOARD DIRECTOR | PIANIST & PROFESSOR

Astrid Morales Torres is an internationally recognized Mexican pianist and educator who serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Tarleton State University. She is a doctoral candidate in Piano Performance at Arizona State University and holds graduate degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from Southern Methodist University, where she studied with Joaquín Achúcarro. Her career includes performances with orchestras throughout Mexico and the United States, numerous international awards, and extensive work as a collaborative pianist and teacher. A dedicated advocate for Mexican and Latin American music, Astrid also holds leadership roles in national and international piano organizations. She brings the Board expertise in artistic excellence, higher education, cultural advocacy, and international collaboration.

BOARD DIRECTOR | TENOR & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

Diego Cristóbal Arellano Roblero is a Chilean tenor, voice-specialized speech-language pathologist, educator, and cultural leader based in the Valparaíso Region. He teaches classical voice at the Conservatorio Municipal de Limache and has pursued vocal studies at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the Universidad de Chile. He is the founder of La Tasa Musical, a platform that develops concerts, educational activities, and collaborative cultural projects, and is active as a performer and manager with Ensamble Carillón. A 2026 Colchagua Vocal Institute Fellow, Diego works across early music, chamber music, Latin American art song, and vocal health. His experience strengthens the Foundation’s connection to artists, institutions, and communities throughout Chile.

BOARD DIRECTOR | ATTORNEY

Ignacio Moya Lucero is an attorney with a degree in Legal and Social Sciences from Universidad Diego Portales and a diploma in Administrative Law from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. He currently serves as a legal analyst at the Regional Comptroller’s Office of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, where his work includes reviewing the legality of administrative actions and preparing legal opinions. He previously held positions with Chile’s Undersecretariat of Early Childhood Education and State Defense Council. His public-sector experience and longstanding interest in music and culture bring valuable expertise in governance, regulatory responsibility, and institutional development to the Santelices Foundation.