Our Team

For more than 25 years, Mike Liston has brought rhythm-based, movement-rich experiences to schools and communities across the country.

Mike’s entrepreneurial journey began with Lunastix, a brand of juggling sticks. When his largest customer unexpectedly went bankrupt, he saw an opportunity to shift gears — moving from selling products to delivering purpose. This new direction led him to a special education classroom, where a group of 6th-grade boys would forever change his life.

Over eight weeks, the students choreographed a Lunastix and African drumming performance that brought the entire school to its feet. The joy, confidence, and transformation were undeniable. In that moment, Mike recognized the power of rhythm, connection, and play to unlock self-expression, build community, and help kids discover their unique beat.

Inspired by this experience, Mike founded Rhythms of Life and, alongside his facilitation team and Kinesiology Ph.D. candidates, developed StixPlay — a kinesthetic PE curriculum combining juggling sticks, rhythm, and movement. Over five years, the Rhythms of Life staff trained PE teachers in 22 states, reaching tens of thousands of kids, particularly in California, where the program continues to thrive.

During this time, Mike also facilitated rhythm-based after-school enrichment programs across Utah. Drumming stood out. It was the most joyful, inclusive, and impactful activity — accessible to all ages and abilities.

That insight led to the creation of DrumBus® — a mobile musical classroom that brings hands-on drumming experiences directly to schools and community spaces across Utah and California. While the drum circles often happen on the bus, Mike and his team also offer programs off the bus — wherever they’re needed most.

Since 2009, DrumBus has reached more than 100,000 students through programs energized by Beat the Odds® — a UCLA Arts & Healing Initiative curriculum that fosters social-emotional growth, motor development, creativity, and confidence.

Mike’s mission is simple: Make drumming accessible to all, build connection through rhythm, and help every person find their rhythm in life.

Ani grew up in a world of music, performance, and purpose. Raised in a family of entertainers, she learned early on that the arts carry a deeper power — not just to entertain, but to transform lives. That truth became her guiding light, inspiring a lifelong commitment to ‘art for change’ — a powerful way to heal, educate, and uplift young people.

Certified in Social-Emotional Arts and Beat the Odds through UCLArts & Healing, Ani brings a unique blend of rhythm, science, and passion to every DrumBus circle. At the center of it all is one essential sound: the heartbeat. “It’s the first sound we hear in utero,” she says. “Even if our relationship with our mother is complex, that beat is embedded in us — a primal signal of life, presence, and potential.” Through the drum, Ani helps young people reconnect to that inner rhythm — and use it to build trust, resilience, and joy.

Her circles are filled with energy, laughter, affirmation, and movement. Children who arrive quiet or unsure begin to open up — finding their voice, expressing emotions, and growing in confidence through rhythm and play.

More than a facilitator, Ani creates safe, inviting spaces where young people remember who they are, find steadiness within, and connect with themselves and others. With every beat, she brings her vision of ‘art for change’ to youth in the most meaningful, beautiful ways.

Jo’s journey into the arts began in a school auditorium, where — as a wide-eyed first grader — she watched a high school production of Oklahoma! When the lead actress stepped onto the stage, something awakened in her. Jo didn’t just witness a performance; she glimpsed a path — and knew she wanted to be part of the theatre, connecting with others through movement and voice. Years later, she met that very actress — a full-circle moment that affirmed what she’s believed ever since: a single powerful experience can shape a young person’s future.

Jo brings that belief to every DrumBus circle she leads. With a rich background as a theatre artist and health educator, she has a rare gift for seeing young people not just as they are, but as who they’re becoming. She meets them with care, creativity, and deep intuition — creating spaces where even the most reserved child feels safe to shine.

Jo witnesses transformation every day. A shy student stepping forward to lead. A nonverbal child writing her a thank-you letter after just one session. She believes in the science of rhythm, the healing power of the drum, and the confidence and resilience that grows when young people are seen, supported, and free to play.

Years before joining DrumBus, Jo imagined driving from school to school in her beloved 1973 VW bus, creating joyful drum circles for kids. When she met DrumBus founder Mike and learned he had made that dream real, it felt like fate. Ever since, Jo has brought her voice, vision, and full heart to her work — one rhythm, one connection, and one beautiful moment at a time.

Ray’s journey into the arts began in high school. He was a young man full of energy but lacking direction — until a drama teacher saw not just his potential, but his purpose. Cast in a school play, Ray discovered how the arts could channel his energy into something powerful and transformative. That moment didn’t just change his life — it shaped it.

He went on to study acting and dance, eventually finding his calling as a teaching artist, drawn to young people who reminded him of himself: full of promise, just needing support and guidance. His path led him to perform in Kaiser Permanente’s Drumming Up Peace and train in the Beat the Odds program through UCLArts & Healing — where he experienced the profound power of rhythm to build trust, connection, and emotional insight.

Joining DrumBus brought everything into harmony. Here, Ray uses his voice, heart, and the drum to connect with students in ways words alone often can’t. In his circles, disruptions fade — because essential human needs are embraced: to move, to play, to connect, and to feel seen, heard, and valued.

Ray builds trust through rhythm, invites openness through play, and restores dignity through presence. He doesn’t just lead drum circles — he creates spaces where young people find joy, healing, and the courage to express themselves, one beat at a time.

A Grammy Award-winning percussionist and drummer, Martin Flores began his musical journey in North East Los Angeles. At age 13, Martin received a gift from his dad that changed his life — his first drum set.

He was initially self taught and quickly became immersed in rock, pop, jazz, African, and Latin styles — from the fiery energy of hot jazz to the rich melodies of afro-cuban salsa and the deep grooves of African rhythms. He studied under masters, performed with legends, and toured the world with artists including Joan Sebastian, Juan Gabriel, Makina Loca, and Paulina Rubio. But through it all, his heart stayed close to home.

For Martin, nothing compares to the joy of teaching people of all ages. In Los Angeles, with the Young Musicians Foundation, the drumming of his childhood became a bridge — breaking the ice, sparking laughter, and earning trust. There, he discovered his gift for transforming rhythm into connection, and every circle into a space of joy and belonging.

At DrumBus, Martin builds a circle where every child feels seen, supported, and free to express themselves. “By the last session,” he says, “everyone wants to lead a rhythm.” One student handed him a note: “I know I talk a lot… but I love drumming.” For Martin, that’s everything.

“I always tell the kids: Keep smiling. Keep your confidence. Drumming can change your life, and the lives of those around you, just by sharing who you are.”

As a child, Miranda moved from home to home, often feeling without a steady place to land. But in sixth grade, everything changed — she discovered theatre. It became her joy and her refuge, a place to pour her energy and be fully herself. By high school, she was Thespian Troupe president, performing, directing, and leading with heart. At UC San Diego, she led a student-run theatre company, deepening her commitment to both the performing arts and community.

After college, Miranda became a performing arts specialist at summer camps, designing lessons for students from kindergarten through middle school. She also taught movement, directed musicals, and helped young artists discover their voices — just as she had once found hers.

Her love of performance and mentorship led her to Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre program, where she blended music and social-emotional learning while leading post-show drum circles. Each of those moments now inspires the heart she brings to DrumBus.

Miranda’s circles are warm, playful, and filled with possibility. She notices the quiet students and helps them feel seen. One boy, heartbroken after missing a session, was ready to give up. Miranda offered him a private drumming circle — just the two of them. The next circle, he stepped into the center, beaming, and led with confidence and joy.

For Miranda, that’s the heartbeat of her work: creating spaces where children feel safe, connected, and free to shine.

From an early age, music became a refuge for Anj. Amid a childhood marked by uncertainty and upheaval, the piano offered more than comfort — it became a way to survive. Those harmonious, immersive moments at the keyboard opened space for reflection and self-expression, shaping a lifelong path as both an artist and healer.

Over the years, Anj’s journey has spanned symphonic stages, experimental soundscapes, classrooms, and healing spaces. With nearly two decades of experience as a performer, educator, and trauma support specialist, Anj now blends deep musical knowledge with a whole-person, whole-community approach for every drum circle.

In the circle, Anj fosters an environment where participants feel safe to take creative risks, share their feelings, and build trust in themselves and one another — a space where rhythm nurtures a sense of belonging, and opens the freedom to simply be.

Each session begins with a welcome parade to the heartbeat of a buffalo-style drum, and three shared agreements: Work as a team. Honor yourself and others. Do your best. These touchstones become a foundation for growth — both in rhythm and in life.

Anj was introduced to DrumBus through the Arts & Healing Initiative at UCLA, whose mission instantly resonated: to help young people build confidence, social-emotional skills, and connection through rhythm. In every circle, Anj brings warmth, wisdom, reverence, and joy — offering a pathway to resilience, hope, and possibility, one beat at a time.

Camila’s love for the arts began in her San Francisco public school, where music, dance, and theatre offered both joy and refuge. From those early days, creativity became a way to be seen, to be heard — and to understand others more deeply.

That spirit of empathy deepened in high school, when Camila performed in Dead Man Walking, a play based on Sister Helen Prejean’s work with men on death row. As part of the process, she visited a prison and spoke with incarcerated individuals. The experience was life-changing. “We were sharing their stories through the play,” she says. “It showed me how powerful the arts can be in helping us find grace, understanding, and healing.”

Now a graduate of CalArts with a BFA in Acting — and trained in the Beat the Odds curriculum through UCLA’s Arts & Healing Initiative — Camila brings that same reverence for storytelling and connection to her work with DrumBus. In every circle, she creates space for students to feel safe and seen.

One moment stands out: a young newcomer from El Salvador, shy and unsure, shared that she missed her grandmother. Camila, who also has family in El Salvador, responded in Spanish: “I miss mine too.” The girl’s eyes lit up. “Together, we all rumbled the drum to share in her feelings," adds Camila. “In that moment, she felt understood, and surrounded by love.”

For Camila, that’s the heart of it: rhythm as a tool for healing, connection, and belonging. With warmth, light, and presence, she helps young people open up to themselves and each other — and build a community of care that lasts far beyond the circle.

Christine knows the transformative power of the arts — not just as a performer, but as a lifelong educator and advocate for young people. For over a decade, she toured schools across Southern California as an actor and teaching artist, using theatre to spark meaningful conversations around bullying, stress, and mental health.

Her most profound connection to rhythm came in 2023 during a DrumBus facilitator training. Pregnant with her daughter, she felt tiny feet move in sync with the beat of the drum — a moment that deepened her belief in rhythm as a language of connection beyond words. Today, that rhythm lives on in her daughter’s love of music and in Christine’s enduring commitment to the power of drumming to heal, unite, and inspire.

Now, as Program Manager, Christine brings that same passion to every corner of DrumBus. She supports facilitators, nurtures school partnerships, and helps expand the DrumBus programs through thoughtful collaboration and care — all with one clear purpose: to create spaces where young people feel safe, seen, and empowered to grow in confidence, self-expression, and social-emotional strength.

Though no longer leading circles, Christine’s work is guided by what she’s witnessed firsthand: students arriving hesitant or hurting, and leaving with confidence, joy, and a sense of belonging. She’s honored to help grow this vision — one partnership, one rhythm, one beat at a time.

One of the most cherished chapters in Tamara’s life was the time she served as director of marketing in the symphony world — putting pen to paper to draw people into the magic of music. She crafted countless campaigns, cultivated community through storytelling, and authored feature pieces for the region’s performing arts magazine — each one a soulful tribute to music’s transformative power.

What moved her most was witnessing how music lit up a child’s face — how a single note could spark joy, awaken hope, and open a world of possibility. She was especially drawn to the violin after hearing Joshua Bell summon otherworldly beauty from his instrument. These moments of wonder became the heart of The Sound in the Woods — Tamara’s award-winning children’s book about a young boy’s journey toward becoming a violin maker.

In addition to her work with DrumBus, Tamara is a lead feature writer for FACES of Utah magazine and a contributing writer for Utah Stories magazine — two beloved publications that celebrate the people and small businesses shaping the culture and spirit of her home state.

She is honored to support and strengthen the DrumBus brand through resonant, captivating storytelling shaped for written, visual, and digital environments — extending the organization’s reach and deepening its impact. Her mission is to build awareness, foster support, and celebrate how rhythm-based and group drumming experiences help young people grow in confidence, self-expression, resilience, and connection.