Advisory Board

Mary Hammond has been the vocal advisor and coach to over 21 West End Shows including Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Billy Elliot. She is an active teacher in the pop and rock industry. Mary Hammond is head of the Royal Academy Postgraduate Musical Theater Studies for young professionals in London. These have given her a wide range of experience in voice training and its different uses. Ms. Hammonds particular interest is voice science and the integration of acting and singing.

„I find kids4kids a wonderful concept as it gives young performers a sense of responsibility to others their own age for whom life has not been so happy. It is an ideal way to combine what they love to do with a sense of responsibility. Music, in its true expression, knows no social boundaries and can feed the soul when it has been neglected, restoring the human in human beings.”

Conductor, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher: in the international musical world Christoph Poppen has made a name for himself in diverse areas, winning many awards. After successfully leading the Munich Chamber Orchestra for 11 years, he became Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2006. A popular guest artist with various orchestras, Christoph Poppen has appeared with the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Staatskapelle Dresden, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Singapore Symphony, Detroit and Indianapolis Symphonies, and the Orchestra of the Royal Danish Opera.

His productive collaboration with the Tirolean Landestheater Innsbruck has led to many successful opera projects: Mozart's  Die Zauberflöte  along with a new production of La clemenza di Tito and a concert performance of Rossini's Othello.

As a violinist, Christoph Poppen has been the laureate of many German and international violin competitions. Most recently the CD Morimur was released: a recording of Bach's D Minor Partita with the Hilliard Ensemble. He is the father of 2 boys with soprano Julianne Banse.

“Nothing is more important than the education and musical development of children and the elimination of their suffering, as the future of our world lies in their hands. Therefor, there can never be enough initiative in this direction. The idea of kids4kids has in this case a very  original perspective and it is a joy and honor for me to support this.”

Pia Douwes is one of Europe’s most well known musical stars. She has appeared with great success in the West End, on Broadway, in Vienna, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Essen, Munich  and Amsterdam.

She has taken part in over 25 CD productions and was a duet partner with Jose Carreras. Pia Douwes studied in London and immediately began singing smaller roles. Her breakthrough came in 1992 when she originated the role of Kaiserin Elisabeth in the musical ‘Elisabeth’ and has since been closely associated with this role. She has performed Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret’ Milady Winter in ‘Three Musketeers’ Fantine in ‘Les Miserables’, the title role in ‘Evita’, and Velma Kelly in ‘Chicago’.

Pia Douwes was born in Amsterdam to an arts dealer and social worker. She wanted to be a nurse for mentally handicapped children, but then discovered her love for dance and performing. Ms. Douwes enjoys teaching young performers and her specialty is combining emotion and singing. In addition to being on the Board of kids4kids World Foundation, Pia is ambassador to the following charities: weeshuissrilanka.nl - an organisation which helps Tsunami victims and ingeborgdouwesstichting.nl,  dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

„Music touches the soul of every human being and lets it shine. Especially a child whose soul is still pure and vibrant. But the souls of children in need may be clouded by a shadow. So what could be better than to let children heal other children through music? It helps them take responsibility and be aware of love, joy and brotherhood and build a future together. And that can only have a positive effect on our grownup souls and the souls thereafter.”

Peter Pearce is an  internationally respected acting teacher and award winning stage actor  who has appeared in television and film.   When he himself is not on stage, Peter produces and creates theater projects, conducts workshops and is a highly sought after coach for  actors and professionals in New York, Los Angeles and in Europe. Peter  was the first American member of the German speaking “bremer shakespeare company” where he  performed as well as acted as a co-director of the company. He is currently a member of the acting ensemble at the Nationaltheater  Mannheim. Thankful for the many blessings in his life, Mr. Pearce is committed to service and has been actively involved throughout his life in many non profit organizations in the United States. His volunteer work involving children has included The Marcia Berman Fund for Music & Young Children, The Children’s Music Network and The Heart Touch Project.

“One of the ideas behind kids4kids World Foundation is about giving young people a chance to empower themselves by inspiring and helping others through the arts - it is an amazing experience and is powerfully rewarding - a child who grasps the concept of making a positive difference in the lives of others will be an adult who cares about the world and people around him and well, isn’t that what life is truly about?"

Theres Büchelhofer is an experienced manager in the field of culture. As mother of three, she appreciated and actively promoted the positive influences derived from art and especially music on the development of children. Throughout her professional life, she gained competence in organising cultural events. In Bavaria, Theres leads an “Art Circle” which is comprised of painting, architecture, literature and music, classical as well as contemporary. Participating members attend lectures, group discussions and tours. Organised travel throughout Europe to exhibitions and concerts are  an integral part of her Art Circle.

„Within my personal comprehensive experience and artistic involvement, I have met many young people and children and have seen the effects of the arts in their lives. This is why I feel so attracted by the ideas and goals of kids4kids World Foundation. Consequently I’ve  joined the team – at the end of the day, results make the difference.“

Dr. David Dean is Senior Partner and Director with the  internationally known Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Dean has worked over 20 years in BCGs Munich office specialising in hightech and telecommunication with clients in Europe and worldwide. He studied and completed his Doctorate at the  University of Oxford doing further  research at the State University of New York and in Germany at the Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen. Dr. Dean is from England, married and father of four children.

“I attended the premiere of ‘The little Soul and the Strawberry ‘ in 2006 and was extremely impressed by the children’s engagement and the philosophy which kids4kids World Foundation embodied. Through kids4kids, children have the possibility to express themselves and to develop their artistic and musical abilities at an extremely high professional level. But its not just this opportunity, it’s the fact that through their engagement they can help other children to change their lives for the better and thus positively change their world.”

Dr. Hans Martin Schmid is a lawyer and

accountant specialising in tax law and is partner in the Munich office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.  He is member of the practicing group „International Tax“ und „Real Estate“ lawyers and counsels in all areas of national and  international tax law. Dr. Schmid's clients include large public and private organisations, Corporations, Investment Banks, Insurance Companies, Private Equity & Real Estate Fonds as well as Foundations.

"In my profession, I work regularly with charity organisations. They are a very necessary part of our society and our world. I was convinced and excited about the idea of the kids4kids World Foundation from its inception and am proud to have helped it through its creation and be an integral part of the practical aspects of running of it."

Dr. Christiane Rathenow is a private  Orthodontist in Gauting, near Munich. Through her corrective medical work, Dr. Rathenow ‘touches’ the lives of children of many different     social tiers on a daily basis. She and her team accompany the children’s journey,  sharing their growth and change often over a period of years. Every day they experience the wonder, the miracle of ‘children’ and learn themselves the deep respect and attention that accompanies each unique individual. Dr. Rathenow is a music lover and enjoys the many different facettes of music, especially its power to touch the heart and soul.

„For me, music is the deepest connection to the universal power. Through kids4kids World, children connect to other children through music.  I am convinced that through this special kind of giving, there is  a very special  receiving. Through this mutual connection, the children create a web of security, trust, and create new memories and a positive future for all. Everyone of us can be a part of this web.”

Jeff Trinklein is an international tax partner with Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP newly positioned in NYC after stops in London and Munich. After many years of performing music as an amateur singer and musician, he mostly performs today as a top lawyer in conference rooms and courtrooms around the world. He is father to 3 very musical children.

“In my life, the opportunity to perform has been an early inspiration, a source of pride and a means of reaching goals I never could have expected. I am excited  through kids4kids World Foundation to show a new generation that performing will change their lives  and give them an opportunity to change the world around them.”