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Special Orchestra®
Our Team
Special Orchestra, Inc. is operated by a volunteer General Manager, a two-person artistic core, a volunteer
board of directors and an I.T. specialist - dedicated professionals with decades of experience in business,
management and human services. Additionally, a small army that includes special needs service providers,
family members and performing artists come together to handle the real-world logistics and “in kind” support
which make Special Orchestra possible.
Miraculously, goals have been accomplished with budgets of just a few thousand dollars per year, raised
largely from the donations of everyday people and small businesses.
This page introduces the management team and explains what they do. All achievements, however, have been
possible only with the help of dozens of dedicated, in-the-trenches warriors, who push through every
mission!
Artistic Team
Gair Linhart – General Manager / Artistic Director
Profession: Special Music Provider, Performer & Songwriter
Residence: La Joya, NM
Gair Linhart is the founder and primary driving force behind Special Orchestra. He has been methodologist
and music director since 1999 and was a volunteer board member until 2006.
Mr. Linhart coordinates performances, composes music, develops methods, adapts instruments, acquires
funding, handles publicity and responds personally to all inquiries. Gair combines three decades of
original live musical performance in the U.S. and U.K. with over 20 years of musical involvement with
highly varied special-needs populations.
From 1989 to 1997, Mr. Linhart was a member of the educational staff at the Los Lunas Hospital and
Training School where he was music and movement director for over 200 residents. In his private
practice, he continues to work with children and adults with special needs.
Gair’s hundreds of hours of annual administrative work for Special Orchestra are donated. He receives
partial compensation for his direction of music sessions and performances.
Azita Creighton – Choreographer, Fund Raiser & Dance Coach
Profession: Antique dealer, Dancer
Residence: Albuquerque, NM
Azita Creighton is the mother of a Special Orchestra musician and has helped the organization
with acquisition of funding, publicity and program development since 2005. She is the leader
of a Girl Scout troupe with special needs participants, one of the few of its kind.
Artistically, Mrs. Creighton is a trained dancer and skillful choreographer. As such, she has
been the impetus behind the development and evolution of the Special Orchestra Dance Troupe.
Her dance numbers have become features of New Mexico Special Orchestra performances.
A native of Iran, her background reflects Middle-Eastern, traditional and contemporary dancing.
Her skill in coaching the dance troupe and the élan resultant within its membership,
have become a treasured part of Special Orchestra.
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Board of Directors
All serving as volunteers
 Valera Hayes – Board President
Profession: Accountant, Printing broker
Residence: Albuquerque, NM
Valera Hayes has served as an integral member of the Special Orchestra board since 1999.
She was elected board president in 2006 and continues to serve in that capacity. Many of
Special Orchestra’s best video sequences and photos have been shot by Val and her husband
Jon, who is similarly gifted behind a lens.
Additionally, Val keeps the organization’s books and financial records, producing all
necessary reports.
For many years Ms. Hayes has been the owner and operator of a printing brokerage. She has
been able to use these skills and contacts to help with Special Orchestra publications.
Ms. Hayes holds a BA degree in business accounting from the College of Santa Fe.
James McDonald – Board Vice President
Profession: Staff trainer in the field of Developmental Disabilities
Residence: Albuquerque, NM
James McDonald has been a member of the Special Orchestra Board since 2002. He also
serves as a hands-on music coach at rehearsals and performances.
Mr. McDonald has held practically every job in the D.D. field from direct care tech to
service coordinator. He is presently a Department of Health mentor for all required
staff training in New Mexico, including supervisory and leadership training.
His expertise has been invaluable to Special Orchestra in complex areas such as
confidentiality and client rights.
Gloria Ortiz – Board Secretary
Profession: Developmental Disabilities Specialist, Special Education Teacher
Residence: Los Lunas, NM
Gloria Ortiz has devoted her career to addressing the unique educational requirements of
special needs children. She taught for 25 years in the Belen, New Mexico school system
and spent summers teaching at the Los Lunas Hospital & Training School.
In 1990, Ms. Ortiz was named Teacher of the Year for her outstanding work in Belen. She
was also awarded New Mexico State Lending Library and National Teacher Dream Grants to
support her classrooms. Since 2000 she has worked as a Developmental Specialist,
planning and coordinating services to families with children at risk of developmental
delays.
Gloria has been a member of Special Orchestra’s Board since 2006 and is currently
serving as board secretary. She holds a Masters Degree in education from New Mexico
Highlands University.
Dr. Xeno Rasmusson – Board Director
Profession: Teaching Professor, California State University at Hayward
Residence: Danville, CA
Dr. Xeno Rasmusson, the son of an artist and musician, spent his childhood years in Greenwich Village, New York, where his parents were active in the counter-culture folk scene. His interest in neuroscience and brain development began as an undergraduate and continued through grad school.
His expertise in age-related brain changes developed during post-doctoral research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, National Institute on Aging and at the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging. Dr. Rasmusson has published work on cognitive and brain changes in aging and Alzheimer’s. He has also co-produced several inter-generational “Peace Party” music events.
Dr. Rasmusson has served as a member of the Special Orchestra Board since 1999.
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Information Technology
Greg (T.G.) Platt – Promotions Volunteer, Webmaster
Profession: Information Technologies Consultant, Web-Site Designer
Residence: Socorro, NM
Greg Platt is the wizard behind the screen, who so successfully enables Special Orchestra
to make available its methodology and artistry to the world.
Mr. Platt cheerfully donates hundreds of hours annually to the organization. He accepts
only partial payment for his tireless work as website administrator. His skills as a film
editor and producer are evident in our video and DVD releases.
While not actually inventing the internet, Greg has been in on it from the beginning,
specializing in multi-media websites that integrate motion, music and method. Working
closely with Gair Linhart, their goal is a durable website that will continue to make
Special Orchestra’s enrichment universally available for decades to come.
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