Rod Shapiro
Executive Director
After a successful career in the housewares industry, Rod Shapiro could have followed his peers and just enjoyed himself; but that was never his style. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and hunger for fresh challenges, as 2024 drew to a close, he completed the sale of his business and embarked on an entirely different path.
Anyone who knows Rod knows he is a passionate music fan. As a resident of Los Angeles he’s had many friends and neighbors in the “business.” With his decades of experience in sales, product development and strategizing, Rod recognized opportunities to apply his own set of skills to the rapidly evolving music industry.
As Executive Director of Hear for the Music, Rod oversees day-to-day operations, backed by a talented team of industry professionals. He’s determined to prove reinvention isn’t limited by age.
Rod is here for the music. And what comes next.
Mike Rocco
Event Producer
Mike Rocco has a background in producing concerts and festivals at UCLA through the UCLA Student Committee for the Arts, internships at the Skirball Cultural Center in LA (through the LA County Arts Commission) and the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington DC. He has also produced concerts for Orange Coast College and Santa Ana’s Grand Central Art Center. We are very fortunate to have him on our team at Hear for the Music.
Kelly Strodl
Marketing Director
Kelly Strodl is a creative force in the world of digital marketing, blending artistry with strategy to craft compelling narratives for brands and cultural institutions alike. With a keen eye for storytelling and an instinct for audience engagement, she has spent more than a decade developing and leading creative teams to shape campaigns that resonate across industries.
Her expertise spans the realms of film, arts, food, beverage, tech, and lifestyle, where she has collaborated with both top-tier brands and emerging voices eager to carve out their digital presence. Whether working with globally recognized names or guiding independent organizations into the ever-evolving world of digital content and promotion, Kelly brings a singular blend of ingenuity and precision to every project.
Her tenure with the Newport Beach Film Festival saw her spearhead the Filmmakers Five blog, a platform that amplified the voices of independent filmmakers, while also developing the festival’s copy and digital presence with an artist’s touch. Her work extends beyond the screen and into the tactile, with her photography exhibited in galleries across California. In her spare time, she explores the intersection of nostalgia and reinvention, painting and upcycling vintage décor with bespoke embellishments that reimagine the past through a modern lens.
At the core of her practice is a belief in the alchemy of creativity and commerce, where content is not just promotional but experiential—inviting audiences into a world where brands, art, and storytelling converge.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kelly is a devoted paw-rent to instafmous @gambitthefrenchie, former London Fashion Week 2017 dog model for Barbour International, worldwide explorer and serial wall art poser who often features in her creative projects.
Her multifaceted career and personal interests make her a vibrant contributor to the digital marketing landscape, particularly within the arts and film communities.
Tristan Dolce
Music Director
Tristan Dolce is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, producer, and audio engineer with a career spanning over two decades. Known for his ability to craft immersive sonic landscapes, he has worked across a wide array of industries. His deep technical expertise and artistic sensibility have made him a sought-after figure in the Southern California music scene.
As the Chief Live Performance Audio Engineer at 88.5 FM KCSN Los Angeles, Dolce has recorded and mixed hundreds of in-studio sessions for legendary artists, including Sting, The Pixies, Father John Misty, Death Cab for Cutie, Lucius, Lana Del Rey, Dawes, and many more. His ability to capture authentic, emotionally resonant performances has become a signature of his work, helping artists translate their vision into compelling recordings.
Beyond his role at KCSN, Dolce has an extensive freelance career in audio production and engineering, working with clients such as Amazon/Audible, Apple Fitness, Michael Bolton, M.A.G.S., Chicano Batman, Berlin, The Record Company, Silversun Pickups, and Lucinda Williams. He has also contributed to high-profile projects, including Dolby Atmos mixes of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Prince & The Revolution’s Live album, solidifying his expertise in spatial audio production.
In addition to engineering and production, Dolce is a songwriter and recording artist in his own right. His latest album, Medium True, showcases his storytelling prowess and rich instrumentation, weaving together indie-folk and rock influences with an atmospheric touch. The record reflects his deep understanding of both the technical and emotional dimensions of music—an ability honed through years of working behind the console and in front of a microphone.
With a career that bridges technical mastery and creative artistry, Tristan continues to shape the sound of modern music while staying true to the raw, unfiltered honesty that defines his approach.
Sebastian Lee
Digital Promotions
Sebastian Lee is a cellist based in Southern California holding a bachelor’s and master’s degree in cello performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB. Sebastian is a multi-genre cellist working with chamber ensembles, studio recording, and premiering new music. As an educator Sebastian currently runs a private cello studio based primarily in the South Bay but contains students from all over the greater LA area.
Ron Gompertz
Marketing Consultant
Ron Gompertz’s music career began in the late 80’s when he produced The Acoustic Music Project, an AIDs fundraiser record featuring Chuck Prophet, American Music Club, Alex Chilton and Jonathan Richmond. Ron co-founded San Francisco’s Heyday Records, which Rolling Stone called “One of the ten most adventurous small labels in the world.” Its eclectic roster included indie icons Penelope Houston (Avengers), Chris von Sneidern and Barbara Manning.
Pat Wong
Artist
Pat Wong is an art graduate of CSU Long Beach. As a freelance artist, she worked with educational textbook publishers, greeting card and promotional companies. She designed and illustrated children’s meal boxes and worked on the production end of the children’s toys for quick service restaurants. In celebration of Jacques Cousteau’s 75th birthday, Pat was selected to illustrate the cover of the Dolphin Log, the Cousteau Society’s children’s magazine. Working in a variety of mediums, Pat made the block print of the Art Theatre of Long Beach, promoting the benefit concert to aid those impacted by the SoCal wildfires.