Douglas Laustsen

Director of Operations

Douglas Laustsen is a musician and educator focused on using both of those roles to build stronger and more engaged communities. He earned a bachelor of music education at Rutgers University with a concentration in trombone, studying under Michael Powell. After graduating, he began working in Paterson Public Schools, where he was the lead arts teacher for the district’s Academy of Performing Arts, its middle school magnet for the fine arts. After working in Paterson for six years, he moved to Austin, TX. There, he began working as a social studies teacher while continuing to impact youth in afterschool music settings. He also developed a number of music projects that involved community engagement, audience interaction, and innovative technology.

Through that work he received two community initiatives grants from the city of Austin and an award from the Puffin Foundation. More recently, he was the community programs manager for Austin Soundwaves, an El Sistema inspired organization dedicated to improving the equity of music education in central Texas. His major responsibilities included managing the organization’s community lessons program, its intergenerational ensembles, and its creative youth development programs. He also serves on the finance committee for the board of El Sistema USA.