Women in Music
Join the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota for a panel discussion and networking opportunity with music professionals on
November 8th, 2025!
This event will feature a panel of women sharing wisdom from their experiences within the fields of Creative Sync Licensing, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Therapy, Professional Performance, Sound Editing, and how to keep music in your life in a non-music career path.
This free event will be held at California State University, Northridge, at Nordhoff Hall, Room 107. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for light breakfast fare and refreshments, and the panel will run from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The discussion will conclude with a Q&A portion, and the panel members will be available to connect until 12:30 p.m.
RSVP DEADLINE
Saturday, November 1, 2025
REGISTER NOW!
EVENT DATE & LOCATION
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Doors open and Refreshments: 10:30 a.m.
Panel: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nordhoff Hall, Room 107
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff StreetNorthridge, CA 91330
Parking and Directions to Hall:
The closest parking structure to Nordhoff Hall is B1. Parking is $6.05 for 2 hours, $8.25 for 4 hours, and $10.45 for the whole day. Permits can be purchased at the kiosk in the B1 parking lot. A map of the campus can be found here. See photo for screenshot of the map outlining the B1 parking lot and walking paths to Nordhoff Hall. Nordoff Hall is the blue star on the map. There will be signs to help guide you to the hall.
Meet the Panelists
Kristen Hirlinger
Kristen Hirlinger is a wind band composer, Emmy-nominated sound editor, and 15-year member of SAI. She joined SAI at the University of Central Missouri, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music for her studies in music technology and composition, before moving to Los Angeles in 2014. Her works have been performed by the LA Symphonic Winds, the Mid-America Freedom Band, and the UCSB Wind Ensemble, among others. As a sound editor, her work can be heard on The Pitt, Atlanta, and the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. She serves as Editor for the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter of SAI.
Devon Guthrie
Grammy-nominated soprano Devon Guthrie, a California native, received her training from The Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School. She has enjoyed an international performance career that started in London with two seasons at English National Opera. Other career highlights include creating the role of Mary Johnson in Greg Spears’ Fellow Travelers, multiple seasons with Santa Fe Opera, and a production of Le Nozze di Figaro that toured through Japan with Seiji Ozawa. Her work on composer Luna Pearl Woolf’s album Fire and Flood earned her a Grammy nomination in 2020. Devon joined SAI last year!
Emily Sonneborn
Emily Sonneborn graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Business from Bradley University in 2016, specializing in Voice as her instrument (Mezzo/Contralto). In the spring of 2013, during her freshman year, she joined the Beta Gamma chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. She made her way out west to Los Angeles in 2018, starting her career journey working with boutique, start-up companies. This would lead her to her current position with Virgin Music Group's Creative Sync Licensing Team, where she has the honor of working with some of the industry's most exciting independent artists & labels. Emily affiliated with the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter in 2019, continuing to be an active member and proudly serving on the Executive Board.
Hilary Yip
Hilary Yip, MM, MT-BC is the Director of the Music Therapy Program at California State University, Northridge. A board-certified music therapist specializing in Neurologic Music Therapy for over a decade, she has provided clinical services in schools, hospitals, and community settings with clients from infants to older adults in Texas, Florida, and California. She earned degrees in Music Therapy (B.M.) and Psychology (B.A.) from the University of the Pacific and a Master of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Miami. A member of Sigma Alpha Iota since 2006, she has served in local and national roles as well as received SAI scholarships and grants.
Meet our Moderator
Haley Schwalbe
Haley Schwalbe is the Director of Strategy and Operations (Security, Safety, and Sustainability) at Sony Pictures, overseeing projects that include company-wide training (both required compliance and resource trainings), enhancing emergency preparedness and volunteer engagement, and leading an industry-wide working group initiative. A member of Sigma Alpha Iota since 2010, initiating and chartering the Lambda Chi chapter at CSU Fullerton and serving as its first president. She currently serves as the President of the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter.
Have questions?
Please contact Tia Annis tiaeshou@gmail.com