Our Team

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Co-Founder - President - Executive Director 

Angel’s belief in God and driving conviction to impact the world through mentorship, education and performing arts has always motivated her to seek professional and volunteer opportunities to serve through these vehicles. 

At an early-age Angel’s parents recognized her attentiveness to the arts, so they enrolled her in music lessons and created opportunities for her to participate in activities at school and church which provided an outlet to develop and display her talents.  And it was an invitation to audition for a Musical Theater scholarship which first peaked her interest in college. However, Angel decided to remain in St. Louis and focus her academic studies in Communications at the collegiate level. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Webster University, Angel worked as a Summer Staff Assistant on the campus of the John Olin School of Business at Washington University for the Inroads Pre-College Program. This three-year adventure ignited Angel’s love for youth-centered educational programming and the non-profit sector. So, upon completion of her undergraduate studies, Angel pursued a professional career in education and the philanthropic sector where she has served for more than a decade at various schools and nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis metropolitan area. 

Angel’s passion for service motivated her to continue educational pursuits because she was interested in developing a program that would combine her love for youth-centered enrichment programming and music. While completing her graduate degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, her spouse urged Angel to research several national instrumental music programs and the challenges facing Arts Education programs in American public schools. As a result, Angel was inspired to create the program model for Gateway Music Outreach, piloted in 2017 with 30 students in the Jennings School District. Presently, the program serves numerous students in multiple school districts in the St. Louis region. 

Some of her professional experiences include: The Consortium Manager of Corporate Development, Urban Future Inspire Program Manager, Keystone Children and Family Services Program Services Coordinator, St. Patrick Center Katrina-Housing Specialist, Harris Stowe State College Educational Talent Search Program Educational Advisor, Mentor St. Louis Program Coordinator and St. Louis Public Schools and Kingdom Kids Academy 5th & 6th Grade Instructor. A few of Angel’s volunteer exploits include; Girls Inc. Volunteer Workshop Facilitator, MCWC Youth & Performing Arts Coordinator, Youth Pastor and Omega LDS Community Outreach Director.

Co-Founder • Vice President • Music Director

James  McKay Jr. is an educator, nonprofit leader, and ecosystem builder whose work sits at the intersection of music education, youth development, educator wellness, and community impact.

For more than 30 years, James has used music as a vehicle for helping young people develop the skills, confidence, relationships, and opportunities needed to succeed in school and in life. As Co-Founder and Music Director of Gateway Music Outreach, he helps lead an organization committed to opening doors of opportunity for personal, social, and scholastic advancement through music.

Through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and performance experiences, James works to ensure that young musicians have access not only to artistic instruction, but also to the support systems that help them thrive long-term.

Beyond his work with youth, James is a sought-after presenter and professional learning facilitator who helps educators build sustainable systems for teaching, leadership, and well-being. His work explores the intersection of human-centered leadership, emerging technology, and educator sustainability.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and recipient of multiple teaching and leadership honors, James believes that music is more than an art form—it is a catalyst for personal growth, community connection, and lifelong opportunity.

Music is the door.

Board Member & Advisor

Patrick Jackson’s instructional leadership and commitment to music education is legendary in the Kirkwood School District. He has been honored in Who’s Who Among America’s High School Teachers by former students. Jackson was the recent recipient of the Missouri American String Teachers Association’s “Secondary String Educator of

the Year” award. In addition, the Kirkwood School District honored

him as the 2003-04 Teacher of the Year. Jackson was also the 2003

Emerson “Excellence in Teaching” award winner and was recognized

the following year by The St. Louis American as one of its “Excellence

in Education” honorees. He is the recipient of the McComb High

School Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

His orchestras have received local, state and national acclaim for the past 29 years. After being invited to perform at the Missouri Music Educator's Association State Conference six times, his Symphonic Orchestra will make a second appearance at Carnegie Hall, March 5, 2017. A distinguished double bass pedagogue, Jackson has presented at the MMEA State Conference and the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2016.

In March 2010, the KHS Symphonic Orchestra performed at the famed Carnegie Hall, selected as one of three high school orchestras in the nation to do so. In June 2011, Mr. Jackson received the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award from the Yale School of Music. Prior to his joining the Kirkwood School District, Jackson taught in the Normandy School District and St. Louis Public Schools.

Mr. Jackson’s former students have won first prize in prestigious strings competitions including the Avery Fisher Prize, the Sphinx Competition, and the Young Concert Artist Guild.

Jackson’s students have also attended top music schools nationwide, including The Juilliard

School, Eastman School of Music, Yale School of Music, New England Conservatory, Oberlin

Conservatory, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the Shepherd School of Music at

Rice University.

A native of McComb, Mississippi, Jackson received his B.M.E. at Jackson State University and

his M.M. in Double Bass performance from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. While at

Jackson State University, he was a member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and

Mississippi Opera Orchestra and received full scholarships to study music at Interlochen National Summer Music Camp and the Aspen Music Festival. Later in his career, he studied orchestral conducting at the South Carolina Institute of Conducting and American Institute Of Conducting. Daughter Patrice Jackson, a cellist, is a graduate of Yale School of Music and the Juilliard School. She is also Associate Cello Professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Boston, MA.

Jackson served on the MSHSSA advisory committee for music. He is a member of the American String Teachers Association, M.M.E.A., N.A.f.M.E., and is past vice president of the High School Orchestra for the St. Louis           All-Suburban Music Educators Association. He is the Director of Webster University's Young People’s Concert Orchestra.

Board Member - Treasurer

Brian Wesley is a results driven HR/Talent Acquisition thought leader and a certified Diversity Recruiting & Inclusion strategist with expertise in building program capabilities that facilitate attracting, recruiting, retaining and developing Key Talent from a variety of sourcing channels. Wesley has advanced expertise in building strong internal / external relationships and strategic alliances. 

Wesley has developed and implemented Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategies, programs and capabilities (including but not limited to, D&I Strategic Plans, Succession Planning, Workforce Planning, Supplier Diversity, Recruitment Initiatives, Leadership Development, Mentoring, Training, Employee Resource Groups, Executive D&I Council / ERG Steering Committees) while leveraging financial and business acumen to ensure strategic goals are achieved. Additionally, he leverages his change management experience to embed D&I value propositions, language, metrics and measurements within the appropriate context of the business, while aligning with company goals and objectives.

In 2008, Wesley founded BRIKAWE Consulting, an HR Advisory Services firm, that leverages Wesley's expertise and passion, to provide consultative services related to Diversity & Inclusion, Recruitment Strategy and Programs, Brand Building, Talent Assessment, Measurement, Process Improvement / Implementation, including Documentation of Standard Operating Procedures.