Big Shot Center for Personal Achievement is a program of The Michael V. Holdt Music Foundation which uses the foundation’s resources to enrich the lives of autistic individuals and people with intellectual, developmental, physical, and other disabilities by unlocking the transformative power of music and the arts. Through individualized instruction, creative expression, and inclusive community experiences, we develop confidence, communication, independence, and life skills while fostering meaningful relationships, celebrating individual talents, and creating opportunities for every participant to thrive as valued members of their community.
The Big Shot Center for Personal Achievement Program, a program of The Michael V. Holdt Music Foundation, is a community-based life skills and music development program designed for autistic adults and individuals with intellectual, developmental, physical, and other disabilities. Through the transformative power of music and the arts, participants develop confidence, communication, independence, social skills, emotional wellness, and practical life skills in a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment. The Center is a place where music inspires independence, confidence, and purpose.
Our program combines individualized instruction, community experiences, creative expression, and evidence-informed life skills training to help participants achieve greater independence and become active, engaged members of their communities. Whether learning a musical instrument, participating in a drum circle, developing money management skills, building friendships, or performing in community events, every activity is designed to promote personal growth, self-advocacy, and meaningful achievement.
At Big Shot Center for Personal Achievement, we believe every individual possesses unique abilities waiting to be discovered. By creating opportunities for creativity, collaboration, leadership, and community participation, we empower participants to build lasting relationships, celebrate their talents, and experience the confidence and purpose that come from learning, creating, and contributing through music and the arts.
Michael V. Holdt is the CEO and Founder of the Michael V. Holdt Music Foundation, bringing more than 40 years of experience as an award- winning musician, educator, mentor, inventor, author, and music industry professional to the Foundation's mission. Throughout his career, he has combined artistic excellence with a deeply personal commitment to helping others discover their strengths through music. Guided by a philosophy of individualized instruction, patience, and encouragement, Michael has developed creative approaches that build confidence, communication, concentration, teamwork, and self-expression. His diverse background in performance, education, instrument design, and artist development provides the foundation for innovative programs that use music as a pathway to meaningful personal growth and community participation.
Michael’s commitment to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has inspired some of his most innovative work. Drawing on his experience as a percussion educator, he developed individualized music-based approaches that enabled a blind student to perform fluently on a jazz drum set and helped a young adult with autism engage in meaningful conversation with his mother while playing rhythmic patterns—an outcome that had not previously been achieved for that individual. These experiences reinforced his belief that music
can open new pathways for communication and personal development when instruction is tailored to the individual. Today, that philosophy is reflected in the Big Shot Center for Personal Achievement, where music is integrated with communication, independence, leadership, and
community participation to create opportunities that extend well beyond traditional music instruction.
Michael serves as Executive Vice President of the Michael V. Holdt Music Foundation, where he combines decades of experience as an award-winning singer-songwriter, educator, vocal coach, broadcaster, and mentor to advance the Foundation's mission of serving adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Drawing on his background as Assistant Director and Master Teacher at the House of Voice in Beverly Hills, he has spent his career helping individuals build confidence, communication skills, and self-expression through music. Today, he is applying that experience in a new way—using music not simply as an art form, but as an innovative pathway for developing communication, social connection, independence, and personal achievement.
Through the Big Shot Center for Personal Achievement, Michael is helping shape a program that integrates music with practical life skills, vocational readiness, leadership development, and community participation in a person-centered environment. Rather than offering traditional music instruction alone, the program uses creative expression as the foundation for individualized growth, culminating in public performances that celebrate each participant’s abilities and progress. This innovative model expands the role of music beyond recreation,
creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to discover their strengths, build confidence, and participate more fully in their communities.
Bridget Ford, LMFT, serves as the Center’s Director of Clinical Services. She is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than eight years of progressive clinical and behavioral health experience leading mental health programs, supervising multidisciplinary
teams, and providing person-centered care to individuals with complex behavioral, developmental, and mental health needs. She holds a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mount Saint Mary’s University and currently serves as a Program Director
overseeing Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) services, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, staff development, and clinical operations. Her leadership is distinguished by a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and improving outcomes for the individuals and communities she serves.
Throughout her career, Bridget has worked with individuals experiencing developmental disabilities, serious mental illness, trauma, homelessness, substance use disorders, and other complex support needs. Her expertise includes clinical supervision, crisis intervention,
psychosocial rehabilitation, treatment planning, program development, and community partnership building, all guided by a passion for helping individuals achieve greater independence, dignity, and quality of life. Her combination of clinical expertise, compassionate
leadership, and operational experience makes her a strong advocate for innovative, person-centered programs that empower individuals and strengthen communities.
Ty Johnson, Director of Program Management, is a dedicated mental health and human services professional with more than five years of experience providing person-centered support to individuals, including autistic adults and those with developmental and behavioral support needs. His background includes caregiving, case support, leadership, and program coordination, with a strong focus on promoting independence, confidence, and community inclusion. Complementing his human services experience, Ty brings nearly 20 years of professional experience as an audio engineer, music producer, and mentor, using music production and creative expression to inspire
personal growth, teamwork, and self-confidence. His unique combination of management, direct support, and music industry expertise makes him a valuable leader in developing innovative programs that empower individuals while strengthening communities through the transformative power of music.
Aaron Mosley serves as a Program Manager. He is a compassionate mental health care professional and accomplished recording engineer dedicated to empowering individuals through service, mentorship, and the transformative power of music. His experience supporting youth
and adults in healthcare and community settings reflects his passion for fostering confidence, emotional wellness, resilience, and personal growth. Combining his strong communication and leadership skills with extensive expertise in music production and audio engineering, Aaron has spent the past five years leading community-based music outreach initiatives that use songwriting, recording, and creative expression to inspire hope, build life skills, and create meaningful opportunities for individuals to discover their strengths and reach their full potential.
Photos from Big Shot Center events and programs coming soon.
