George Ponce, ’02 & Cassie Hinnen, ‘02

Imagine stepping onto campus for the first time in Hoboken after more than 20 years and being recognized by one of the school’s founders. While in town to play several concerts in the area, George Ponce, ‘02 had been invited by Cassie Hinnen, ‘02 to spend the morning with her at Mustard Seed School. Cassie teaches the Toddler Playgroup class at Mustard Seed and has a daughter in first grade. Cassie and Geroge happen to run into Joany Littman in the hall outside school worship because her granddaughter is also a first grade MSS student. Identifying George immediately on sight, Ms. Littman wanted to know everything about his milestones and life experiences as an accomplished musician based in Los Angeles. 

“I remember Ms. Littman approaching me about a piece in fourth grade,” says George. “She said, ‘You should learn this.’ She had chosen a Scottish March for me and I spent all of my free time learning it on the snare drum.”

After picking up the guitar at age six when someone left the instrument at his house, George developed a love of music that overshadowed everything else. “It was my driving force,” says George. “I needed to do it!” He now plays guitar, bass, and piano professionally.

George remembered singing The Tree Song in the Community Room just like the children sang at worship during his visit. He and Cassie remembered going with Angel Williams, ’02, to select the purple drum as their class’ graduation gift to the school. He remembered the large Mustard Seed sign in the stairwell and taking ballroom dance lessons with Ms. Sytsma in the gym. Joanna Hayes, ‘02 was his partner and they learned the waltz and the fox trot together.

He also remembers the sign in Ms. Sytsma's room in sixth and eighth grade. “She kept us in line!” In response to his unconscious beat-playing in the academic classroom, Ms. Sytsma established a NO TAPPING ZONE. George was permitted to engage in drumming on his desk for a short period of time each day and then the NO TAPPING ZONE sign went up in consideration of others.

“So often when a person has ambitious dreams at such a young age, they are shut down as unrealistic,” says Cassie, “but not at Mustard Seed. You are encouraged to be your true self. George shined in music, but all of us shined in something and we learned to be considerate of each other. That’s one of the reasons why I love this school!”

Over the years, George has worked with Grammy Award-Winning Colombian Singer J Bolvan, Boyz II Men, Jennifer Lopez, American Singer-Songwriter and Actress JoJo, and American Singer and Dancer Tinashe. He has performed at Coachella and the Grammys. He was in town because he is currently touring with Latin artist Maluma, and had several local gigs including Madison Square Garden and the Prudential Center in Newark. During his stop in the area, he appeared on Good Morning America and The Tonight Show with Maluma. 

Producing and writing music for the past five years, George is very excited about his work with Stacey Ryan, an emerging singer and songwriter from Canada. He loves all music and actually finds the switch from one genre to another refreshing. His tour work has taken him to every inhabitable continent on the planet including his favorite cities: Tokyo, Bilbao, Montreux, and Mexico City.

“I feel so blessed,” says George. “I am grateful to be doing what I love. I have something to look forward to every day. I would have been happy just to play at a local cafe, so to travel the world continuing to meet new people and expand is just icing on the cake!”

In addition to encouraging his interest and talent, Mustard Seed laid a solid foundation for George’s travels. “I always say that diversity is its own teacher,” says Cassie. “Within our capsule class of 11, there was so much talent. We were so close and yet so different. At Mustard Seed, you are introduced to different cultures and people, so you know how to handle differences. You embrace rather than tolerate those differences. You learn how to be kind humans in the world.”

Like many of his fellow alumni, George attributes his comfort in different cultures and situations to the Mustard Seed environment. “Ms. Littman was a major figure in my musical development. She and my other teachers at Mustard Seed lit the fire by validating and pushing me to be my best. Being part of a close-knit community as a child where differences were celebrated has enriched my whole life.”

For more stories about alumni, check out back issues of our magazine Inspire and our Annual Reports.