Presenters & Mentors

Title: The Art of the Music Business

Presenter(s): Victoria Fields

Organization: Agency Arts Culture Alliance

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 9:00-9:45 AM

Description: The Art of the Music Business  a dynamic workshop experience designed to bridge creativity and strategy for today’s aspiring music professionals.

Title: From Creation to Career: Modern Pathways for Young Composers & Producers

Presenter(s): Andrew Meehan

Organization: North Penn School District

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 10:00-10:45am

Description: This panel explores practical, real-world pathways for high school students interested in pursuing careers in today’s music industry-specifically in composing and producing music for clients. Whether scoring for film, television, and video games or producing original music for artists, modern creators must navigate not only the artistic process but also the business side of the field.

Title: Building Your Authentic Artist Brand

Presenter(s): Gerard Longo

Organization: Underground Music Collective

Strand: Performance & Artist Development // Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 1:00-3:15pm

Description: Building Your Authentic Artist Brand’ is an interactive workshop which guides musicians (and other creatives!) through the steps of developing a purpose-driven, values-based creative ecosystem. This workshop is designed to help artists identify the unique “why” behind their work; learn best practices for attracting aligned media, live performance, and partnership opportunities; and build a sustainable, profitable creative business on their own terms.

Title: AI Music: The Myths You’re Still Believing (and Why They’re Wrong)

Presenter(s): Jeremy dePrisco

Organization: Jeremy dePrisco Productions

Strand: Innovation & Future Trends

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 3:30-4:15pm

Description: This presentation will continue the discussion established in my previous talk about AI music. We will examine what has happened in this field since the last conference, including a high-level review of some important legal rulings. (Note: I am not a lawyer). We will also discuss the many arguments for/against AI music tools.

Title: Beyond the Stage: Navigating Modern Careers in the Music Industry

Presenter(s): Mark Despotakis

Organization: Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 9:00-9:45am

Description: This session explores the wide spectrum of today’s music industry careers, from performers and producers to educators, managers, marketers, and technology specialists. Attendees will learn how skill sets, education pathways, and personal strengths connect to opportunities across traditional and emerging roles. Practical strategies, industry trends, and key resources for career planning and student advocacy will be covered, with time for Q&A to address participants’ interests and questions. This session is a valuable resource for educators to find information to share with their students.

Title: Creating a Portfolio Career as a Working Musician

Presenter(s): Brendan Bordick-Lesavage, Bill Davis, Jase Mathews, Gracie Jane Sinclair

Organization: BBL Music CO.

Strand: Performance & Artist Development // Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 10:00-10:45am

Description: A panel discussion for working musicians – from working musicians – with tips on creating a professional portfolio career. The panel will focus on business strategies and entrepreneurship. Q&A to follow.

Title: Help Your Students Create Their Own Band, Perform, Write Songs, and Record

Presenter(s): Keith Quelet

Organization: Holy Family School & Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 1:00-2:00pm

Description: This session will help educators  connect with their students in establishing performing groups that reward originality and teach skills necessary to gain entrance into the music industry.  Establishing a guitar program,  a student-centered music group, and a student-run recording program will be illustrated. Performance skills and equipment needs will be discussed based on many years of teaching and directing a variety of music groups. I will present along with students I currently work with or have performed with on a professional stage.

Title: The Modern Sound: Blending Past and Present Technologies to Enhance Recording Skills

Presenter(s): Peter Favilla, John Ott & Ryan Zieminski

Organization: Echoland Studios

Strand: Innovation & Future Trends

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 2:15-3:15 PM

Description: Learn how to produce using a blend of modern and vintage recording techniques, and how building Echoland Studios using these strategies is lighting new pathways to success in the music business.

Title: Building a Modern Musical: A Hands-On Exploration of Collaborative Production, Storytelling, and Music Entrepreneurship

Presenter(s): Karl DeBoeser

Organization:

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship // Performance & Artist Development

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 3:30-4:15pm

Description: This interactive session explores the full creative and production pipeline behind developing a modern, large-scale musical work. Using an original in-progress musical as a case study, participants will engage in hands-on activities illustrating how composition, orchestration, staging, narrative development, and music business strategy intersect to create a unified artistic project.

Attendees will work through real-world creative decisions, examine excerpts from the script and score, and learn how a musical evolves from concept to production. The session highlights interdisciplinary collaboration-bringing together composers, performers, educators, designers, producers, and students-to demonstrate how complex artistic projects can be incubated in community and educational environments.

This workshop aligns with conference goals by bridging education and industry, grounding learning in practical application, and showcasing how emerging creators can navigate the artistic, logistical, and entrepreneurial challenges that define the future of music.

Title: Art Economic Empowerment in Action: Building Sustainable Creative Pathways

Presenter(s): Shekhinah B.

Organization: The Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, Inc.

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 9:00-9:45am

Description: This hands-on, interactive workshop introduces participants to key principles from the Art Economic Empowerment Workbook, guiding creatives through practical strategies for financial sustainability, opportunity development, and long-term career planning. Through collaborative exercises, real-world scenarios, and guided reflection, attendees will explore tools to strengthen their creative practice, build economic resilience, and identify actionable next steps toward thriving in the arts.

Title: Behind the Show: Live Event Production Panel

Presenter(s): TBA

Organization:

Strand: Production & Live Event Operations

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 10-10:45am

Description: Get an inside look at what it’s really like to work in live event production. Our panel of sound and lighting professionals will share their career pathways, stories from the road, and lessons learned from working shows of all sizes. From first gigs to life on tour, this conversation offers an honest look at the challenges, rewards, and real-world experience behind the scenes.

Curated by ArtsQuest

Title: Improving Performance Through Finding Flow: Relaxation, Breath, and Movement for Musicians

Presenter(s): John Armstrong

Organization: Harrison Consultants, Aquatic and Physical Therapy, Madison Project PSJ Band

Strand: Performance & Artist Development

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 1:00-2:00pm

Description: Musicians are athletes of precision, and the physical and emotional demands of performance can cause tension, poor posture, and stress that limit expression. In this 45-minute session, physical therapist and Tai Chi instructor John Armstrong shares evidence-based tools to help musicians perform with ease and awareness. Participants will learn to release tension, regulate breath, and integrate mindful movement to improve sound quality, endurance, and focus. Through simple, accessible Tai Chi-inspired exercises, attendees will gain practical techniques for relaxation, posture, and breathing to enhance both performance and overall well-being.

Title: Next-Gen Artist Development: Discovering Your Formula for Success

Presenter(s): Gregory Ferraiolo

Organization: Musician Indie Coalition

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship // Performance & Artist Development

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 2:15-3:15pm

Description: The majority of musicians are self-employed, even ones that sign with a label, making entrepreneurial skills vital when it comes to finding career success. This session will cover the 6 Steps of a Musician’s Career Path, the role music, business and health plan in career development, the importance of creating a career plan,  and how to develop a marketing strategy that will help you attract the type of fans that will support your career – allowing you to discover your unique recipe for success. 

Title: Women Shaping the Music Industry Panel

Presenter(s): Julia Rubio, Rachel Hill, Tori Hamersky & CLOVER

Organization:

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship // Performance & Artist Development

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 3:30-4:15pm

Description: This event spotlights the many ways women shape the music industry—on stage, behind the scenes, and everywhere in between. Featuring a dynamic group of artists, executives, educators, and advocates, the conversation explores careers spanning songwriting and performance, artist management, booking, A&R, music education, and community-building. From grassroots creative spaces to global foundations and major-label pipelines, these speakers share how their work expands access, supports underrepresented voices, and builds sustainable paths in music. Together, they offer an inspiring look at the power, diversity, and impact of women working across the music ecosystem.

Curated by ArtsQuest

Title: Splice in the Classroom: Creative Tools for the Modern Musician

Presenter(s): Meredith Allen, Perry Martin

Organization: Splice

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 9-9:45 AM

Description: This hands-on session demonstrates how to integrate Splice’s professional tools into the curriculum, offering pathways to career-ready skills in production and sound design. We will share forward-thinking frameworks that bridge the gap between industry workflows and classroom learning, ensuring maximum relevance and accessibility for all students. Participants will leave with concrete lesson ideas and strategies to foster collaboration and ethical practices among young creators.

Title: Breakbeats to Bedroom Producers: Budget-Friendly Digital Music Production for Schools

Presenter(s): Cassandra DeVita

Organization: Branchburg Central Middle School

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 10:00-10:45am

Description:
Transform your classroom into a music production studio using only Chromebooks and free tools. This session traces hip-hop and EDM evolution from Kool Herc to Kendrick Lamar, East Coast vs. West Coast, and Eurocentric dance music roots. Learn how students recreate these sounds using Soundtrap (browser-based DAW) while exploring hip-hop’s complete culture: DJing, MCing, breaking, graffiti, beatboxing, and fashion.
Includes hands-on turntable science experiments (physics of sound), a complete 40-day curriculum aligned to state standards, grant writing templates with funding strategies for equipment and Soundtrap subscriptions, and budget-friendly equipment recommendations (USB mics, headphones). Perfect for music educators, classroom teachers, and administrators seeking accessible, interdisciplinary programs that connect music history, cultural studies, technology, and creative expression.

Participants receive: Complete curriculum framework, grant proposal templates (for both equipment and Soundtrap licenses), equipment guide, standards alignment documentation, and interdisciplinary resources.

Why attend: Launch a professional-level music production program with minimal cost using equipment you already have. Students learn that creativity requires curiosity and access, not wealth-the same DIY spirit that created hip-hop culture.

Title:  AMPE/Music Will Panel

Presenter(s): Bryan Powell, Tom Zlabinger, Kevin Longwill & Sarah Gulish

Organization: Montclair State University/ APME

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 1:00-2:00pm

Description: A panel with education experts discussing the latest trends in modern music education

Title: Conquering Creative Commerce: Your Entrepreneurial Playbook for Music Industry Success

Presenter(s): Greg Davis Dunkailo

Organization: Azola Creative

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 2:15-3:15pm

Description: Sustainability in the music industry comes from thinking like an entrepreneur. This hands-on session will help artists and creative professionals build the mindset, structure, and strategy needed to grow their careers like a small business. Participants will learn how to apply entrepreneurial principles to marketing, branding, and business development, while protecting their creative energy from burnout, comparison fatigue, and financial uncertainty.

Title: Modern Music Ensembles: The First Five Years (aka All the Gear and How to Use It)

Presenter(s): Kevin Longwill

Organization: Abington School Districk/Temple University

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Musikfest Café

Time: 3:30-4:15pm

Description: This hands-on session expands school music programs to include the music that students actively engage in, including pacing strategies, exploring culturally responsive repertoire, building arrangements, utilizing equipment, and expanding an existing group with tools that support musical relevance, student voice, and authentic listening. Bring your instrument or device if you can-charts and learning materials provided.

Title: A Comprehensive Program: Connecting Your Program to the Music Industry

Presenter(s): Shane Colquhoun

Organization: Alabama State University

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 9:00-9:45am

Description: A Comprehensive Music Program: Connecting Your Music Program to the Music Industry shows educators how to expand traditional ensembles by integrating music technology, beat-making, songwriting, production, and music business. This session provides practical strategies for serving “the other 80%,” building culturally relevant, student-centered programs, and connecting classroom learning to real industry pathways. Participants will explore models, curriculum ideas, and project-based assignments that prepare students for modern careers in music while increasing engagement and access. Attendees leave with a clear, actionable framework for creating comprehensive, industry-aligned music programs.

Title: Beyond the Beat: Building Minority Cultural Inclusivity in Music Festivals

Presenter(s): Sylvia Keverenge & Edel Ogola

Organization: Unity Pallet Productions

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship // Community Engagement & Cultural Programming

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 1:00-2:00pm

Description: Music festivals across the U.S. often celebrate “diversity,” yet true cultural inclusivity remains uneven especially for minority groups whose voices are rarely amplified. While English and Spanish have become the two dominant languages in America’s cultural and festival spaces, what happens to the communities whose heritage, languages, and art forms exist beyond that bilingual norm? This session explores how festival organizers, curators, and cultural advocates can intentionally include minority cultures that lack advocacy, visibility, or institutional support. Drawing from my own experience producing inclusive events, I’ll share practical ways to reach underrepresented artists, build genuine partnerships with grassroots communities, and move beyond symbolic diversity toward meaningful inclusion. Participants will discover that when festivals open their stages to cultures often left out of the English-Spanish framework, they not only reflect America’s full story they create richer artistic experiences that unite communities across language, culture, and identity.

Title: Amplifying Young Artists: Integrating Artist Development Into School Music Programs

Presenter(s): Luis Aguilar & Kevin Longwill

Organization: Abington School District / Reservoir Media

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 2:15-3:15pm

Description: Beyond the classroom, young musicians have unprecedented access to tools for creating and releasing their own music-and students are eager to grow as artists. While Modern Band connects school music to students’ daily listening, popular music education also provides insight into real-world creative practices and the skills needed to pursue their artistic goals. Yet many school programs are limited in how they support students as developing songwriters, performers, and producers. This session explores how music educators can play a meaningful role in artist development and cultivate a thriving artist community within their schools.

Title: Confidence Inside and Out

Presenter(s): Carmen Garrison

Organization: Carmen Belly Dance & RCG Counseling

Strand: Performance & Artist Development

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 9:00-9:45am

Description: Confidence is a vital part of any performance. As both a licensed professional counselor and a professional belly dancer, I understand what confidence looks and feels like-inside and out. In this interactive session, we’ll explore practical strategies to build and embody confidence, helping you connect more deeply with yourself and express that assurance in both your art and your everyday life.

Title: Composing with AI: Project-Based Learning in a General Music Classroom

Presenter(s): Mitch Freeman

Organization: Purdue University

Strand: Modern Music Education

Location: Red Cinema

Time: 10-10:45 AM

Description: This interactive session explores how Generative Music AI can enhance project-based learning (PBL) in general music classes. Participants will use Suno, Udio, and Moises to develop a remix project using the Seven-Step PjBL model, take on Cooperative PBL roles (Composer/Prompt Engineer, Lyricist, Producer), and discover cross-curricular iSTEAM connections. The session balances demo and, in doing so, teachers can adapt the approach for their own classrooms, PLCs, and PD.

Title:  Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation for Artists and Musicians

Presenter(s): Raymond Keely

Organization: Disruptor Professional Services

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 10:00-10:45am

Description: Tax Preparation can be daunting under normal circumstances.  If you are an artist, musician or independent contractor, the lines between personal and business finances can be difficult to navigate.  In this workshop an IRS Enrolled Agent with more than 20 years of experience as a tax preparer AND artist/musician will guide you through everything you need to complete an accurate tax filing for your individual or business tax return.  We’ll look at various forms of income.  Everything from Cash or Digital payments to 1099 income and Accounts Receivable.  We’ll spend time differentiating business versus personal expenses and discussing how to maximize expenses deductions for business use of your home and vehicle. We’ll even identify a number of commonly missed qualified business deductions that are available specifically for self-employed individuals.  All information presented is current for the upcoming 2025 Tax Season.  Following the presentation, we will allow for questions and answers so we can discuss your specific concerns.  The US Tax Code is a lengthy and complicated apparatus; in this workshop we are focused on Schedule C income/expenses as they are most relevant to Artists/Musicians but will address all manners of Tax related and Bookkeeping principles so that you are ready to properly file your returns 

Title:  Level Up: Turning Your Music Skills into a Sustainable Career

Presenter(s): Tyron Williams

Organization: Certified Banga Productions LLC

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 1-2 PM

Description: This interactive workshop empowers emerging artists, producers, and engineers to think beyond the beat transforming their creative skills into business opportunities. GRAMMY-nominated music educator and producer Tyron “TWiZ” Williams shares real-world insights on branding, music monetization, and how to build a career that lasts in today’s evolving industry. Whether you’re an independent artist or a creative entrepreneur, this session helps you level up your strategy, visibility, and impact.

Title: Get Over Yourself: How to Separate Craft from Creator and Develop a Healthy Artist Identity

Presenter(s): Sarah Gulish & Kat Reinhert

Organization: West Chest University Wells School of Music // Berklee NYC

Strand: Performance & Artist Development

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 2:15-3:15pm

Description: This workshop explores the delicate balance between artistic expression and personal well-being. In a culture that often conflates one’s creative output with identity, artists and educators can struggle to set healthy boundaries, leading to burnout, insecurity, and creative blocks. This interactive workshop, co-facilitated by Dr. Kat Reinhert and Dr. Sarah Gulish, empowers attendees to redefine their relationship with their work by focusing on process over product and craft over self.

The session will include exercises to help participants identify their motivations, values, and obstacles in their creative journey. Through structured discussions and small-group collaborations, attendees will explore strategies to detach their self-worth from their artistic output while maintaining authenticity in their work. Practical tools for self-assessment, boundary-setting, and sustainable creative practices will be shared, offering a roadmap to foster resilience and growth as an artist. 

Participants will leave with a clearer sense of their artist identity, actionable strategies for boundary-setting, and an understanding of how to cultivate a thriving artistic practice while maintaining personal balance. This workshop is ideal for educators, musicians, and creatives seeking clarity and confidence in their craft.

Title: Introduction to Booking and Presenting Artists

Presenter(s): Anne Sturm

Organization: Concert and Event Resource

Strand: Music Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Blue Cinema

Time: 3:30-4:15pm

Description: This session provides a comprehensive overview of the essential components involved in booking musicians. Participants will learn where to begin when planning a public performance—starting with defining a clear vision and setting realistic goals within a workable budget. We will explore strategies for discovering artists within your reach, learn about the economic realities of hosting concerts, and gain a clear understanding of standard deal terminology. The session will conclude with a summary of the full lifecycle of a booked performance—from initial outreach to load out.

Title: Breaking Into the Music Business and Touring USA

Presenter(s): Jim Della Croce

Organization: Pathfinder Artists

Strand: Performance & Artist Development

Location: 1st Floor

Time: 3:30-4:15pm

Description: Tips on how to break into the business through trade secrets and how to reach talent buyer to tour your act across America or regionally. Finding an agent and manager.