ArtsQuest to Host ‘First Ever’ Musikfest Music Industry and Education Conference

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, June 6, 2024 – ArtsQuest is excited to announce its first ever Musikfest Music Industry and Education Music Conference, a two-day dynamic event focused on the intersection of music education, popular music and business leadership. The conference will be held on August 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ArtsQuest Center located at 101 Founders Way, in Bethlehem. This conference is ideal for practicing and amateur musicians, music business professors and enthusiasts.

Throughout the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops, engage in Q&A sessions with industry experts and connect with like-minded individuals. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a transformative experience that will empower you both professionally and creatively. Join us on this journey to shape the future of music education and industry leadership. Professional Development Certificates will be available following the conference.

Conference participants are encouraged to supplement their experience by registering for the fully virtual F-flat Annual Back to School Symposium (FABSS) run by partner organization F-flat Books (fflat-books.com). FABSS is a fully virtual professional development event hosted by the fair pay publisher, F-flat Books. With over 30 on-demand sessions and live keynotes from thought leaders in music education, symposium attendees can access professional development on a variety of topics for months to come!  FABSS is a pay-what-you-wish add-on to the Musikfest Industry and Education Conference and tickets can be purchased with your conference registration or learn more on fflat-books.com!

General Admission for the full conference is $90; Daily is $50 and Student Price is $40. Add a Musikfest mug and single general admission ticket to a Mainstage show for $20.

José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D., Keynote Speaker, is an internationally touring cross-genre performing and recording artist (flutist, saxophonist and bassist), four-time Latin GRAMMY® Award Winner and three-time Latin GRAMMY® Award Nominee, EMMY® Award Winner, 10-time GLOBAL GENIUS® Award Winner, 53-time DOWNBEAT® Music Award Winner (record holder) and 24-time GLOBAL MUSIC® Award Winner (record holder). Ruiz has performed 1400+ concerts as Headliner in numerous festivals, performing arts centers (including twice at Carnegie Hall) and conferences on six continents (North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, & Australia). He has led 40+ non-profit mission trips; delivered 110+ keynotes, concerts and workshops in academic sectors; consulted numerous Fortune 500 companies; produced 140+ albums and 10 documentaries; and published 60+ peer-reviewed research articles. Ruiz maintains the roles of 1) Director of Music Production at Hayden5; 2) CEO at JV Music Enterprises; 3) Founder & Program Director of UF Music Business & Entrepreneurship; and 4) Director of the Global Institute for Music Research’s Commission for Entrepreneurship and Leadership.

Alain Barker (DM, MM), Keynote Speaker, has an entrepreneurial career that includes arts organization development, arts policy research, communications and marketing, teaching and performance. In 2014, he was appointed director of entrepreneurship and career development at the IU Jacobs School of Music. Since then, he has been involved developing a comprehensive entrepreneurship and career development program that weaves together services of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development with individual departments, IU Bloomington career resources and national professional services. From 2004-2014, Barker directed the Jacobs School’s marketing and publicity operations. Barker was executive director of the Bloomington Early Music Festival from 1994-2004 and has worked as a consultant for local not-for-profits and concert series. He was co-principal flute in the Orchestra of the Asturian Principality, in Oviedo, Spain, and principal flute in the Marion (IN) Philharmonic. He has performed around the U.S., as well as to Mexico, Colombia and Israel.

Additional speakers include:

• Clint Randles, Ph.D.,  & Members of The Holly Drive Collective will lead Music Teacher as Music Producer, Exploring the Intersection of Music Industry and Music Education.
• Sarah Gulish, Ph. D., will lead Releasing Music: A Guide for Launching Creative Works at any Level.
• Shane Colquhoun, Ph.D., will lead Building a Bridge: Strategies for Unifying Music Education and the Music Industry.

Additional educational sessions include:

• Music Performance and Production
• Authentic Marketing, Career Readiness, Redefining School Music Community and Mastering Hip Hop and Spoken Word.
• Preparing for a Career in the Music Industry
• AI in the Music Industry and Strategies for Monetizing Arts Business & Entrepreneurship.
• Ensuing Legitimacy and Viability in the Music Industry
• And more!

“We are beyond excited to welcome an incredible slate of renowned presenters from around the country as well as tapping into our local experts,” commented Marissa Guarriello, ArtsQuest Director of Programming – Music. “This is an event that musicians, students, teachers and amateurs will definitely want to take advantage of as you can learn all about the industry during the morning and then experience the industry in action at Musikfest both nights—putting theory into practice doesn’t get much more accessible than this!”

ArtsQuest thanks the national slate of partners who have signed on to support this event and our mission as they spread the word to potential attendees around the country. These organizations reflect the variety of music aficionados who will benefit from attending.

Thank you to the following partners:

• Association for Popular Music Education
• F-flat Books
• Delaware Music Network
• Cairn University, School of Music
• Echoland Studios
• Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project
• Gritty In Pink
• HangDog Outdoor Adventure
• Kutztown University
• Lehigh Valley Grand Prix Kart Racing
• The Mix Room at Montco
• Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association
• Music Managers Forum
• Music Will
• New Jersey Music Educators Association
• New York State School Music Association
• Pass the Baton
• Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
• School of Rock Easton
• Shed the Music
• UMC Academy
• Underground Music Collective
• University of South Florida
• Well Dunn
• West Chester University, Wells School of Music
• Women’s Audio Mission
• West Virginia Music Educators Association
• Young Producers Group
• Zeswitz Music

To register for the event and for information on speakers, travel, housing, food and more, visit Musikfest.org.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.