Musikfest Music Industry and Education Conference Speakers
Alain Barker – Keynote Speaker, Hometown: Bloomington, IN
Keynote title: An Abundance of Opportunity: Navigating New Directions in Music Performance and Production
Born and raised in South Africa, Alain Barker (DM, MM) 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. Barker 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. He taught for four years as a visiting lecturer in flute during the Jacobs School’s summer semester. He serves on a number of local boards and commissions.
José Valentino Ruiz – Keynote Speaker, Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Session titles: Keynote: Ensuring Legitimacy and Viability in Music Industry Education
From Notes to Dollars ($$$): Strategies for Monetizing Arts Business & Entrepreneurship Curricula
Industry-Leading Professor (ILP): What Does This Mean, How Do We Become It, and Intra-preneurial Implications in Higher Education
Maintaining a vibrant career as 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), Dr. José Valentino 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); led 40+ non-profit mission trips; delivered 110+ keynotes, concerts, 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.
Look for Jose’s performance at Plaza Tropical on the North Side of Musikfest!
Devin Arne
Session Title: Finding the Signal Through the Noise: Integrating AI into Music Curriculum Presentation
Devin Arne, DMA, is a composer, producer, educator, and guitarist. He has established a reputation as a versatile musician with a portfolio that spans multiple genres, including jazz, electronic, indie-rock, and film scores. He is an Assistant Professor of Studio Composition at West Chester University, teaching courses in music production, film and media scoring, and music entrepreneurship. He serves as co-director of the Center for Music Technology.
Devin has composed music for international ad campaigns, television programs, web-based media, and mobile applications. He has produced hundreds of bespoke compositions for brands including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Nestle, Samsung, Tide, and DraftKings. His television and streaming credits include Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Total Divas, The Real World, Catalyst (PBS), and Grand Benders (MTV Canada).
As a researcher, his work explores the intersections of music, ecology, sound spatialization, and the use of technology as a bridge between domains. Recent projects include Unheard Voices (2021), an immersive sound installation driven by environmental sensor data, and Roadside Apparition/Refracted Oasis (2020), a collaboration with painter Laura Spaulding Best, commissioned by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
Barry Atticks
Session Title: Preparing for a Career in the Music Industry: Why Music, Business, and Technology courses in college are not enough for success
Dr. Barry Atticks teaches music technology courses at Millersville University. Dr. Atticks holds degrees in Business Management/Piano (B.S.), Commercial Music Composition (M.M), Intelligence/Terrorism (M.S.) and Music Education (Ph.D) from Elizabethtown College, California State University-Los Angeles, American Public University and Penn State University, respectively. Additionally, he has studied music technology at Berklee College of Music and the University of Oslo. He has worked as a sound designer and a music engineer in New York, a sound effects editor for Sony Television in Los Angeles on shows such as “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman” (CBS), and as an assistant to composer Jeff Rona at Hans Zimmer’s Media Ventures on television shows such as “Chicago Hope” (CBS) and Steven Spielberg-produced “Profiler” (ABC). He has also appeared in television shows such as “Power Rangers,” “Beetle Borgs” and Showtime movies.
Anya Barrett
To Learn from All Poster
Anya Barrett attends Penn State University and is a junior Music Education major with an emphasis in flute. She is a member of the Penn State Blue Band where she plays the mellophone. Anya is a member of NAFME, Flute Club, Women* in Music, and President of the Penn State Drum and Fife Corps. The goal of her research is to show that every educator has knowledge and experience to learn from. A first year P.E teacher can teach you just as much as a band director that has been teaching for twenty-five years, you can learn from all.
Joe Belardo
Session Title: Understanding the Obstacles Artists Experience Presentation
Joe Belardo has been musically active since the 1990’s. He has been involved in artist management, development, production and even spent time as a freelance writer. He now dedicates his energy to sharing the knowledge and experience accumulated over the years for the purpose of enhancing the careers of a new generation of artists.
Zack Clark
Session Title: Wellness and Mindfulness for the Working Musician: On the road and in the classroom Presentation
Zack Clark is the Director of Programming at the Institute for Mindfulness-Based Wellness and Pedagogy, a Part-Time Instructor of Music Education at DePauw University, and a PhD Student in Music Education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Originally from California, Zack is a veteran educator with 9 years of classroom experience teaching band, choir, jazz band, and strings at the middle-school and high-school level. During this time, he specialized in incorporating Mindfulness principles into his classroom. He has since presented research, conference sessions, and workshops on Mindfulness in Music Education in California, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Washington D.C..
Shane Colquhoun, Ph.D
Session Title: Building a Bridge: Strategies for Unifying Music Education and the Music Industry
Shane Colquhoun, Ph.D., is a Grammy-nominated music educator with a diverse musical background in music education and production. Shane is the Assistant Professor of Music Technology and Contemporary Music Styles at Alabama State University. He is a member of NAfME’s Music Teacher Profession Advisory Committee and the Southern Division Chair for NAfME’s Council for Innovation. He has published in General Music Today, the Media Journal in Music Education, and is the author of The Producers of Pop: A Comprehensive Plan for Studying Popular Music Producer.
Jim Della Croce
Session Title: Breaking Into the Music Business on a National Level Presentation
Jim Della Croce is regarded as one of the music industry’s versatile professionals: a producer, artist manager, record executive, publicist, concert promoter/talent buyer, music publisher, journalist and music industry consultant. He steers the careers of major artists, represents important concert venues, record labels and produces hit records, award-winning TV shows, documentaries and videos. He owns Pathfinder Artists Management, The Press Office PR firm and Pathfinder Productions. He’s been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, The New York Times and appeared on ABC TV, Fox, TNN/The Nashville Network (with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson), Charlie Daniels’ Talent Round Up, VH-1’s Behind the Music, PBS and RFD-TV and major syndicated radio outlets worldwide. He is a native of the Pocono Mountains in PA and is headquartered in Delaware Water Gap, PA.
Jeremy dePrisco
Session Title: AI in the Music Industry Presentation
Jeremy dePrisco (aka Shivasongster) is a Pennsylvania musician, performer, and sound artist with a broad background in composition, performance, music technology, and event production. Jeremy presents workshops and solo and collaborative sound explorations throughout the Tristate area. Learn more at www.jeremydeprisco.com
Mark Despotakis
Session Title: Consider A Career in Music! Presentation
Mark Despotakis is the Director of Public and Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He handles the association’s policy development and government relations efforts around music education issues, educates members about policy and advocacy, and works with a variety of parties to advance the association’s mission of advancing comprehensive and innovative music education through promoting effective instruction, providing meaningful learning experiences, and ensuring impactful and equitable music engagement for all.
Previously Mark was the Director of Market Development at Progressive Music in Pittsburgh, PA where he handled marketing and finance for the company that focused on serving school music programs.
Prior to working at Progressive Music, Mark spent time at CNN Newsource in Washington D.C. Currently, Mark serves on the SupportMusic Coalition Steering Committee, is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC), and Western Pennsylvania’s Tournament of Bands, a member of the National Association for Music Education’s Advocacy Leadership Force, and serves on the UniSound Pittsburgh Steering Committee. Previously he was a member of the NAMM Board of Directors and President of NAMM Young Professionals. He also teaches the woodwinds for the McKeesport Area High School marching band.
Mark graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communication.
Tanner Deyo
Poster title: Learning Music without Learning Music
Tanner is currently a 3rd year Music Education major at Penn State University. He holds the position of principal trumpet player in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and serves as a Music Section Leader and Treasurer for the Penn State Marching Blue Band. Additionally, Tanner is the Founder and President of the Trumpet Choir at Penn State. Beyond his musical pursuits, Tanner is passionate about utilizing 3D design software. In the past year, he launched ConcertOrder LLC, a small business dedicated to creating affordable and accessible products from 3D plastics. His initiative aims to enhance music education quality, particularly in under-funded communities across the nation.
Dain Estes
Session Title: Preparing for a Career in the Music Industry: Why Music, Business, and Technology courses in college are not enough for success
Dain Estes has a diverse background as a songwriter, musician, recording artist, and music industry professional. Born in Kansas City, he signed his first record deal at the age of 19 and went on to release a number of nationally distributed recordings on various independent labels and independently. Dain’s songs have been licensed to numerous television shows, films, and commercials. As a touring musician, he has performed throughout the United States and supported a diverse group of artists including the legendary rock act Journey, the Gin Blossoms, and Grammy nominee Abra Moore. After releasing seven albums and ten years of relentless touring, Dain earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 2011, he co-founded the Vinefield Agency, an artist management/booking agency based in Denver, Colorado. Dain has spoken at various music industry events, consulted creative businesses on intellectual property issues, and has managed the careers of signed and independent artists.
Robert Freeman
Session Title: MOOCs as Viable Alternative Options for Performance-Based Music Educator Professional Development
I’ve taught for over half my life at the Middle and High School levels (6-12). This time includes my first year as a teacher, my senior year of High School, and my undergraduate degree. My first two degrees (Bachelor’s and Master’s) were focused on music education. In 2021, I started work on my second Master’s in learning design and technology. I have been a low brass lessons instructor, a Middle School/High School general music teacher, a band and orchestra instructor throughout Indiana (along with Arizona and Colorado), and an associate professor of music at Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana. I am currently a Ph.D. student in Learning Design and Technology at Purdue University; I am also part of the Grant and Allocation Committee for the Purdue Graduate Student Council and co-chair of the workshop committee for the Graduate Student Education Council.
El G.Nie
Session Titles: Consultation Session with Dr. José Valentino & El G.Nie
From Global Hip Hop to Artist Management: Lessons Learned & Implications for Aspiring Music Industry Students
Mastering Hip Hop and Spoken Word: Crafting Powerful Lyrics with El G.Nie
Eliezer Gabriel Nieves, known professionally as El G.Nie, is a distinguished Latin hip hop artist, multi-Global Music® Award-winning producer and lyricist, internationally touring spoken word poet, author, and Latin GRAMMY® award-winning album executive. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Puerto Rican parents, El G.Nie infuses a refreshing East Coast sound with Latin American rhythms, bilingual flows, and a signature Nuyorican flavor, drawing comparisons to Big Pun, Vico C, and Don Omar. His dynamic artistry as a rapper and music educator, combined with his collaborative efforts with Hillsborough County Commissioners and the Chief Administrator of Human Resources, has inspired hope and promise in the next generation of aspiring creative professionals.
Jacob Gibson
Session Title: Exploring Relationships Between Music Stores and School Programs: A Review of Literature
Jacob Gibson is a western Pennsylvanian native. He has earned a B.A. in Music Education with a concentration in Saxophone Performance from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. While teaching in Pennsylvania as a Middle and High School Band Director, he also earned a M.M. degree in Music Education from SUNY at Fredonia. Current research interests include social justice, music store relationships, and sociological music education. He specializes in Concert Band/Wind Ensemble and Jazz band instruction. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at Kent State University in music education. Jacob lives happily with his wife Katy, an elementary music educator, and their 3 year-old daughter, Joelle, and 5 month old, Maizie.
Lawrence Grey
Session Title: Preparing Students for Creative and Technical Careers in Music and Audio Presentation
Lawrence Grey is a lifelong musician, a dedicated educator, and a tireless proponent of music education in schools. Lawrence is the founder of YPG and serves as the head of curriculum development by designing innovative, engaging curricula that reflect the interests and lived experiences of students. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from New York University (NYU), a Masters Degree in Education from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and as an Ableton Certified Trainer, Lawrence’s unique position singularly qualifies him to create curricula and lead a team of forward-thinking educators.
Mike Gruver
Session Title: Integration of Music Industry Courses and Pathways into High School Music Education Presentation
Michael Gruver holds the role of K12 Music Curriculum Coordinator within the Central Bucks School District, the fourth largest district in Pennsylvania boasting 42 exceptional music educators. With experience teaching across elementary, middle, and high school levels, Mike specializes in developing new course curricula that focus on music career pathways. His expertise extends to scheduling, staffing, and designing course offerings that enhance the traditional music ensemble structure at the high school level.
Mr. Gruver also leads CB Groove Cuts, a rock band ensemble encompassing Central Bucks East, West, and South high schools. The Groove Cuts are renowned for their performances within the school community and had the privilege of playing at MusikFest ’23 last summer.
Sarah Gulish, Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Session titles: School of Disrupters: Approaching Entreprenurship Through the Lens of Equity and Disruption, A Live Podcast Taping
Releasing Music: A Guide for Launching Creative Works at any Level
Teach Music Tech and Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of the Music Industry
Sarah Gulish is an active songwriter and musician, performing original music with her band, New Enemies, and composing and writing for film and musical theater. She is the co-founder and CEO of the music education publishing company, F-Flat Books, and is on a mission to empower music educators to create and collaborate to involve all learners in a quality music education. She is also the co-founder of Songwriting for Music Educators alongside her co-presenter Kat Reinhert. She holds a BMED from Temple University, and MED from Cabrini College and a Ph.D in music education from Temple University. She is a presenter, researcher, writer, songwriter, and recording artist. Sarah Gulish has taught songwriting at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Her credits include releases with New Enemies and Turning Violet Violet as well as contributions to the Broadway Musical, “Amazing Grace.”
Look for Sarah’s performance with New Enemies at Leiderplatz on the North Side of Musikfest!
Mike Hunter
Session Title: Synthesis and Sound Design Presentation
Mike Hunter records electronic music under the moniker “Ombient” (ombient.com), produces/hosts the WPRB 103.3FM radio program “Music With Space” (musicwithspace.com) and is the President of the Board of Directors at The Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project. (emeapp.org)
Curtis Johnson
Session Title: Authentic Marketing in an AI World, Human Connectivity
Curtis is the founder of CreativeLikeUs, a creative agency located in Allentown focused on brand management and digital marketing. He has a history of working with a wide variety of clients, with a particular track record in entertainment and destination marketing. Curtis has dozens of past projects under his belt working with Discover Lehigh Valley and ArtsQuest at his original agency, 4O1! Creative.
He’ll be presenting with longtime client and friend Michael Mcreary, a relationship that spans almost 20 years. Their history of managing the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix and HangDog Outdoor Adventure brands has made them experts in marketing FUN.
Curtis is particularly interested in the role of AI in the creative process. He views AI as a starting point rather than the finish line, emphasizing the importance of the human touch to truly make something authentic (like the writing of this bio 😉). He plans to share various scenarios in which AI has been a boost to efficiency and effectiveness, as well as ones that are simply cringe-worthy. It should be fun!
Gerard Longo
Session Title: Perfect Your Pitch: Building Authentic Connections as an Independent Artist Presentation
Gerard Longo is the Founder/CEO of Underground Music Collective (UMC), a Nashville-based educational and multimedia platform serving the music industry and independent creatives, everywhere. For more than a decade, UMC has impacted thousands of musicians, creatives, and industry stakeholders through multimedia content, live music experiences, and the UMC Academy artist coaching program.
Under Gerard’s leadership, UMC has collaborated with nationally and globally-recognized brands, including Universal Music Group, Red Bull, the Tennessee Titans, Creative Artists Agency, Liberty Tax, Helping Our Music Evolve, and Redfin Real Estate. Gerard has been featured across major media outlets including iHeartRadio, Fox News Digital, MusicRow Magazine, and Authority Magazine; and has spearheaded media coverage at major events, festivals, and venues across the U.S., including Nashville’s Big Bash, AmericanaFest, Ryman Auditorium, Musikfest, and many more.
Kevin Longwill
Session Title: Redefining the School Music Community through Music Industry Programming: A Live Student Demonstration Presentation
Kevin Longwill is an educator, musician, and producer based in Abington, PA. He is a member of the music faculty of the Abington School District, where he serves as the director for the district’s music industry program, M3; as well as student-run record label, M3 Records. Additionally, Kevin is an adjunct faculty at the University of the Arts, focusing on music education and music industry programming for graduate students.
Mike McCreary
Session Title: Authentic Marketing in an AI World, Human Connectivity
Mike McCreary is the CEO of Fun!
Kimberly McGlonn
Session Title: School of Disrupters: Approaching Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of Equity and Disruption, A Live Podcast Taping Presentation
Dr. Kimberly McGlonn is an advocate for justice & environmentalism, advocacy that informs her approach to leadership in the fashion industry. As Founder & CEO of the manufacturing start-up Grant Blvd ®, she oversees the creative direction and growth strategy of the brand. Grant Blvd’s mission is to construct stylish, sustainably sourced fashion by creating living wage jobs for women, particularly those who are formerly incarcerated. Founded in 2017, Grant Blvd is the first Black-owned B Corp in North America in the fashion space. Outside of these roles, Kimberly disrupts via her second company, the thrift/vintage concept Blk Ivy, which tells the story of fashion as activism through a curation of garments which amplify the style of 1954-1972, her podcast “The School for Disrupters”, and her role as faculty member of Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.
Keith Quelet
Session Title: Future Proof Your Music Classroom or Studio Presentation
Keith Quelet is a music teacher, songwriter, recording engineer, and performer. He taught music in the Bethlehem Area School District for 26 years. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Philadelphia Chapter of the Audio Engineering Society and the AES Education Committee. He was published by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in an article about creating a school student-run Record Company. Keith promotes recording and guitar education through workshops (Moravian U. Oct. 2023). He established a premier guitar ensemble at East Hills Middle School and has performed at Musikfest, Christkindlmarkt, Martin on Main with students and with his performing group, “Keith, John & Sue.” Keith has released 2 albums of his original music with the group.
Clint Randles & Members of The Holly Drive Collective, Hometown: Tampa, FL
Session title: Music Teacher as Music Producer: Exploring the Intersection of Music Industry and Music Education
Clint Randles is Professor of Music Education and Co-Director of Contemporary Commercial Music at the University of South Florida School of Music where he teaches classes on songwriting, music production, and creative performance at the undergraduate level and research, learner-centered pedagogy, philosophy, and creativities at the graduate level. His albums “Detroit” and “Open Roads” (Smiling Tiger Records) are available on all of the streaming services.
The Holly Drive Collective is an eclectic group of musicians who perform original music that runs the gamut of popular music—hip-hop, rock, folk, and R&B seasoned with some homegrown soul and funk. The group is made up of members of the Contemporary Commercial Music program and the various vocal and instrumental studios in the School of Music. They share songs, ideas, and inspiration through their live performances and recordings.
Look for Holly Drive’s performance at Americaplatz at the Levitt Pavilion and USF DJs at Town Square on the South Side of Musikfest!
Kat Reinhert, Hometown: New York, NY
Session title (co-presented with Sarah Gulish): Releasing Music: A Guide for Launching Creative Works at any Level
Kat Reinhert splits her time between songwriting, performing, teaching and writing. As a solo artist, she has released five independent albums and sung on multiple artist projects. Her credits include jingles, Sesame Street, and a catalog of five full albums and eight singles. She is the co-founder of Songwriting for Music Educators alongside her co-presenter Sarah Gulish. Reinhert is also a sought-after clinician, speaker, and researcher. She holds a BM in Jazz/Commercial Voice from The Manhattan School of Music, and an MM in Jazz Pedagogy, and a Ph.D. in Music Education, specializing in Popular Music Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Miami Frost School of Music. She is currently a Full Professor of Songwriting at Berklee School of Music in Boston as well as Berklee NYC.
Look for Kat’s performance at Zinzenplatz on the North Side of Musikfest!
Jamey Roberti
Session Title: Writing a book about a rapper: MF DOOM Poster
Jamey “Numoon” Roberti is a creative and artistic rapper and author of Hip Hop content. He
holds professional experience in education and corporate America along with a Master’s Degree in Education. His music is largely influenced by theatric and lyrical artists such as MF DOOM, Janelle Monae, and Talib Kweli. Along with his book about MF DOOM, he has had multiple articles published on the blog “Hip Hop Since 1987”.
Maija Rowland
Session Title: Understanding the Obstacles Artists Experience Presentation
Maija Rowland is a “Jill of all trades”. While she has performed duties at local events as a Vendor Coordinator or an Event Assistant, a lot of her presence is spent in talent management and booking talent for various services. Her compassion to be a servant of the community has helped individuals and organizations reach unimaginable goals.
