Dr. LaSaundra Booth is an accomplished arts leader and teaching artist. She is founder and executive director of the Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra (WFCYO), a non-profit organization that provides expert orchestral instruction and free instruments to youth living in rural and under-resourced communities. Under her leadership, WFCYO grew from 3 students to over 350 within three years. In addition to working with youth, Dr. Booth is an adjunct music professor at Winston-Salem State University. She also serves on the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) Council for Orchestra Education, where she is heavily involved in implementing diversity initiatives within K-12 string orchestra classrooms. Dr. Booth is a creative innovator who received a patent for a music instruction apparatus for string instruments (USPTO# 20140260902). She is a member of Sphinx LEAD(Leaders in Excellence, Arts & Diversity), a 2-year professional empowerment program designed to evolve the landscape of arts leadership. In addition to music education, Dr. Booth is passionate about cooking. She is the author of Meals for Musicians: Delicious meals suited for your busy lifestyle. She is excited to bring her love for cooking and delicious recipes to THAW!

Chelsea Dehner is the Lower Moreland High School Choir Director in Huntingdon Valley, PA and has been a music educator for 12 years with experience in K-12 vocal/general and instrumental music. She has her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a concentration in voice from Moravian College ’08 and her Master’s in Education from Cabrini College ’14. At Lower Moreland, Chelsea teaches Concert Choir, Piano Lab, Singing & Vocalization and Beginning Guitar. She leads the Honor, Treble and Bass Choirs, serves as the LMHS Drama Club Spring Musical Vocal and Pit Director, and holds the position of PMEA District 11 High School Professional Development Chair. You can find her performing with “The Hoppin’ John Orchestra,” “The Bux-Mont Camerata Chorus,” the LMHS Teacher Band, “Staff Infection,” or working at her new adventure of songwriting under the direction of Dr. Kat Reinhert. Chelsea is a certified Yoga Instructor ’18 and loves to laugh, spend time with friends and family, and play with her dog Lala!

Jessica Grant has been a music educator for twenty years with fourteen years in the elementary music classroom and six in the middle school general classroom. She is the Middle School Music Teacher at Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.  Jessica is the creator and host of the Afternoon Ti Podcast, which focuses on teacher education and health topics. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and Masters of Music in Music Education from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She has is certified in both Orff and Kodály. Jessica lives in Dallas, TX with her husband Jeremy, daughters Riley and Julia, and their little maltipoo Valentino (Val).

Danielle E. Larrick is a musician-educator in her 14th year of teaching who believes in the value of middle school music as a means of identity, expression, and connection. She focuses on designing practical, innovative, and engaging music curricula for middle school students. Danielle received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, with a concentration in Voice, from Temple University. Upon graduation, she served as the K-8 music teacher in an urban Philadelphia Charter School for two years. During this time she formed an after-school vocal ensemble and worked with local non-profits, such as Musicopia, to provide additional musical experiences for her students. She currently teaches at Gerald Huesken Middle School, where she directs the 7th and 8th grade choirs and teaches general music. In 2016, she earned a Master of Music in Music Education from The University of the Arts.  Danielle is the author of Middle School General Music: A Guidebook to Navigating the Unknown. She share support and advice for teachers on her Instagram account, @musicalmiddles. 

Dr. Tara Nayak is a naturopathic physician practicing in Philadelphia, PA. She offers personalized medicine most often to address hormone balance, anxiety, and digestive disorders (though all patients are welcome)! Dr. Nayak is a Temple University Alumnus who went on to graduate from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. After completing a residency at the Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine, she opened up a private practice in the Fishtown section of the city. Dr. Nayak strives to work WITH the body to restore balance rather than suppressing symptoms. Botanical medicines, nutrition, homeopathy, and lifestyle modifications are her cornerstones for healing and well being. In addition to private practice, Dr. Nayak is a cofounder of Feminology, a company providing free resources and naturopathic health information for women of all ages and backgrounds.

Suzanne, founder of The Rock/Star Advocate, is a mindset and productivity coach for music professionals. With a degree in Music Business as well as a Master’s in Psychology, she thrives in helping creatives reach their goals with custom goal-setting and time management solutions that enable them to gain clarity on their next steps while maintaining a healthy work/life balance. She published her first book, The Rock/Star Life Planner, now in its 2021 edition, as a tool for creatives to find focus in their daily lives (www.therockstaradvocate.com/planner). Her teachings can be found in her podcast – The Music-Preneur Mindset – and her many guest posts for Rising Tide, Sonicbids, Thrive, Tunecore, and Soundfly.

Jessica Peresta is passionate about mentoring elementary music teachers. Jessica earned the Top Music Education Major award for her graduating class, and upon earning her Bachelors in Music Education from Oral Roberts University, she started her first teaching position in the middle of the school year at a low-income elementary school in Tulsa, OK. Having few resources and teaching materials, Jessica was asked to restart the music program which had been non-existent for 7 years. Over the next several years, Jessica created her own curriculum map and developed lesson plans that met her students where they were at. During her second year of teaching, she won the Teacher of the Year and Teacher of Today awards. Jessica started The Domestic Musician website, the HARMONY membership site, as well as The Elementary Music Teacher podcast as a way to help elementary music teachers beat the overwhelm and get back to teaching music with joy.

Presenter and author, Jen Rafferty began her career as a middle school music teacher in Central New York. Jen brings her energy, humor, and expertise to all professional development workshops. She is known for her practical ideas and passion in her presentations while inspiring teachers to stay connected to their “why.” Jen currently serves as the Co-chair of the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Secondary Classroom Committee, a member of the advocacy committee, and is the President of the Cortland County Music Teachers Association. She earned a B.M. in music education and vocal performance, an M.M. in music education from Ithaca College, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in educational psychology. Jen is frequently invited to conduct elementary and middle school choirs throughout New York State. Additionally, in 2020 she founded Sing Together, a national virtual singing community of singers of all ages and abilities. Her most recent publication is A Place in the Staff: Finding Your Way as a Music Teacher, available on Amazon.

Originally from a small town in southern Wisconsin, Kat Reinhert moved to New York City in 1996 to attend the famed Manhattan School of Music, where she earned a Bachelors degree in Jazz/Commercial Voice. After graduation, she continued to hone her craft on the New York jazz scene as well as develop an interest and passion in education. In 2005, seeking a new challenge, Kat pursued a Masters degree in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. Reinhert recorded two albums: Spark, released in 2015 to critical acclaim containing twelve original songs and a Rush cover, and Home Movie, released in 2017, containing nine creative interpretations of folk songs, covers and jazz standards. Concomitant with these releases, Reinhert obtained a PhD in Music Education, specializing in Popular Music Performance and Pedagogy in Higher Education, at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. Kat is currently supporting her latest release of original songs from her fifth album.

Michelle Rose teaches middle & high school music at North Carolina Virtual Academy. She also directs the after school virtual band and choir. Michelle holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Performance (flute) from Elon University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Education from The University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She is a teacher-author and blogger at themusicalrose.com. Michelle has been a presenter at several conferences and has been a guest speaker for pre-service music teachers at colleges across the country. In her free time, she enjoys baking, sewing, and going on walks with her dog Tovy (short for Beethoven).

Internationally-acclaimed recording and performing artist, Dr. José Valentino Ruiz is an EMMY® Award Winner, a multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning artist-producer-engineer, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, missionary, and educator known for his passionate performances, versatility, and fluid expression on the flute, saxophone, bass, and Latin percussion. José Valentino has worked for American Idol and X-Factor, produced 60 albums, scored 30+ nationally-televised commercials, & performed in over 1100 concerts. He is CEO/Director of Production & Entertainment for JV Music Enterprises LLC., Strategic Communications Director for TJ Flutes & Saxophones UK Co., Artist-in-Residence and Entrepreneurship Coach for the nationally-recognized music outreach program – Diaz Music Institute (501c3), Composer for MVProds & Hayden 5 Inc., and Head of Music Business & Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida.

Nathaniel Strawbridge is a graduate of the University of South Florida, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. He teaches general music at Crestwood Elementary School in Hillsborough County, in Tampa Florida, and is an Adjunct World Drumming and Music Education Professor at the University of Tampa. At Crestwood, Nathaniel’s fifth grade World Drumming Ensemble has been featured regionally and nationally with performances at the 16th Annual, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents,(ALAS), Education Conference, (2019), The Gasparilla Music Festival, (2018 & 2017), Conga Caliente Hispanic Art and Cultural Festival, (2016-Present), Florida Music Educator’s Association Professional Development Conference, (2014 & 2007), the National Association of Elementary School Principals Convention and Exposition, (2011), and the Council of the Great City Schools, “The Nations Voice of Urban Education,” 54th Annual Conference, (2010). Nathaniel is a composer, arranger, transcriber, performer, drum circle facilitator, workshop clinician, consultant, and teacher mentor. Nathaniel enjoys leading student and community groups of all ages and backgrounds in “drum circle experiences,” which, in the drum circle setting, guides participants through a “musical journey” of expression, collaboration, and improvisation.

Martina Vasil is Assistant Professor of Music Education and the Director of the Music Education Summer Institute at the University of Kentucky, which includes education in Modern Band, Orff Schulwerk, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She teaches undergraduate courses in general music methods and graduate courses in music education research and popular music education. Prior to her appointment at UK, Dr. Vasil taught K–8 general music and 4–8 instrumental music (band and strings) in Pennsylvania, working in parochial and public charter schools in rural, suburban, and urban areas. She currently teaches preK–6 music at Lexington Montessori School. Dr. Vasil is Vice President of the Association for Popular Music Education and serves on the editorial board of The Orff Echo, the national journal of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA).  Dr. Vasil’s primary research interests center on popular music education, Orff Schulwerk, and music teacher education. For her dissertation, she examined how teachers integrated both popular music and informal music learning practices into their secondary music classes to enact change in music education.