Archives: Speakers

Karim Nagi

Musician and Teaching Artist, K.M.P. Ltd Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian and Muslim immigrant to the U.S., uniting the Arab tradition with the global contemporary world. He has released fourteen CDs and several instructional DVDs for the Tabla/Doumbek, Riqq tambourine, Maqam & Taqsim, Drum Solo for Dance, and Arab Folk Dance. Karim's Arabiqa program... Bio Details →

Laura Lo Forti

Co-Director, Vanport Mosaic Laura Lo Forti is a multimedia producer, cultural organizer, and a “story midwife” supporting communities in defining how their stories should be told and shared. She is the co-founder and co-director of Vanport Mosaic, a memory activism platform that amplifies, honors, and preserves the silenced histories that surround us, in order to... Bio Details →

Kevin Jones

Executive Director, The Red Door Project Kevin Jones is the Artistic Director, CEO, and co-founder of The Red Door Project, a non-profit organization that uses art to change the racial ecology of Portland. The Red Door Project has been the recipient of Portland Monthly’s “Best New Nonprofit Award” and the Regional Arts and Culture Council’s... Bio Details →

Regina Carter

Violinist Grammy nominated, MacArthur Fellow, and Doris Duke Artist Award recipient, violinist Regina Carter has been widely hailed for her mastery of her instrument and her drive to expand its possibilities. She tours with her own group and has appeared frequently as a guest soloist with jazz ensembles as well as symphony orchestras. Regina is... Bio Details →

Jennifer Bowman

Director of Music Education, The Kennedy Center As Director of Music Education at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Jennifer Bowman is responsible for developing educational programs for the Kennedy Center in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and the Center's hip hop, jazz, and chamber... Bio Details →

Roderick Vester

Director of Contemporary Music and Assistant Professor of Music, Shenandoah Conservatory Pianist |  Consultant  When Rod Vester discovered the piano, at the age of five, his fascination with the instrument, and later the organ, created a lifelong passion for music education and theory. Dr. Vester is an educator, researcher, entrepreneur, pianist, organist, composer, conductor, and... Bio Details →

Janet Rarick

Associate Professor of Music Career Development, Rice University Oboist Janet Rarick is associate professor of music career development at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, where she coaches chamber music, teaches classes in professional development and performance skills, and directs outreach activities. She is also program administrator for the school's Music Career and Skills Enhancement... Bio Details →

Kaisha S. Johnson

Founding Director Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA) Kaisha S. Johnson is the Founding Director of Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA), a national service network dedicated to creating racial equity in the performing arts. Kaisha co-founded WOCA to provide a platform to give voice and visibility to women of color, to help... Bio Details →

Toyin Spellman-Diaz

Educator, Oboist Imani Winds Oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz is a founding member of Imani Winds. As an orchestral musician, Toyin has performed in the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Orpheus, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. She has performed solo works with the Chicago Civic Orchestra,... Bio Details →

Angela Myles Beeching

Career Consultant, Author Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music Author of “Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music," Angela Myles Beeching also writes the popular weekly blog ‘Monday Bytes’ and the ‘Angela Answers’ column for Chamber Music magazine. She formerly directed the career and entrepreneurship programs at Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, and... Bio Details →