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Register by October 17 to Secure Your Spot!
| Registration Type | Member Price |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (Sept. 11-Oct.3) | $750 |
| General Registration (Oct. 4-Oct.17) | $850 |
Speakers
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Michael J. Bobbitt joined OPERA America as President and CEO in January 2026. A nationally recognized arts executive, producer, and artist, his career bridges public policy, organizational...
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Dr. Emily Isaacson is a conductor, composer, and producer who is fiercely committed to reimagining classical music for the world today. She is founder and artistic director of Classical Uprising, a...
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Ensemble Work I have been fortunate—through both hard work and learning from experience—to gain knowledge about investment risks and rewards over the years. One of my favorite quotes is from Albert...
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Originally from Quito-Ecuador, Veronica Bedon Garcia has called Minneapolis home for the past 25 years, where she has devoted herself to raising her two daughters with her husband while building...
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Eyleen Braaten is the Executive Director of Giving Voice Initiative, where she leads a growing national movement to create dementia-friendly choruses that bring joy, connection, and purpose to people...
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Joseph Caulkins is known for adventurous programming, world premieres, and imaginative collaborations. That same spirit informs his work as a freelance writer and accomplished alpinist, shaping a...
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Ensemble Work I've spent the better part of my career driving business development and growth within the financial services space. First at Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor, Sales Manager, and...
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Gramophone Magazine has praised Shawn Crouch as a “gifted composer,” while The New York Times describes his music as “gnarling atonal energy.” The Miami Herald hailed his Road from Hiroshima: A...
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Mary Ann East has been with Encore Creativity for Older Adults since August 2018 when she began conducting the Encore Chorale at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads. In September of 2019 Mary Ann became...
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With 15 years of leadership experience in the professional arts industry, Rhett M. Del Campo focuses on increasing organizations’ impact through sustainable partnerships and cultures that provide high...
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Government Affairs Specialist
Amy Fitterer is a dynamic leader in association management, government affairs, and the performing arts. She has consulted for OPERA America and Partners in Performance, supporting advocacy and...
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Alex Gartner is the Artistic & Executive Director of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus (PCC). Under his leadership since 2016, PCC’s programs have expanded to include 14 ensembles and unique initiatives...
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Georgina Chinchilla Gonzalez (she/her) serves as Executive Director of ComMUSICation, a music youth development organization based in St. Paul that is focused on making high-quality afterschool music...
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Erin Guinup is a conductor, composer, and arts consultant whose work bridges cultures and builds communities through music. She currently serves Director of Puget Sound Singers at the University of...
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Andrew Hansen brings 15 years of nonprofit experience to his role as Executive Director of Pacific Youth Choir, one of the West Coast's premier youth choral programs. He gets it—the hustle of managing...
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Courtney Huffman, MSOL, CFRE, currently serves as the Executive Director of Kantorei. Courtney is a nonprofit executive and arts advocate with more than a decade of experience leading cultural...
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Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) is a New York City-based musician, producer, and activist whose work sits at the vital intersection of classical music, Black liberation, composer advocacy, and...
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Mark W. Lawson is CEO of ECS Publishing Group, parent company for E.C. Schirmer, Galaxy Music Corporation, MorningStar Music Publishers and the ARSIS Audio recording label. Mr. Lawson has been active...
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Chris McCormick is Senior Director of Classical Music in the Creative department at BMI, working from their New York City office. Chris oversees royalty distributions for orchestral and large ensemble...
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Upstage CEO
Drew McManus may be UpStage’s CEO but don’t let that title fool you into thinking he’s just a tech geek. Unlike traditional tech leaders, Drew brings 30 years of specialized arts consulting expertise...
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Jared Mikach is a Mexican American collaborative pianist and educator in the Twin Cities. He earned a B.A. in Music from St. Olaf College, and a Master’s Degree in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at...
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Nicole Schwartz Navratil is a composer, lyricist, yoga teacher, and performer based in Minneapolis. She holds a BM in Vocal and Choral Music Education from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities...
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Dr. Matthew Naylor is the President and CEO of the National WWI Museum and Memorial located in Kansas City, Mo., U.S.A. Naylor began his tenure at the Museum and Memorial in June 2013 and possesses...
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Former Managing Director, Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media
Brian Newhouse is the former managing director of Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media’s classical programming, reaching a national audience of five million listeners each week. He holds...
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Jonas Rasmussen (b. 1992) is a Danish conductor, composer, content creator and educator, widely recognized for his ability to combine artistic ambition with playfulness and accessibility. He serves as...
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Mahogany Robinson (she/her/hers) is a current undergraduate student at The University of Minnesota Twin Cities, studying Business and Marketing Education. So far, her work has consisted of youth...
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Originally from Colombia, Natalia Romero Arbeláez is an experienced music educator, conductor, and community builder. As an educator, she thrives in the intersection of academic and applied music...
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Jazmin Salaberrios is a soprano, teaching artist, and educator whose career bridges performance, education, and community engagement. With more than sixteen years of professional vocal experience, she...
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Liana Salinas is a Nicaraguan-American choral conductor, music educator, and entrepreneur based in Miami, Florida. She serves as Executive Artistic Director of the Miami Children’s Chorus (MCC), an...
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Carey Shunskis is the Music and Program Director of ComMUSICation, a nonprofit based in St Paul, MN dedicated to amplifying young voices and cultivating skills for success through equitable access to...
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Dr. Pearl Shangkuan has been described as one whose “work as a conductor, educator, and scholar is celebrated globally, and her leadership continues to inspire musicians and choral communities...
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Sarah Shoffner (she/her) is a senior performing arts executive with deep experience leading mission-driven cultural institutions through growth, financial discipline, and governance evolution. She...
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Ben A. Spalding is one of the most exciting professional choral conductors of his generation — an exemplary conductor, creative programmer, composer, arranger, keyboard artist, and arts entrepreneur...
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Brittney Stanton is a conductor, music educator, and arts advocate who believes in the power of music and creativity to transform lives. With over 14 years of experience in arts education and...
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Timothy Westerhaus, D.M.A., serves as Director of Choral Studies at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and as Artistic Director of Choral Arts Northwest in Seattle. From 2010 to 2021, he served...
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Amy Wielunski joined VocalEssence as Executive Director in 2024, bringing with her 22 years of non-profit experience at organizations with local, state-wide, and national reach. Before joining...
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William has done youth work and development since he was 8 years old. He started off working with Vision In Living Life youth count program at Aurora St.Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation...
Performers
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Border CrosSing is an award-winning, Minnesota-based, choral arts nonprofit. Our mission is to cross borders through choral music. Founded in 2017 by Artistic Director Ahmed Anzaldúa, we envision a...
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Now in its 31st season, the “engaging” (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is widely celebrated for its warmth, blend, and innovative programming. The Washington Post praises its “exalting finesse”...
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MPLS (imPulse) builds choral communities by performing living music, embracing the singer experience, and fostering novel collaborations. We are dedicated to stretching the boundaries of tradition and...
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One Voice Mixed Chorus is Minnesota’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and straight allies chorus, with a mission of building community and creating social change by raising our voices in...
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Based in Minneapolis–St. Paul and led by Artistic Director Dr. Jennaya Robison, the National Lutheran Choir celebrates, invigorates, and expands sacred choral music for people of diverse faiths and...
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The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists have shared their inspiring artistry and community impacts through remarkable performances for over twenty years. Audiences have come to recognize their peerless...
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For 57 years, VocalEssence has provided opportunities for singers from the Twin Cities area to create incredible music together and build connections as part of the vibrant arts community in Minnesota...
