Musikfest Music Industry and Education Conference

August 1 & 2 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Doors: 9:30 a.m.

Venue: Fowler Blast Furnace Room

Price:
Full conference: $90
Thursday only: $50
Friday Only: $50
Student Price: $40
Add a Musikest Mug & single general admission ticket to a Mainstage show: $20

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Join us for a two-day dynamic event focused on the intersection of music education, popular music and business leadership. The event promises to be an immersive experience designed to inspire, educate and connect. The conference will take place on August 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Blast Furnace at the ArtsQuest Center located at 101 Founders Way, in Bethlehem.

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.

F-flat Annual Back to School Symposium

Online Event – Saturday, August 3 10 a.m.

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ArtsQuest is excited to partner with F-flat Books to offer a day of extended professional development in an online format on Saturday, August 3rd at the F-flat Annual Back to School Symposium (FABSS). If you are interested in registering for FABSS, you can add it on to your registration for a pay what you wish fee.

Professional Development certificates will be available to all attendees after the conference. Information on how to access the certificates will be sent at a later date.

Speakers

José Valentino Ruiz- Keynote Speaker, Hometown: Gainesville, FL

Session titles: TBA

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.

José Valentino’s international awards span from music, business, entrepreneurship, digital media production, communications, education: four GRAMMY® Awards (2022 Best Latin Children’s Album, 2022 Best Christian Album in Spanish Language, 2020 Best Contemporary Classical Composition, and 2019 Best Christian Album in Spanish Language); three GRAMMY® Award Nominations (2023 Best Instrumental Album; 2016 Best Instrumental Album; and 2015 Best Latin Jazz Album); EMMY® Award (2018 Best Cultural Documentary); two International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences’ Anthem® Award (2024 & 2023 Education, Art, and Culture—Best Strategy); Gospel Music Association’s DOVE® Award (2022 Spanish Language of the Year); Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business® Award (2022 Advertising company); Inc. Magazine’s Power Partner® Award (2022 B2B company); and Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Company® Award (2022 Video Agency).

Unprecedentedly, Valentino has amassed ten GLOBAL GENIUS® Award (2024 Grand Prix® Award; 2024 Season Top 1 Prize®, 2024 Platinum® Prize for Concerto, 2024 Platinum® Prize for Composition, 2024 Platinum® Prize for Chamber Music, 2024 Platinum® Prize for Jazz, 2024 Platinum® Prize for Technical Mastery Genius® Special Award; 2022-2024 Outstanding Teacher Award); the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts’ 2023 The Communicator® Award (Consumer Marketing & Communication: Film & Video–Use of Music); twenty four GLOBAL MUSIC® Awards (2023 Global Choir Álbum; 2023 Instrumentalist (Gold); 2023 Recording/Production (Gold); 2023 Jazz Fusion Album; 2023 Concept (x2); 2023 Creativity/Originality (x2); 2023 Duo Album; 2023 Latin Jazz Album; 2023 Instrumentalist; 2023 Jazz Performance (x2); 2023 Christmas Album; 2022 Contemporary Classical Album (x2); 2022 Mixed-Genre Album; 2022 Alternative Music Album; 2022 Vocal Jazz Album; 2022 Experimental Music Album; 2022 Nuevo Flamenco Album; 2022 Funk Fusion Album; 2018 Album of the Year; 2018 Meditation Music Album); and the International Singer-Songwriters Association Award® (2023 Best International Female Album of the Year); three 2024 Erik Satie International Music Competition Prizes (Diamond Prize® for Concerto “Found Connections”, Platinum Prize® for Original Composition for “Highland Serenade”, and Excellent Creativity Special Prize® for Video Production); two 2024 UK International Music CompetitionPrizes (Absolute First Prize® in Original Composition for “Highland Serenade”; Master Prize® for Concerto for “Found Connection”; and the 2024 Beethoven-DaVinci International Music Competition Grand Prize® Award (overall best performer of the competition) and Platinum Prize® Award for Concerto performance (featured artist for “Found Connections” Concerto for Multi-Instrumentalist and Wind Symphony).

Moreover, José Valentino has received fifty-three Downbeat Music® Awards (record holder as competitor and adjudicator from 2006–2022 in the categories of Jazz Soloist, Small Jazz Group, Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist, Blues/Pop/Rock Group, Latin Group, Engineered Studio Recording, Engineered Live Recording, & Classical Soloist); two Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts’ Davey® Award (2023 Film/Video: Education; 2022 Virtual & Remote Experiences); four Association for Marketing & Communication Professionals’ Audio Visual Arts Digital® Awards (2024 Platinum for Televised Boardcast; 2023 Platinum, 2023 Gold, and 2022 Gold for Long Form Music Videos); Yamaha Young Performing Artist® Award (2006 Flute); five United Kingdom Music Industry® Awards, ARPA® Award (Best Male Vocal Album) and ARPA® Award Nomination (Album of the Year); the New Vision® Award (Bahamas International Film Festival); Impact DOCS® Award of Excellence (2023 Documentary Feature); University® Award for Most Impactful Education Value (2023 Paladino d’Oro Sports Film Festival); University of South Florida Outstanding Young Alumni® Award; Hillsborough County’s (Tampa Bay) Commendation® Award for Excellence in Community Entrepreneurship; and Parents’ Choice® Award (2017 Gold Medal for Children’s Music), among many others.

With a fervent passion for sharing music with people worldwide, José Valentino’s headlining performances have graced renowned stages such as Carnegie Hall (twice), Tanglewood Hall, Clearwater Jazz Holiday (twice), Seabreeze Jazz Festival (thrice), Uptown Music Festival (twice), and the spectacular Free Chapel’s Christmas Spectacular (a whopping seven concerts, making it the largest Christmas concert production in the Southeastern USA). His musical journey has also led him to captivate audiences at ULTRA Music Festival, St. Armand’s Jazz Festival (five times), St. Pete Jazz Festival, St. Pete Latin Jazz Festival, World Music Festival (twice), Pilgrimage Festival, Winter Park Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, and the enchanting Sounds of the Season Concerts at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (a remarkable five times). Internationally, José Valentino’s enchanting melodies have resonated across the globe, taking him to the stages of Spain, Greece, Turkey, Liberia, Guatemala (thrice), Nicaragua (four times), Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, and countless venues throughout the United States of America.

José Valentino’s peer-reviewed academic research and performances have been presented at International Society for Music Education, Global Institute for Music Research, Association for Popular Music Education (x3), Society for Music Teacher Education, National Association for Music Education, Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education (x5), National Flute Association (x9), International Jazz & Entrepreneurship Camp (x3), Global Music Production and Entrepreneurship Summit, International Jazz & Entrepreneurship Camp (x3), Aspen Music Festival (Jazz Academy), Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Flute Association, World Flute Society, UF International Piano Festival, National Opera Association, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Gospel Music Association, Jazz Education Network (x2), The Midwest Clinic for Band and Orchestra, UF Music Industry Leadership Day, Digital Music Entrepreneurship & Leadership Summit, among many others.

Published articles by José Valentino include the International Journal of Music Performative Research, International Journal of Music & Cultural Studies, International Journal of Music Entrepreneurship & Leadership, Open Journal of Music Education, International Journal of Health and Music, International Journal of Music Pedagogy, Artivate: A Journal of Entrepreneurship in the Arts, Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education (x2), Journal of Popular Music Education (x2), National Association for Music Education (x6), Association for Popular Music Education (x6), International Journal of Community Music, International Research Forum for Music Performance & Artistry, International Research Forum for Music & Wellbeing, International Research Forum for Music Business & Innovation, International Research Forum for Music Administration & Governance; International Research Forum for Cross-Cultural Music & Issues; International Research Forum for Music Pedagogy & Practice, International Research Forum for Global Music Education, International Research Forum for Music & Multimedia Production, International Research Forum for Music Improvisation & Composition, International Trombone Journal, Music Teacher National Association E-Journal; American Music Teacher; Music Teacher National Association Business Digest; Kansas Music Review (x2); Voyage Magazine, Canvas Rebel Magazine (x2), Bold Journey Magazine (x2), The Conversation, All About Jazz, and other scholarly outlets.

Moreover, Ruiz’s business ventures, productions, and leadership initiatives have been recognized by various global media outlets such as Inc. Magazine, Fast Company Magazine, Fortune Magazine (x2), The Economist,  USA Today, Downbeat Magazine, New York Times, LA Times, Yahoo Finance!, The Miami Herald, Billboard Magazine, CNN Entertainment, and Rolling Stone Magazine (x2). Formally, Ruiz served as Co-Editor of Artivate: A Journal of Entrepreneurship in the Arts (2023)

Look for Jose’s performance at Plaza Tropical on the North Side of Musikfest! 

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, Co-Director of Contemporary Commercial Music at the University of South Florida School of Music and recipient of the 2015 Michael L. Mark Music Research Award for outstanding research by an early career scholar/researcher, issued by the University of Michigan. Randles teaches “Creative Performance Chamber Ensemble” at the undergraduate level, and “Philosophical and Historical Perspectives in Music Education” and “Qualitative Methods in Music Teaching and Learning” at the graduate level for students in the College of the Arts since 2010. He also teaches classes for students with disabilities in a community music outreach sponsored by Arts4All Florida.

His research interests include reconceptualizing music teachers as music producers, and providing music teachers with ways of applying recording arts and songwriting to manifestations of multiple creativities in the music classroom. He is the author of Music Teacher as Music Producer: How to Turn Your Classroom into a Center for Musical Creativities (2022, Oxford University Press) and To Create: Imagining the Good Life Through Music (2020, GIA Publications: Chicago, IL). Growing Songwriting: Nurturing Student Creativities in the Classroom and Beyond (2023, Oxford University Press) and Sound Production for the Emerging Teacher Producer (2024, Oxford University Press) are forthcoming. Randles has presented papers at state, national, and international conferences in the US, Canada, Brazil, Egypt, England, Ireland, Finland, China, Australia, and New Zealand. He has articles (28) published in many of the top journals in music education. Randles has published 24 book chapters in numerous handbooks for Oxford, Routledge, CMEA, GIA, R&L Education and others. He has three co-edited books: The Routledge Companion to Understanding Creativities in Music Education (2022, Routledge), Musicianship: Composing in Band and Orchestra (2013, GIA Publications), and Music Education: Navigating the Future (2014, Routledge). Milestones in Music Education (2023, Routledge) is an edited book that is forthcoming and centers on what historical milestones can teach undergraduates about the music education profession. Randles has formed two book series, Musicianship with GIA Publishing (Chicago) and the New Directions in Music Education series with Routledge (New York) to assist the music profession in realizing expanded curricular possibilities on a large scale. In addition to academic journals, Randles’ work can be read in The Chicago Tribune, SFGate, Channel NewsAsia, The Wire, Huffington Post, and The Conversation.

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! 

Sarah Gulish, Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Session title: Teach Music Tech and Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of the Music Industry 

Sarah Gulish is a grammy nominated music educator and holds a Ph.D in music education from Temple University. Since 2007, Sarah has taught music at the secondary and collegiate levels. She is a presenter, researcher, writer, songwriter and recording artist. She is the co-founder and CEO of the publishing company, F-flat Books.  

Look for Sarah’s performance with New Enemies at Leiderplatz on the North 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, PhD, is an accomplished performer, songwriter, voice teacher, and educator. Kat specializes in contemporary voice, songwriting, jazz, piano, and popular music pedagogy and curriculum.  

Reinhert is currently a Full Time Full Professor of Songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA,  as well as Berklee NYC where she teaches songwriting, lyric writing, creativity and performance courses. She is also the co-founder of the company Songwriting for Music Educators, empowering music educators from all areas to not only write their own songs, but help their students explore songwriting. 

Previously , she was an adjunct Assistant Professor at Rider University where she taught Pop Songwriting, Pop Arranging and Pop Theory, a Professor in the Voice Department at Berklee School of Music, Boston, MA, and an adjunct voice professor at The New School in NYC. 

From 2017-2019, she was the Director of Contemporary Voice at University of Miami Frost School of Music, where she served on faculty within the Music Media and Industry program which includes the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music minor and the Musicianship, Artistry Development and Entrepreneurship (M.A.D.E.) Major. 

She is a sought-after pedagogue, clinician and consultant for students, practitioners and institutions involved in all aspects and levels of popular music education, contemporary voice and songwriting. As a private instructor, her passion is helping artists find their voices through self-discover and vocal technique. Her students have gone on to have measurable success in the music industry. They include Hunjia, Leila Sunier, Katie Cunningham, members of KidSistr, Ahli, Emia, Souvenir, Liam O’Brian, Eitan Snyder and Zola. 

Look for Kat’s performance at Zinzenplatz on the North Side of Musikfest! 

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.