In 2021, Tayloe was recognized with South Carolina’s highest honor for arts/music educators when he was selected for the 2021 Governors’ Award in the Arts for Arts Education.  A frequent presenter on futures issues for university music units and their leadership, he remains an active composer earning commissions, performances, and recordings around the world.

Tau Beta Sigma, the Illinois Music Educators Association, and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association have honored her for distinguished service. Mansfield University recognized her as a distinguished alumnus. Other awards include: Pennsylvania State University College of Arts and Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award, Florida State University Faculty Citation for Graduate Alumni Award, Temple University Outstanding Faculty Service Award. Confredo is in demand as conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and speaker.

As a leader in policy and advocacy efforts, Mary developed NAMM’s Washington DC Advocacy Fly-in that trains NAMM business leaders as music education advocates working on federal, state and local levels. She also created NAMM’s GenNext and Music Education Days programs that host thousands of university music faculty, students and music educators at the annual NAMM Show to inspire career options in music, connections with the music industry and advance opportunities for music learning.  Luehrsen also created the NAMM Foundation’s Nonprofit Management Institute held at the NAMM Show that supports and trains leaders and staff of over 300 music service organizations with goals to strengthen their effectiveness.  Luehrsen focuses on rallying talents and energies of people and organizations to advance opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to know the joys and benefits of making and learning music.

A passionate fundraiser, Queen works closely with donors who believe in investing in the arts to help students and faculty achieve their maximum potential. Queen is also a strong advocate for international study and has traveled to Asia on multiple occasions to forge partnerships in China and he has spent over a dozen summers in Italy, working with Opera Orvieto and Operafestival di Roma, where he served as Executive Director.  Throughout his professional career, Queen has produced and directed more than 60 opera and musical theatre productions.

Ariana Wyatt: 

An enthusiastic advocate for contemporary art song and opera, she has premiered, recorded, and championed chamber works by Alan Louis Smith, Daron Hagen, Gregory Hutter, and Lori Laitman.  Her 2020 recording Let Evening Come: American Songs Old and New (Albany) was named one of the best classical recordings of 2020 by the Chicago Tribune, and her 2021 recording Rapture and Regret (MSR Classics) was named a “must have” by the American Record Guide. Ms. Wyatt is a graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center and the University of Southern California.  She is a professor of voice and associate dean at Virginia Tech.

Ivy Walz: 

A vocal educator dedicated to serving all learners, she incorporates integrative pedagogies and approaches to vocal development for longevity, artistry, joy, and wellbeing. She served a decade on the voice faculty at Ithaca College before assuming administrative roles. Currently, she is the Associate Dean for Faculty, Research, Creativity & Outreach at the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts where she is also a member of the voice faculty at the School of Music at Texas Tech University. Dr. Walz holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, Master of Music (MM), and Bachelor of Music (BM) from Ithaca College.

In addition to her academic leadership, Bush is deeply engaged in national and international music education and advocacy. She was appointed in 2022 to the governing Council of Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC) representing the Associate Membership from North America. She is a founding board member of Equity Arc, Vice President of Pi Kappa Lambda (PKL), is on the editorial board of the Journal of Performing Arts Leadership in Higher Education (JPALHE.) Through these roles, she contributes to shaping policy, advancing inclusivity, promoting global collaboration, and advocating for music education at large — extending her influence well beyond her home institution.

Bush earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Ohio State University. As a soprano, she made her professional opera debut in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea with Boston Baroque and Opera Columbus, and her performance career spans opera roles, recitals, and oratorios.

Margarita Denenburg: 

Margarita Denenburg holds Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from Arizona State University, where she studied under Dr. Baruch Meir. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California, where she studied with Professor Bernadene Blaha.

For more information about Dr. Margarita Denenburg, please visit:
https://www.margarita-denenburg.com/

Jeanne Hourez: 

A passionate chamber musician, Jeanne enjoys exploring a wide range of chamber settings. She has released multiple albums and frequently collaborates with emerging composers and artists. She performs with violinist Katia Darisio as Duo Swann and co-founded Ensemble Benzaiten, whose repertoire uniquely blends mandolin and piano. She is also the pianist of SoundMap Ensemble, an Austin-based contemporary chamber orchestra. Alongside her performing and research activities, Jeanne is frequently invited to give masterclasses and adjudicate at regional and state competitions. Dr. Hourez is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Southwestern University.

Ellen Sirower: 

Ellen also pursues research in the intersection between philosophy and piano pedagogy. Her dissertation work explores philosophical and pedagogical approaches to interpretation with post-tonal repertoire, and she recently received a UT Austin Graduate School Dissertation Fellowship for the Spring 2026 semester. In promoting this research to wider audiences, Ellen recently won the Outstanding Creativity Award in UT Austin’s “Empower Your Pitch” competition. Her published work can be found in Piano Magazine and American Music Teacher.  

Ellen is the founder of Musical Philosophers—a Philosophy for Children program at the University of Texas (UT) Elementary School that specifically focuses on the philosophy of music. The program is currently integrated with the fifth-grade music curriculum at UT Elementary, and is funded in full by PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization).

She serves on the NAMM Board of Directors and is an active advocate with the NAMM Foundation, participating in national conferences and the annual Fly-In on Capitol Hill. Jenna applies this work locally through leadership roles with the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education, DC Strings, and multiple arts and education boards, including George Mason University and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras.

A former professional in Child Protective Services and Hospice care, Jenna’s commitment to service is unwavering. She recently launched The Day School of the Arts and The Day Family Foundation to expand scholarships and global music education opportunities.

A pioneer in developing innovative models for music teaching and learning, Kaufman’s recent work includes creating a new music education festival that challenges traditional paradigms. The festival engages large ensemble students and teachers in collaborative composition as an experiment in democratic learning—one in which authority is shared, every voice carries equal weight, and students create with rather than compete against one another. Kaufman has presented his ideas and project outcomes on five continents at venues such as the United Nations, the Ford Foundation, Oxford University, and Yale University. He is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

Previously, he has been a Faculty Lecturer of Saxophone (and Interim Director of Jazz Studies) at Eastern Washington University working closely with administration in developing and implementing new and forward-thinking coursework. As a professional saxophonist, Phil has worked with numerous renowned artists both nationally and internationally for over two decades. He is now Associate Professor and Chair of The brand new Music Innovation and Technology BMus Degree Program at The University of the Arts (iceland).

Abra Bush:

In addition to her academic leadership, Bush is deeply engaged in national and international music education and advocacy. She was appointed in 2022 to the governing Council of Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC) representing the Associate Membership from North America. She is a founding board member of Equity Arc, Vice President of Pi Kappa Lambda (PKL), is on the editorial board of the Journal of Performing Arts Leadership in Higher Education (JPALHE.) Through these roles, she contributes to shaping policy, advancing inclusivity, promoting global collaboration, and advocating for music education at large — extending her influence well beyond her home institution.

Bush earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Ohio State University. As a soprano, she made her professional opera debut in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea with Boston Baroque and Opera Columbus, and her performance career spans opera roles, recitals, and oratorios.

Tayloe Harding: 

In 2021, Tayloe was recognized with South Carolina’s highest honor for arts/music educators when he was selected for the 2021 Governors’ Award in the Arts for Arts Education.  A frequent presenter on futures issues for university music units and their leadership, he remains an active composer earning commissions, performances, and recordings around the world.

Todd Queen: 

A passionate fundraiser, Queen works closely with donors who believe in investing in the arts to help students and faculty achieve their maximum potential. Queen is also a strong advocate for international study and has traveled to Asia on multiple occasions to forge partnerships in China and he has spent over a dozen summers in Italy, working with Opera Orvieto and Operafestival di Roma, where he served as Executive Director.  Throughout his professional career, Queen has produced and directed more than 60 opera and musical theatre productions.

Brian Kai Chin: 

With a wide array of musical activities, I strive to move seamlessly between soloing as a trumpeter, performing with world-class orchestras, composing new music, creating with the TORCH Collective, and producing socially conscious, multi-arts events.

I am focused on using music and imagination as a universal language to bring people together and celebrate our shared humanity. Much of this vision is embedded in my work via Common Tone Arts, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to inspiring positive change for our diverse world through arts education and music.

I am the President of the College Music Society and have announced a new initiative: Grow. Create. Lead. This vision aims to encourage students to become cultural leaders by fostering comprehensive musicianship and engaging in socially conscious art.