Speakers
Each year, SphinxConnect welcomes 90+ luminaries and trailblazers from across the classical music industry to lead conversations related to everything from programming to fundraising; all through the lens of excellence and representation in the arts.
Speakers will be invited throughout the summer and fall, so we encourage you to visit this page often for updates. Explore below to see the thought leaders and innovators who joined us at SphinxConnect 2025: Ignite and stay tuned for our 2026 Plenary Speakers!
2025 Plenary Speakers
Opening Plenary
Jessie Montgomery
Violinist | Composer
Jenn White
Host, 1A | WAMU & NPR
Closing Plenary
Kwame Alexander
Author/Producer/Educator | Big Sea Entertainment
Aaron P. Dworkin
Poetjournalist & Founder of The Sphinx Organization
Professor of Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship | University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
2025 Speakers
-
Daniel Acosta
Director of Marketing
Austin Opera -
Olaoluwa Adesanya
Founder & CEO
Palmplug Inc -
Lyanne Alvarado
Philanthropy Officer | Corporate Partnerships
Houston Grand Opera -
Titilayo Ayangade
Cellist and Photographer
Titilayo and Co -
Jasmine Arielle Barnes
Composer
-
Dr. Crystal Sellers Battle
Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion
Eastman School of Music -
Dr. Lisa "Osunleti" Beckley-Roberts
Chair & Associate Professor
Jackson State University -
Douglas Bitonti Stewart
Executive Producer
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation -
Jennifer Bowman
Director of Community & Learning
Houston Grand Opera -
Aurielle Brooks
Entertainment Attorney
Arrington & Phillips, LLP -
Brittney Bryanna Burgess
Program Manager
Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | The Juilliard School -
Armando Castellano
Artistic Director/French horn
Quinteto Latino -
Rodney Cole
President
DTE Energy Foundation and Corporate Citizenship -
Kori Coleman
Executive & Artistic Director
D-Composed -
Valerie Coleman
GRAMMY Nominated Flutist and Composer
The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music -
Juan-Pablo Contreras
Composer
New Music USA -
Joseph Conyers
Principal Bass
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Photo Credit: Nicole Roche -
Mary Corbett
Violinist
The Florida Orchestra -
Angelica Cortez
Executive Director
Suzuki Association of the Americas -
Dr. Marvin V. Curtis
President
South Bend Symphony -
antonio c. cuyler, ph.d.
Professor | Principal Consultant
University of Michigan | Cuyler Consulting, LLC -
DuMarkus Davis
Founder & CEO
Musicbuk -
Dr. Kim Davis
Founder & Empowerment Coach
Five/6teen Consulting -
Camille Delaney-McNeil
Director, Beckmen YOLA Center/YOLA
LA Phil -
Megan Delatour
Orchestra Director | Artistic Director
Talent Unlimited HS, ISO at Third -
Matthew J. Detrick
Founder/CEO | Violinist
Apollo Chamber Players -
Andre Dowell
Chief Programming Officer
Sphinx Organization -
Zenetta S. Drew
Executive Director
Dallas Black Dance Theatre -
Alexa Dumont
Assistant Director of Performance Operations
The Juilliard School -
Portia Dunkley
CEO, Founder
Teeny Violini Inc -
Dr. Leslie B. Dunner
Conductor
Interlochen Arts Academy -
Catherine Elizabeth
Vocalist & Composer
-
Dr. Raynel Frazier
Director of Programming and Artistic Planning
Jazz at Lincoln Center -
Mariah C. Forde
Director of Marketing and Communications
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra -
Brianna Garcon
Program Coordinator | National Community Partnerships
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -
Carlos García León
Asst. Director of Development
Lookingglass Theater -
Gladys Gonzalez
Music Director | Educator
Hattiesburg Kids Orchestra -
Lina Gonzalez-Granados
Orchestral Conductor
-
Ashleigh Gordon
Artistic Director & Violist
Castle of Our Skins -
Andrew Griffin
Violist
Back to the Future (Broadway) -
Dr. Glyne A. Griffiths II
Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Impact
Dallas Symphony Orchestra -
Kevin Gupana
Associate Director of Giving, Education and Community Engagement Initiatives
Chicago Symphony Orchestra -
Damon Gupton
Actor & Conductor
-
Jherrard Hardeman
Assistant Conductor
Rochester Philharmonic -
Arreon A. Harley-Emerson
President & CEO
Equity Sings -
Lisa E. Harris
Founder/ Creative Soprano
Studio Enertia -
Josh Henderson
Violinist
W4RP (Trio)
Photo Credit: Titilayo Ayangade -
Rei Hotoda
Music Director/Conductor
Fresno Philharmonic -
Dr. Zuly Inirio
Founder and Executive Director
Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project -
Necole S. Irvin
Director, Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA)
City of Houston -
Wendy L. Jackson
Managing Director, Detroit Team
Kresge Foundation -
Lady Jess
Violinist
The Great Gatsby Broadway -
Derek A. Johnson
Vice President of Marketing
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -
Calida N. Jones
Founder | Co-Founder
CNJ Associates | Creative Evolutions -
Nicole Jordan
President / Principal Librarian
ICSOM / The Philadelphia Orchestra -
Charlotte Lee
President and Founder
Primo Artists -
Kelsey Lu
Artist
-
Gregory D. McDaniel
Colton Conducting Fellow
New Jersey Symphony -
Robert McGrath
Chief Operating Officer
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra -
Trés McMichael
Senior Program Manager, Social Impact Civic Alliances
The John F. J Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -
Anwar Nasir
Executive Director
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra -
Taneshia Nash Laird
Associate Professor
Berklee College of Music -
Bill Neri
Director of Ensemble Advancement
Sphinx Organization -
Dr. Marcus Norris
Composer, Director
South Side Symphony -
David A. Norville
Oboist & Digital Media Producer
Black Orchestral Network -
Sheri Notaro
Vice President of People and Culture
Minnesota Orchestra -
Nic Orbovich
Artistic Director/Concert Violinist
Michigan City Chamber Music Festival/South Bend Symphony Orchestra -
Dr. Angelica Perez-Johnston
Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University -
Jason Phillips, LCSW
Mental Health Expert
Peace & Prosperity -
Jessica Phillips
Musician | Educator
Met Opera | The Juilliard School
Photo Credit: Miran Kim
-
Alexis V. Prescott, M.A.
Graduate Advisor | Black Students’ Union
Eastman School of Music -
Dave Ragland
Composer
Blacknificent 7 -
Reynaldo Ramirez
Co-Founder and Program Director
Soundscapes -
Cole Randolph
Cellist
Detroit Symphony -
Vanessa Reed
President and CEO
New Music USA -
Kai Rocke
Musician
Oregon Symphony -
Dr. Eugene Rogers
Founding Conductor | Pedagogue
EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble -
Eric J. Rubio
Director of Finance and Administration
The Washington Chorus -
Abhijit Sengupta
Director of Artistic Planning
Carnegie Hall -
Carlos Simon
Composer-in-Residence
Kennedy Center/Boston Symphony -
Rochelle Skolnick
Director of Symphonic Services and Special Counsel
American Federation of Musicians -
Kewan Smith
Sr. Director of Individual & Corporate Giving
New World Symphony -
Koven Smith
Senior Director/Arts
Knight Foundation -
Curtis Stewart
Violinist Composer | Artistic Director
American Composers Orchestra | Juilliard School | PUBLIQuartet
Photo Credit: Titilayo Ayangade -
Cessalee Stovall
Director of Belonging and Inclusion | Founder
Seattle Children's Theatre | Stage A Change -
Sean Taylor
Co-Founder
ContraBrand Agency -
Imelda Tecson Juarez
Manager, Grassroots Marketing & Group Sales
Strathmore -
Caen Thomason-Redus
Vice President, Inclusion and Learning
League of American Orchestras -
Lynne Toye
Executive Director
New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund -
Esther Triggs
Director or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Interlochen Center for the Arts -
Lia Uribe
Associate Dean | Professor of Music
University of Arkansas -
Sixto Wagan
Director
BIPOC Arts Network and Fund -
Michael Walker II
Senior Development Officer
American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia (ACLU-D.C.) -
Brittini Ward
Librettist
Kennedy Center Cartography Project -
Cameron-Mitchell Ware
Creative Producer
New Orleans African American Museum -
Mark Wilson
Executive Director
Zoellner Arts Center -
Melissa White
Violinist, Educator | Entrepreneur
Harlem Quartet | NYU & University at Buffalo -
Justus Zimmerman
Executive Director
South Bend Symphony