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

    Daniel Acosta

    Director of Marketing
    Austin Opera

  • Olaoluwa Adesanya

    Olaoluwa Adesanya

    Founder & CEO
    Palmplug Inc


  • Lyanne Alvarado

    Lyanne Alvarado

    Philanthropy Officer | Corporate Partnerships
    Houston Grand Opera

  • Titilayo Ayangade

    Titilayo Ayangade

    Cellist and Photographer
    Titilayo and Co

  • Jasmine Arielle Barnes

    Jasmine Arielle Barnes

    Composer

  • Dr. Crystal Sellers Battle

    Dr. Crystal Sellers Battle

    Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion
    Eastman School of Music

  • Dr. Lisa "Osunleti" Beckley-Roberts

    Dr. Lisa "Osunleti" Beckley-Roberts

    Chair & Associate Professor
    Jackson State University

  • Douglas Bitonti Stewart

    Douglas Bitonti Stewart

    Executive Producer
    Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation

  • Jennifer Bowman

    Jennifer Bowman

    Director of Community & Learning
    Houston Grand Opera

  • Aurielle Brooks

    Aurielle Brooks

    Entertainment Attorney
    Arrington & Phillips, LLP

  • Brittney Bryanna Burgess

    Brittney Bryanna Burgess

    Program Manager
    Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | The Juilliard School

  • Armando Castellano

    Armando Castellano

    Artistic Director/French horn
    Quinteto Latino

  • Rodney Cole

    Rodney Cole

    President
    DTE Energy Foundation and Corporate Citizenship

  • Kori Coleman

    Kori Coleman

    Executive & Artistic Director
    D-Composed

  • Valerie Coleman

    Valerie Coleman

    GRAMMY Nominated Flutist and Composer
    The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music

  • Juan-Pablo Contreras

    Juan-Pablo Contreras

    Composer
    New Music USA

  • Joseph Conyers

    Joseph Conyers

    Principal Bass
    The Philadelphia Orchestra
    Photo Credit: Nicole Roche

  • Mary Corbett

    Mary Corbett

    Violinist
    The Florida Orchestra

  • Angelica Cortez

    Angelica Cortez

    Executive Director
    Suzuki Association of the Americas

  • Dr. Marvin V. Curtis

    Dr. Marvin V. Curtis

    President
    South Bend Symphony

  • antonio c. cuyler, ph.d.

    antonio c. cuyler, ph.d.

    Professor | Principal Consultant
    University of Michigan | Cuyler Consulting, LLC

  • DuMarkus Davis

    DuMarkus Davis

    Founder & CEO
    Musicbuk

  • Dr. Kim Davis

    Dr. Kim Davis

    Founder & Empowerment Coach
    Five/6teen Consulting

  • Camille Delaney-McNeil

    Camille Delaney-McNeil

    Director, Beckmen YOLA Center/YOLA
    LA Phil

  • Megan Delatour

    Megan Delatour

    Orchestra Director | Artistic Director
    Talent Unlimited HS, ISO at Third

  • Matthew J. Detrick

    Matthew J. Detrick

    Founder/CEO | Violinist
    Apollo Chamber Players

  • Andre Dowell

    Andre Dowell

    Chief Programming Officer
    Sphinx Organization

  • Zenetta S. Drew

    Zenetta S. Drew

    Executive Director
    Dallas Black Dance Theatre

  • Alexa Dumont

    Alexa Dumont

    Assistant Director of Performance Operations
    The Juilliard School

  • Portia Dunkley

    Portia Dunkley

    CEO, Founder
    Teeny Violini Inc

  • Dr. Leslie B. Dunner

    Dr. Leslie B. Dunner

    Conductor
    Interlochen Arts Academy

  • Catherine Elizabeth

    Catherine Elizabeth

    Vocalist & Composer

  • Dr. Raynel Frazier

    Dr. Raynel Frazier

    Director of Programming and Artistic Planning
    Jazz at Lincoln Center

  • Mariah C. Forde

    Mariah C. Forde

    Director of Marketing and Communications
    Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Brianna Garcon

    Brianna Garcon

    Program Coordinator | National Community Partnerships
    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

  • Carlos García León

    Carlos García León

    Asst. Director of Development
    Lookingglass Theater

  • Gladys Gonzalez

    Gladys Gonzalez

    Music Director | Educator
    Hattiesburg Kids Orchestra

  • Lina Gonzalez-Granados

    Lina Gonzalez-Granados

    Orchestral Conductor

  • Ashleigh Gordon

    Ashleigh Gordon

    Artistic Director & Violist
    Castle of Our Skins

  • Andrew Griffin

    Andrew Griffin

    Violist
    Back to the Future (Broadway)

  • Dr. Glyne A. Griffiths II

    Dr. Glyne A. Griffiths II

    Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Impact
    Dallas Symphony Orchestra

  • Kevin Gupana

    Kevin Gupana

    Associate Director of Giving, Education and Community Engagement Initiatives
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra

  • Damon Gupton

    Damon Gupton

    Actor & Conductor

  • Jherrard Hardeman

    Jherrard Hardeman

    Assistant Conductor
    Rochester Philharmonic

  • Arreon A. Harley-Emerson

    Arreon A. Harley-Emerson

    President & CEO
    Equity Sings

  • Lisa E. Harris

    Lisa E. Harris

    Founder/ Creative Soprano
    Studio Enertia

  • Josh Henderson

    Josh Henderson

    Violinist
    W4RP (Trio)
    Photo Credit: Titilayo Ayangade

  • Rei Hotoda

    Rei Hotoda

    Music Director/Conductor
    Fresno Philharmonic

  • Dr. Zuly Inirio

    Dr. Zuly Inirio

    Founder and Executive Director
    Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project

  • Necole S. Irvin

    Necole S. Irvin

    Director, Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA)
    City of Houston

  • Wendy L. Jackson

    Wendy L. Jackson

    Managing Director, Detroit Team
    Kresge Foundation

  • Lady Jess

    Lady Jess

    Violinist
    The Great Gatsby Broadway

  • Derek A. Johnson

    Derek A. Johnson

    Vice President of Marketing
    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

  • Calida N. Jones

    Calida N. Jones

    Founder | Co-Founder
    CNJ Associates | Creative Evolutions

  • Nicole Jordan

    Nicole Jordan

    President / Principal Librarian
    ICSOM / The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • Charlotte Lee

    Charlotte Lee

    President and Founder
    Primo Artists

  • Kelsey Lu

    Kelsey Lu

    Artist

  • Gregory D. McDaniel

    Gregory D. McDaniel

    Colton Conducting Fellow
    New Jersey Symphony

  • Robert McGrath

    Robert McGrath

    Chief Operating Officer
    Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

  • Trés McMichael

    Trés McMichael

    Senior Program Manager, Social Impact Civic Alliances
    The John F. J Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

  • Anwar Nasir

    Anwar Nasir

    Executive Director
    The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Taneshia Nash Laird

    Taneshia Nash Laird

    Associate Professor
    Berklee College of Music

  • Bill Neri

    Bill Neri

    Director of Ensemble Advancement
    Sphinx Organization

  • Dr. Marcus Norris

    Dr. Marcus Norris

    Composer, Director
    South Side Symphony

  • David A. Norville

    David A. Norville

    Oboist & Digital Media Producer
    Black Orchestral Network

  • Sheri Notaro

    Sheri Notaro

    Vice President of People and Culture
    Minnesota Orchestra

  • Nic Orbovich

    Nic Orbovich

    Artistic Director/Concert Violinist
    Michigan City Chamber Music Festival/South Bend Symphony Orchestra

  • Dr. Angelica Perez-Johnston

    Dr. Angelica Perez-Johnston

    Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University

  • Jason Phillips, LCSW

    Jason Phillips, LCSW

    Mental Health Expert
    Peace & Prosperity

  • Jessica Phillips

    Jessica Phillips

    Musician | Educator
    Met Opera | The Juilliard School
    Photo Credit: Miran Kim

  • Alexis V. Prescott, M.A.

    Alexis V. Prescott, M.A.

    Graduate Advisor | Black Students’ Union
    Eastman School of Music

  • Dave Ragland

    Dave Ragland

    Composer
    Blacknificent 7



  • Reynaldo Ramirez

    Reynaldo Ramirez

    Co-Founder and Program Director
    Soundscapes

  • Cole Randolph

    Cole Randolph

    Cellist
    Detroit Symphony

  • Vanessa Reed

    Vanessa Reed

    President and CEO
    New Music USA

  • Kai Rocke

    Kai Rocke

    Musician
    Oregon Symphony

  • Dr. Eugene Rogers

    Dr. Eugene Rogers

    Founding Conductor | Pedagogue
    EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble

  • Eric J. Rubio

    Eric J. Rubio

    Director of Finance and Administration
    The Washington Chorus

  • Abhijit Sengupta

    Abhijit Sengupta

    Director of Artistic Planning
    Carnegie Hall

  • Carlos Simon

    Carlos Simon

    Composer-in-Residence
    Kennedy Center/Boston Symphony

  • Rochelle Skolnick

    Rochelle Skolnick

    Director of Symphonic Services and Special Counsel
    American Federation of Musicians

  • Kewan Smith

    Kewan Smith

    Sr. Director of Individual & Corporate Giving
    New World Symphony

  • Koven Smith

    Koven Smith

    Senior Director/Arts
    Knight Foundation

  • Curtis Stewart

    Curtis Stewart

    Violinist Composer | Artistic Director
    American Composers Orchestra | Juilliard School | PUBLIQuartet
    Photo Credit: Titilayo Ayangade

  • Cessalee Stovall

    Cessalee Stovall

    Director of Belonging and Inclusion | Founder
    Seattle Children's Theatre | Stage A Change

  • Sean Taylor

    Sean Taylor

    Co-Founder
    ContraBrand Agency

  • Imelda Tecson Juarez

    Imelda Tecson Juarez

    Manager, Grassroots Marketing & Group Sales
    Strathmore

  • Caen Thomason-Redus

    Caen Thomason-Redus

    Vice President, Inclusion and Learning
    League of American Orchestras

  • Lynne Toye

    Lynne Toye

    Executive Director
    New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund

  • Esther Triggs

    Esther Triggs

    Director or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Interlochen Center for the Arts

  • Lia Uribe

    Lia Uribe

    Associate Dean | Professor of Music
    University of Arkansas

  • Sixto Wagan

    Sixto Wagan

    Director
    BIPOC Arts Network and Fund

  • Michael Walker II

    Michael Walker II

    Senior Development Officer
    American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia (ACLU-D.C.)

  • Brittini Ward

    Brittini Ward

    Librettist
    Kennedy Center Cartography Project

  • Cameron-Mitchell Ware

    Cameron-Mitchell Ware

    Creative Producer
    New Orleans African American Museum

  • Mark Wilson

    Mark Wilson

    Executive Director
    Zoellner Arts Center

  • Melissa White

    Melissa White

    Violinist, Educator | Entrepreneur 
    Harlem Quartet | NYU & University at Buffalo

  • Justus Zimmerman

    Justus Zimmerman

    Executive Director
    South Bend Symphony