Corry Banks (Moderator) | Founder, Modbap Modular | Modbap Modular

Corry Banks is the founder of Modbap Modular, an independent Los Angeles–based instrument company that bridges beatmaker culture and modular synthesis. A technologist, producer, and designer, he coined the term Modbap to describe the fusion of boombap-style music production with modular synthesis and synth-driven electronic performance. Modbap as a brand represents the convergence of beatmaker and DJ culture, electronic performance, and instrument design.

Through Modbap, Banks develops performance-oriented tools that distill complex synthesis concepts into intuitive, expressive instruments for musicians and sound designers. With more than 25 years in technology leadership and a formal background in electronics, he bridges IT and creative engineering while contributing as a sound designer, beta tester, and consultant for brands such as Moog, Akai, and Arturia. His work explores the intersection of culture and innovation, championing accessibility, creativity, and what he calls “culture as engineering.”

Trovarsi (Shanda Nunez) | Music Composer, Producer, Live Electronic Artist, Educator, Streaming Host & Focusrite/Product Specialist

Trovarsi is an LA-based music composer, producer, live electronic artist, educator, and streaming host. Over the past decade, she has released music on a range of notable electronic labels, blending modular and analog synthesizers, drum machines, and Ableton to create a hybrid sound rooted in Afrofuturism and her musical origins.

She curates and hosts SIGNAL on Analog – Insomniac Radio, a monthly show spotlighting innovative live performance artists and composers. As CEO of Piqued.fm, she leads a cutting-edge online radio platform that connects listeners with curated independent music across genres.

Trovarsi is also co-founder of the Southern California Synth Society, fostering education and community through workshops, DIY builds, and events. Additionally, she founded Frequency Shift, an international streaming festival showcasing female and gender-expansive electronic artists.

From LA’s underground to global stages, Trovarsi continues to push electronic music forward.

Ali the Architect (Jamar Ali) | Founder | Ali Modular

Ali the Architect is a music producer, sound designer, and engineer dedicated to crafting immersive sonic experiences. As the founder of Ali Modular, he blends precision engineering with artistic vision, designing instruments that inspire producers and tinkerers to push boundaries. His work bridges the worlds of art, technology, and sound, building a foundation for the next generation of modular music tools.

Torrie Jones | Head of Content | Music AI (makers of Moises AI)

Torrie Jones is the Head of Content at Moises (70M+ users), where he leads marketing and product storytelling for one of the world’s most-used AI platforms for musicians and producers. A pianist, composer, and music industry veteran with nearly two decades of experience, he has shaped how musicians interact with technology in leadership roles at Apple Music, Native Instruments and Akai Professional—where he co-invented the Akai Fire and led the go-to-market strategy for the MPC X and MPC Live. Beyond his work in music tech, Torrie composes for multimedia projects, including The Athletic’s new podcast No Free Lunch with Ndamukong Suh, and is passionate about musician-first AI tools that enhance rather than replace human creativity.

Presenter(s)/Speaker(s) TBA

J. Galen Buckwalter | CEO | psyML

J. Galen Buckwalter, PhD, has been a research psychologist for over 30 years. He began his career as a research professor at the University of Southern California. Subsequently, he initiated a behavioral outcomes research program at Kaiser Permanente, Southern California. He transitioned into industry when he created the assessment and matching system for eHarmony.com. He is currently CEO of psyML, using his psychological and social media expertise to design digital systems supportive of individual growth. Galen is also a participant/scientist in a trial of an implanted brain-machine interface geared toward the long-term restoration of spinal cord injury. As such he has unprecedented access to the neural functioning of his brain. As the front man for a four-piece pre-punk band of shrinks, Siggy, he has written over 70 songs and performed at most every underground dive in LA. He is currently working to integrate the sounds of his neuronal activity into his music.

Shannon McConnell | Music Technologist | Neuroadaptive Music & Creative Technology

Shannon McConnell is a Los Angeles–based music technologist, multi-instrumentalist, tour manager and marketing expert whose work bridges creativity, innovation, and performance. A 2021 NAMM President’s Innovation Award recipient, she holds a B.S. in Music Technology from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, where her research explored EEG-based instruments and neuroadaptive music composition utilizing machine learning. Shannon currently serves as Executive Director of Marketing at Fly PR and Tour Manager for international metal band DragonForce, overseeing global campaigns, touring logistics, and digital engagement across more than 20 official accounts. Her passion lies in advancing the dialogue between art and technology, empowering artists to create and connect through new expressive frontiers.

Eros Marcello |  Founder + AI Design Engineer, Quantum ML | ethereal computing

I’m a multi-disciplinary Design Engineer (front-of-the-frontend) specializing in human-interfacing AI and Deep Tech. I’ve shipped AI-native interfaces, products and experiences @ Apple, Meta, Salesforce, Samsung, Pfizer and many others. I founded ethereal computing inc. in 2023, where we’re building a Quantum M- enhanced SDK for neuroadaptive human-machine interfaces for high-perf, high-compliance sectors including Defense + Military with dual-use for consumer + enterprise applications. I live/work out of NASA Ames Research Park on Moffett Field in Silicon Valley, California.

Athan Billias | Executive Board | The MIDI Association

Athan Billias has dedicate his whole life to music, technical innovation and MIDI. He played keyboard with Herb Reed and the Platters and Jerry Martini from Sly and the Family Stone. He then moved into the musical instrument industry as Product Planning Manager at Korg where he helped turn the Korg M1 into the largest selling music workstation of all time. He then Joined Yamaha as a Director of Marketing where he was involved with the product planning and marketing of Yamaha products including the Motif Series and the Montage. He has been on the Executive Board of The MIDI Association for over 25 years.

Kevin D. Jablonski (Moderator) | Partner, Chair Electrical/Computer Science Patent Practice Group | Fisher Broyles, LLP

Kevin Jablonski serves as chair of the FisherBroyles Electrical/Computer Science Patent Practice Group. Kevin is a registered patent attorney with a focus on patent portfolio development and patent prosecution. Kevin works with a number of clients across myriad technologies with a lean toward electrical engineering and computer science. Kevin’s practice involves additional aspects of intellectual property law including IP licensing, copyrights, and trademarks. He has experience in technology areas such as semiconductor design, analog and digital circuits, and computer architecture solutions. Kevin has also developed a technical focus in the audio arts and sciences and audio-related technologies. Kevin owns a professional-grade recording studio called Hollywood and Vines. Kevin also manages and plays drums in two bands: Whiskey Gaels and The Soul Proprietors. This music arts background and interest allows Kevin to branch out from patent prosecution into entertainment law to help fledgling artists and music technology companies navigate confusing landscape.

Jazmine Valencia | President | JV Agency

Jazmine Valencia (She/Her) is the founder of JV Agency. Artist-focused marketing and culture-building savvy approach, Valencia helped advance the careers of top-selling artists such as The Killers, Avicii, and Shawn Mendes to name a few. Valencia is widely recognized not only for her business and creative acumen but for her down-to-earth attitude and motivational approach with her team and artists alike. Valencia is a sought-after speaker on subjects such as Marketing and Women’s Empowerment, from Harvard to Canadian Music Week. Jazmine hopes to empower & lead the future generation of women in the industry.

Jasmin Benward | Founder, Create the Room & Music Supervisor/Sync/A&R

Jasmin Benward (She/They) is a Black, queer, invisibly disabled artist based in South Los Angeles with a mission to disrupt inequities of marginalized and underrepresented folks in entertainment. Jasmin expresses herself via music (music supervisor, songwriter, creative/sync coordinator, A&R), multidisciplinary writing (author, essayist, screenwriter), and wellness (family yoga). Jasmin is a Black Queer Creative Summit Finalist (GLAAD), a Disruptors Screenwriting Fellow (The Center for Cultural Power), a Music Supervision Fellow (Women in Film), and a Songwriting Mentee (Unlock Her Potential).

Shelly Hartman | Founder, EqualPayEqualPlay.org | Executive Producer, Musicians For Fire Relief

Shelly Hartman (she/her) is a 20+ year veteran of the Music Industry with a career history in digital streaming, including working for record labels, distribution, and DSPs. Shelly is the Executive Producer for Musicians For Fire Relief and head of a brand new "Music Industry Workers Diversity Collective" called EqualPayEqualPlay.org, which aims to address major industry issues along the DEI spectrum including facilitating the hiring of disabled personnel and employee wage gaps, to the lack of fair stage time at festivals.

Jessica Powell | CEO | AudioShake

Jessica Powell is the CEO and co-founder of AudioShake, a sound-splitting AI technology that makes audio more interactive, accessible, and useful. Named one of TIME’s Best Inventions, AudioShake is used widely across the entertainment industry to help give content owners greater opportunities and control over their audio.

Powell spent over a decade at Google, where she sat on the company's management team. She began her career at CISAC, the International Society of Authors and Composers in Paris. Her work has been published in the New York Times, TIME, WIRED, and elsewhere.

Daniel Rowland | Head of Strategy and Partnerships | LANDR

Daniel Rowland is a unique combination of audio engineer, music producer, tech executive, and educator. He is Head of Strategy and Partnerships at LANDR Audio, co-founder of online DAW Audiotool, and longtime instructor of Recording Industry at MTSU. For nearly a decade, his primary focus has been on the empowerment of music creators via LANDR’s ethical AI-driven tools and accessible design, sharing that message on dozens of panels and podcasts.

As a creative, he has worked on Emmy/Oscar-winning and Grammy-nominated music projects totaling 13+ billion streams for Disney/Pixar, John Wick, Star Wars, Marvel, Jason Derulo, Seal, Nine Inch Nails, Nina Simone, Flo Rida, Adrian Belew, Burna Boy, and hundreds of others.

Jason Wilber | Co-founder & CEO | CoordN8, Inc

Jason Wilber is CEO and co-founder of CoordN8, a music technology company he leads with co-founder Jay Hardesty. Together, they are developing real-time rhythm intelligence that transforms how musical content is represented, manipulated, and performed—enabling new creative capabilities across DAWs, MIDI hardware, and interactive media. A lifelong musician and performer, Jason combines artistic intuition with technical innovation. His dual experience in performance and technology drives CoordN8’s mission to bridge human expression with intelligent creation tools. At A3E 2026 Anaheim at the NAMM Show, he shares insights from the frontiers of rhythm intelligence and interactive music systems.

Lucas Cantor Santiago | Composer/Author/Investor | ListenHearNow / Extra Base Hits / Mindset MusicTech

Lucas Cantor Santiago is a composer and producer who’s won two Emmy awards. He’s the author of the book Unfinished, the role of the artist in the age of Artificial Intelligence, which is out now and available in bookstores and online. He’s a partner and co-founder at Mindset MusicTech, a Venture Capital fund that invests in the future of music.

Athan Billias | Executive Board | The MIDI Association

Athan Billias has dedicate his whole life to music, technical innovation and MIDI. He played keyboard with Herb Reed and the Platters and Jerry Martini from Sly and the Family Stone. He then moved into the musical instrument industry as Product Planning Manager at Korg where he helped turn the Korg M1 into the largest selling music workstation of all time. He then Joined Yamaha as a Director of Marketing where he was involved with the product planning and marketing of Yamaha products including the Motif Series and the Montage. He has been on the Executive Board of The MIDI Association for over 25 years.

Tobi Hunke | Drummer, Educator, Live-tech Specialist

Tobi Hunke, known as AbletonDrummer, is a drummer, educator, and live-tech specialist based in Germany. Through AbletonDrummer.com, he provides tutorials, Max for Live devices, and coaching for musicians using Ableton Live. With decades of drumming experience and international teaching work, he helps performers integrate Ableton Live, MIDI, and technology into creative, modern workflows.

Anthony Marinelli | Composer | Anthony Marinelli Music

Anthony Marinelli is a pioneering composer, producer, and synthesist whose work spans film, pop, and television and is connected with the most influential creators of the last 45 years. His musical fingerprints are heard on over 90 feature films, including Young Guns, War Games, Internal Affairs, and Leaving Las Vegas, as well as additional music for classics like Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

He programmed the iconic synthesizers on Michael Jackson’s Thriller and has recorded with legends including James Brown, Lionel Richie, Herb Alpert, and Van Halen. His orchestral work “In the Family Way,” commissioned by Leonard Slatkin and the LA Philharmonic, premiered at the Hollywood Bowl to two sold-out nights.

His music has earned Emmy, Clio, AICP, ADDY, and Cannes Silver Lion Awards and appeared in everything from major motion pictures to global ad campaigns. He also co-founded Levels Audio, the groundbreaking Hollywood post-production studio that redefined sound for TV and film.

Today, through his successful YouTube channel and social media brand, Anthony Marinelli Music, he continues to educate and inspire new generations to explore synthesis and create timeless music.

Ola Strandberg | Founder and Chief Creative Officer | Strandberg Guitars

Ola Strandberg is the founder, designer, and visionary behind Strandberg Guitars. Trained as a Software Engineer, Ola began building guitars early on as a hobby, driven by a desire to solve the ergonomic and playability challenges of traditional instruments. His pursuit of lighter, more comfortable, and more responsive guitars led to groundbreaking designs such as the patented EndurNeck™ profile and the ergonomic body design. From a garage workshop with a 500+ player waitlist to a globally recognized brand, Ola has transformed Strandberg into a symbol of modern guitar innovation. The company has partnered with world-class manufacturers and built a community of passionate musicians worldwide.

Corry Banks | Founder, Modbap Modular | Modbap Modular

Corry Banks is the founder of Modbap Modular, an independent Los Angeles–based instrument company that bridges beatmaker culture and modular synthesis. A technologist, producer, and designer, he coined the term Modbap to describe the fusion of boombap-style music production with modular synthesis and synth-driven electronic performance. Modbap as a brand represents the convergence of beatmaker and DJ culture, electronic performance, and instrument design.

Through Modbap, Banks develops performance-oriented tools that distill complex synthesis concepts into intuitive, expressive instruments for musicians and sound designers. With more than 25 years in technology leadership and a formal background in electronics, he bridges IT and creative engineering while contributing as a sound designer, beta tester, and consultant for brands such as Moog, Akai, and Arturia. His work explores the intersection of culture and innovation, championing accessibility, creativity, and what he calls “culture as engineering.”

Sourabh Pateriya | Founder & CEO | Soundverse Inc.

Rachel Stilwell | Owner/Founder | Stilwell Law

Rachel Stilwell is the Owner/Founder of Stilwell Law, a music and intellectual property firm based in Los Angeles. Rachel's law practice focuses on entertainment, intellectual property, licensing, and commercial transactions. She advises and negotiates on behalf of businesses and creative professionals on complex intellectual property matters and business transactions. Stilwell Law serves businesses and individuals from all industries, with special expertise in entertainment and professional audio. Rachel is proud to have been named to Billboard's Top Music Lawyers List for the last six consecutive years. Prior to becoming an attorney, Rachel held executive positions with several top record labels, including Verve Music Group, where she ran Verve's multi-format radio promotional department, supervising all radio activities and promotional tours. Rachel is Co-Chair of the Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter's Advocacy Committee. She also serves on the national advocacy committee of the Songwriters of North America.

Gavin N. Lurssen | President | Lurssen Mastering

Gavin Lurssen is the president and principal engineer at Lurssen Mastering. He is a twelve-time Grammy nominee and a four-time Grammy winner. Artists whose albums he has mastered include the Foo Fighters, Ben Harper, Queens of the Stone Age, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Eric Clapton, Sara Bareilles, and Chvrches, to name just a few. Soundtracks include Hercules, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, Mulan, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, The Hunger Games and Gladiator.

He has led meetings with members of the US Congress and Senate for the advancement of artists’ rights through the Recording Academy. He is also on the advisory boards of the P&E wing at the Recording Academy and at Pearce College, in Los Angeles.

Gavin is a graduate of The Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is a recipient of their Distinguished Alumni Award for his achievements in mastering.

Rishabh Rajan | Associate Professor, Electronic Production and Design | Berklee College of Music

Rishabh Rajan is an Associate Professor in the Electronic Production and Design department at Berklee College of Music, with over 16 years of teaching experience across India, Malaysia, and the U.S. He has been instrumental in modernizing Berklee’s curriculum, developing innovative courses such as Finger Drumming Techniques, Speech & Vocal Synthesis, and the college’s first Producing with FL Studio course. Beyond Berklee, Rishabh has produced nearly 100 professional courses for MacProVideo, Ask.Video, and Ask.Audio, earning a Telly Award in 2020 for his Berklee Online course, Electronic Music Performance Techniques. A producer and sound designer, his work blends electronic, cinematic, and experimental genres with South Asian influences. He has collaborated with leading music tech brands including Splice, Moog, Korg, Roland, Native Instruments, Novation, and DJTechTools. His YouTube channel, with nearly 20,000 subscribers, features tutorials on synthesis, production, and sound design.

Shauna Krikorian |  Executive Vice President  |  SongHub

Shauna Krikorian has a diverse background in the music industry that spans music publishing, artist development, and working with new technologies to enhance the creator experience. Shauna serves as EVP of SongHub, an innovative blockchain-powered collaboration, rights management and registration platform developed for creators, music publishers, performing rights organizations and music education programs worldwide. An advocate for more transparency within the music industry, Shauna drives SongHub’s mission to help promote the standardization of clean data practices.

As a creative, Shauna has signed and developed artists for synchronization licensing across various visual media including film, TV, ads and promos. She has also spearheaded synch marketing campaigns for many iconic music publishing catalogs (KISS, George Thorogood, Elvis Presley, Charli XCX, Paul Oakenfold and others). Recent projects include Ralph Lauren, Fitbit, Macys, Squishables, Victoria’s Secret, The Good Doctor, Matlock, Yellowjackets, Sweet Tooth, Charmed, and multiple Marvel franchises.

Joe Berman |  COO/Co-founder |  SongHub

Joe Berman, a Southern California native, launched his music career as a songwriter and guitarist for local rock bands immediately after high school. That foundation sparked a 30+ year journey across multiple sectors of the music industry, including A&R, music publishing, sync licensing, and artist management.

As co-founder of MediaHorse, a Los Angeles-based music publishing and licensing firm, Joe has represented diverse catalogs and artists including KISS, George Thorogood, Charli XCX, She Wants Revenge, and Rival Sons. Throughout his career, he has secured high-profile sync placements in advertising campaigns for major brands such as Apple, Target, American Express, Verizon, Victoria's Secret, Nissan, Volkswagen, and many others.

A recognized expert in music rights and licensing, Joe most recently co-founded SongHub, a pioneering music-technology startup that leverages blockchain technology to provide creative collaboration, rights management, and registration solutions for the global music industry.

Steve Stewart |  CEO & Co-Founder  |  SongHub

Steve Stewart is a serial entrepreneur, music industry expert, and the CEO & Co-Founder of SongHub - a creative collaboration and registration platform identifying human and AI elements in AI-generated music allowing for rights registration and royalty compensation. He is the former personal manager of multi-platinum rock band, Stone Temple Pilots, managing their career from their inception through their first five records. Under Steve’s management, the band’s worldwide sales exceeded 40 million records, generating more than $1 billion in gross revenues from all sources.

As the CEO & Co-Founder of Vezt, he developed the first platform to fractionalize song rights, giving fans the ability to participate in the royalties of their favorite songs. He is also the Co-Founder of Futureworlds, working with iconic venues, brands and real estate in the metaverse. He has been tapped as a keynote/panel speaker and moderator at more than 100 domestic and international music/tech conferences, with expertise in AI, digital assets and blockchain technology relating to music rights, industry practices and royalty inefficiencies.

Alexander Brandon (Moderator) | Owner | Funky Rustic

Alexander Brandon is a game audio veteran with thirty years of experience and over one hundred titles to his credit, among them the soundtracks for such hits as “Unreal” and “Deus Ex”, and more recently music, sound and voice for such games as “Stormgate”, “Wasteland 3", "Oddworld: Soulstorm", "Aven Colony", Wasteland 2”, “Alpha Protocol”, the “Neverwinter Nights” series, “Bejeweled 3”, "Skyrim"​, and “DC Universe Online”.

Alex has skills in music composition, sound design, voice acting, voice direction, audio direction and game audio technology. He has written the award winning book “Audio For Games: Planning, Process and Production"​ and written columns for "Game Developer"​and "Mix" magazines. He has also lectured at UCLA Extension, Texas State University and Berklee School of Music.

He has also worked with Hollywood voice talent, symphony orchestras, and high profile music acts such as BT. Alex continues to write on numerous game audio subjects, and is always honoring his roots, interviewing such Japanese game music rock stars like Hip Tanaka and Tetsuya Mizuguchi. As part of the game audio community continues to serve on the steering committee of the IA-SIG and has served as a founding member and as the Vice President of the Game Audio Network Guild.

He now owns his own audio production house in Seattle, Washington, “Funky Rustic”, and distributes music through Bandcamp, releasing an album every now and again.

Luiz Zanardo | Co-Founder and CEO | Spatial9

Luiz Zanardo is the CEO and co-founder of Spatial9 — and an international electronic music artist signed to Armada Music and Black Hole Recordings, supported by legends like Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten and Nora en Pure.

A creator who moves seamlessly between worlds, fluent in both art and high technology, Luiz built his career across HP, Intel, Cloudera, and Databricks — the companies that shaped the modern Data & AI revolution. He led elite global engineering teams that architected intelligence-grade Data & AI systems for the military, the intelligence community, and some of the world’s most powerful enterprises, powering many of the breakthroughs that now shape our digital era, redefining how data, human decision-making, and large-scale computation intersect.

Today, that same precision and creative force fuel Spatial9’s invention of Generative Spatial Audio™ — technology that transforms music into adaptive, emotionally aware, living sound.

Part engineer, part artist, part dreamer, Luiz is a global voice on the future of sound, AI, and the new era of living media — where creativity and intelligence merge to shape the experiences of tomorrow.

Alan Silva | Co-Founder and CTO, Research & Development | Spatial9

Alan Silva is a well-seasoned researcher and engineer, serving as CTO at Spatial9 and leading initiatives in research and development. He specializes in applying machine learning algorithms and distributed computing to design innovative, real-world solutions. Alan is strongly committed to open-source projects, actively contributing to collaborative platforms that drive technological progress and foster community engagement.

Throughout his career, Alan has gained valuable experience at renowned companies such as Alcatel-Lucent and Samsung, where he secured some patents. He has also worked with leading data and AI organizations, including Cloudera, H2O.ai, and Databricks.

Beyond his extensive technical expertise, Alan is particularly passionate about immersive audio.

By leveraging his knowledge in machine learning and artificial intelligence, he explores pioneering techniques to craft captivating audio experiences. His focus lies in developing adaptive soundscapes that respond to user interaction, enhancing both engagement and the quality of music immersion.

Carlos Freitas | Co-Founder and Chief Music Officer | Spatial9

Carlos Freitas is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading mastering engineers. Since beginning his career in 1994, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of audio technology, becoming a key figure in the evolution of mastering and immersive mixing across Latin America and beyond. Now based in Miami, FL, Carlos continues to deliver award-winning work while expanding his focus on immersive audio and artificial intelligence through Spatial9, a cutting-edge company dedicated to advanced immersive sound and AI-driven audio solutions.

A nine-time Latin Grammy nominee in the Best Engineering category, Carlos has mastered thirty-six Grammy-winning albums and contributed to over one hundred nominated projects. His credits span an extraordinary range of artists, including João Gilberto, Nathan East, Bon Jovi, Caetano Veloso, Guns N’ Roses, George Michael, Djavan, Paul Simon, Lenine, Andrés Cepeda, Luciana Souza, Ivan Lins, Nampa Básico, Roberto Fonseca, Ed Motta, and Omara Portuondo, among many others.

Carlos has also worked extensively in film, mastering soundtracks for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Love in the Time of Cholera, City of God, and The Perfect Stranger. He additionally led the TV Broadcast audio mastering for the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Throughout his career, Carlos has been a dedicated advocate for independent artists and for the creative, responsible use of technology in music. He believes that innovation, when guided by artistry, has the power to build a more vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking music industry.

Declan McGlynn (Moderator) | Chief Creative Officer | Voice-Swap

Declan McGlynn is an experienced music tech journalist and consultant who’s worked for and with the likes of Google, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Rolling Stone, Splice, Native Instruments, Universal Music Group and many more. He’s now the Communications Director of AI voice transformation platform Voice-Swap.

Gregory Pat Scandalis | CTO, Acting CEO | moForte Inc

Pat Scandalis, CTO acting CEO of moForte Inc, has held lead engineering positions at National Semiconductor, Teradyne, Apple and Sun and spent the past 32 years in Digital Media. He was an Audio DSP researcher at Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). He co-founded/VP of engineering for Staccato Systems, a successful spinout of Stanford/CCRMA, sold to Analog Devices in 2001. He has held VP positions at TuneTo.com, Jarrah Systems and Liquid Digital Media (responsible for online digital music e-commerce properties for Walmart). He holds a BSc in Physics from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is currently a visiting scholar at CCRMA, Stanford.

Steve Horowitz | Founder Game Audio Institute | Faculty SFSU | Chair IASIG

Critically acclaimed as one of the foremost figures in the field, Composer Steven Horowitz is the current chair of the IASIG. He is the founder of the Game Audio Institute and teaches music composition at San Francisco State University. Horowitz is also a long standing Audio Director at Nickelodeon/Paramount games where he has worked on scoring hundreds of beloved video games as well as garnering him Webby, Kid Screen and BDA awards. Steve is well known for his original score to the Academy Award nominated film Super Size Me. His compositions have also appeared in television series like I Bet you Will and Casino Cinema for MTV Networks. Horowitz was honored with a GRAMMY award in 1996 for his engineering work on the album True Life Blues, the Songs of Bill Monroe. In addition to his work in dance, film, television, cartoons and video games, Horowitz also has a robust catalog of chamber and concert music. In addition, Horowitz is also the author of two books, The Essential Guide to Game Audio: The Theory and Practice of Sound for Games on Focal press, and The Theory And Practice Of Music For Games, published January 2024.

Jared Selter | Director of Education | Roland Corporation

“Air” Jared Selter is Director of Education at Roland, where he develops programs connecting students to cutting-edge tools and real industry experience. Also known as Music Director for HBO Max’s Legendary, he blends his background as a DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for education, inspiring the next generation of artists and leaders.

Jonathan Wyner (Moderator) |  President | M Works Studios

Jonathan Wyner is founder/chief engineer at M-Works Studios. A musician, educator, performer, and consultant, he has mastered and produced more than 5,000 recordings over 40 years. His credits include James Taylor, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Kiri Te Kanawa, Aimee Mann, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Pink Floyd, Josh Groban, Bruce Springsteen, and Nirvana.

As a Professor of Music Production and Engineering at Berklee College of Music, Jonathan is at the forefront of inspiring and educating the next generation of music professionals. Past - President of the Audio Engineering Society and Education Director at iZotope, he has consistently bridged the gap between cutting-edge technology and the art of music creation.

Jonathan brings a wealth of experience as a product consultant, where he leverages subject matter expertise to help craft immersive, user-centered experiences for both creative and technical users alike. His work is a fusion of artistry and technology, driving forward the future of music production and the tools that shape it.

Jean-Baptiste Thiebaut |  CEO, Music Hackspace & Chordline Ventures | Music Hackspace

Andrew Hutchens |  Assistant Professor of Music, Coordinator of Music/Music industry | Benedict College

Dr. Andrew Hutchens is Assistant Professor of Music Industry/Woodwinds and Coordinator of Music/Music Industry at Benedict College, where he develops programs uniting music technology, AI, and experiential industry engagement. A Propel Faculty Fellow, Recording Academy member, and Education Chair of the Audio Engineering Society of the Carolinas, he has formed partnerships with Apple, Splice, Yamaha, Ableton, ConnectMusic, and the Propel Center to integrate generative AI, creative technology, and experiential experiences into higher education. His research explores AI-driven artistry, interdisciplinary learning, and technology’s role in reshaping music curricula. Featured by Apple Education, DJ Life Magazine, Rekkerd.org, and Splice leadership, his work has been presented at national conferences including NAMM, TMEA, and the HBCU Faculty Development Network, highlighting his leadership in aligning innovation, education, and industry collaboration.

Mark Ethier |  Founding Executive Director, BEATL | Berklee

Mark Ethier is the Executive Director of the Berklee Emerging Artistic Technology Lab (BEATL) and an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering creativity. In 2001, he cofounded iZotope, leading the company as CEO. Under his guidance, iZotope developed industry-standard tools for audio production, earning numerous NAMM TEC Awards, two Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, and an Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Achievement.

Gregg Stein | Founder & CEO | Triple G Ventures

Gregg Stein builds the systems that turn creativity into scalable business. A five-time CEO and board member, he is the founder of Triple G Ventures, a global growth firm that builds products, brands, and go-to-market engines across music, media, technology, health, and wealth. Gregg has generated more than $10 billion in enterprise value through category-defining innovation and market expansion, building at the intersection of human creativity, AI, learning, and neurodata-driven systems. A lifelong drummer and creative executive, he has held senior leadership roles at ROLI, Kano Computing, Libratone, Line 6, InMusic Brands, Behringer, and Zildjian, leading collaborations with Apple, Disney, Microsoft, and Warner Bros. Through Triple G, an AI for Music member, he has partnered with innovators such as Muse Group, the parent company of Hal Leonard, as well as Insoundz AI, Revelator, and Orange Amplifiers Consumer Division. Gregg also leads the Celiac Disease Foundation Impact Fund, a 501(c)(3) venture-philanthropy vehicle advancing biotechnology and health innovation to prevent, treat, and cure celiac disease. Named Most Influential CEO by CEO Monthly, he unites creativity, capital, and purpose to advance culture and commerce. He holds degrees from Berklee, Harvard, and completed coursework at MIT.

J. Galen Buckwalter | CEO | psyML

J. Galen Buckwalter, PhD, has been a research psychologist for over 30 years. He began his career as a research professor at the University of Southern California. Subsequently, he initiated a behavioral outcomes research program at Kaiser Permanente, Southern California. He transitioned into industry when he created the assessment and matching system for eHarmony.com. He is currently CEO of psyML, using his psychological and social media expertise to design digital systems supportive of individual growth. Galen is also a participant/scientist in a trial of an implanted brain-machine interface geared toward the long-term restoration of spinal cord injury. As such he has unprecedented access to the neural functioning of his brain. As the front man for a four-piece pre-punk band of shrinks, Siggy, he has written over 70 songs and performed at most every underground dive in LA. He is currently working to integrate the sounds of his neuronal activity into his music.

Peter F. Brown (Moderator) | Senior Director, Global Security & Technology Strategy | Venable LLP

Peter’s early interests in acoustics, technology and electronic music have contributed to a career spanning a wide-range of skills and experience covering political, societal, cultural, entrepreneurial, scientific, and technological domains, and which has led him to work on subject areas as varied as governance and policymaking; privacy, identity management, and trust; air transport and drone technology; cloud computing; artificial intelligence; internet of things (IoT); cybersecurity, and technology standards.

As a published author, and working in several languages, he has a reputation as a polymath and a polyglot. His professional career includes 25 years of experience in European public service and more than a decade in the private sector consulting on international standards engagement, technology strategy and governance. He currently works as Senior Director on Global Security and Technology Strategy at Venable LLP in Washington, DC.

He lives in Virginia with his life partner, a dog and a sometimes-functioning home studio focused on modular and analog synthesis.

Presenter(s)/Speaker(s) TBA

Jessica Mendoza | AI & Human Experience Advocate | SWARM Community

Dr. Jess Mendoza is an AI & Human Experience Specialist with a PhD in Experimental Psychology, bridging cognitive science with human-centered AI adoption. She is a co-founding member of HelpNOW, where she leads AI-powered multilingual chatbot initiatives for disaster relief, connecting displaced residents to vital resources in real-time.

As part of the SWARM Community, she contributes to knowledge-transferring workshops that center around building compassionate and conscious human experiences. Her work spans on AI literacy in the Education space, AI-augmented workflows, and leveraging collaborative intelligence to make data driven decisions. Jess often mentors emerging professionals who want to explore careers in technology. When not on the screen, she enjoys quality time with her family and friends.

Anne Cantera | Sr. AI Product Designer - Conversational AI | SWARM Community

Anne Cantera is a conversation design and AI leader who blends creativity, psychology, and technology to craft intuitive, next-generation digital experiences. A hardcore advocate for women in tech, she’s also designed for learning-disabled and neurodiverse communities, bringing firsthand insight into how differently wired minds navigate the world. She pushes for AI that’s inclusive, emotionally intelligent, and built to truly serve people through clear, frictionless interaction. Anne is the creator and host of Designathon—where heart and soul meet design and AI—a podcast and community exploring how creativity, empathy, and intelligence come together to shape the future of human-tech connection.

Eric R. Burgess | Founder/CEO | Credtent

Eric "E.R." Burgess is the CEO of Credtent.org, a Public Benefit Corporation empowering creators to reclaim control of their content in the Age of Al. With a career spanning journalism, video game design, SaaS innovation, and marketing technology, Eric is a recognized leader in creativity, technology, and content authenticity. At Disney, he spearheaded the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire video games, introducing early downloadable content and selling over 4 million copies. He later led innovations in SaaS at SmartOffice, drove content marketing breakthroughs at PublishThis, and developed industry- first tools like the Earned Media Value Index at a.network. A prolific writer and creator rights advocate, Eric combines innovative storytelling and bleeding-edge technology to inspire a more authentic and financially inclusive digital landscape.

Credtent is a B Corp bringing creativity and Al together ethically and credibly. Our platform empowers creators to exclude their work or profit from Al by setting fair licensing terms for responsible Al companies. Creators can register any type of creative work for Al protection or licensing with our low-price, high-tech solution. Our Content Origin and Sourcing Badges have set industry standards for Al transparency and ethical training. Our Credibility Science enables Al tools to train their models on truly legitimate and accurate content to maximize efficacy, minimize business risk, and increase Al acceptance by creators across the artistic spectrum.

Dan Furman, Ph.D. (Moderator) | CEO | Arctop

Dan Furman, PhD, began his neuroscience career as a researcher under neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duma, developing a surgical method that used brain imaging to predict the spread of malignant brain tumors and proactively halt tumor growth using gamma radiation. He went on to Harvard, where he earned his A.B. in Neurobiology with a minor in Music. After graduating, he joined a medtech company working on a brain-computer interface (BCI) for Dr. Stephen Hawking, before returning to academy to do a PhD in computational neuroscience. There, he was first in the world to demonstrate that non-invasive brain sensor data could be used to control individual neuroprosthetic fingers. In 2016, Dan co-founded Arctop to create general purpose BCI technology that unlocks human potential.

Arctop is a cognition company, founded to create widely accessible technology that profoundly improves human life. Arctop's software applies artificial intelligence to electric measurements of brain activity in real time — translating people's feelings, reactions, and intent into actionable data. Arctop's clients include some of the most innovative organizations at the intersection of AI development and human experience, such as Endel (Apple Watch App of the Year), Stanford Medicine, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The company has published in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, The Wall Street Journal, and been awarded multiple patents on its state-of-the-art methods of brain decoding.

Alexander Brandon | Owner | Funky Rustic

Alexander Brandon is a game audio veteran with thirty years of experience and over one hundred titles to his credit, among them the soundtracks for such hits as “Unreal” and “Deus Ex”, and more recently music, sound and voice for such games as “Stormgate”, “Wasteland 3", "Oddworld: Soulstorm", "Aven Colony", Wasteland 2”, “Alpha Protocol”, the “Neverwinter Nights” series, “Bejeweled 3”, "Skyrim"​, and “DC Universe Online”.

Alex has skills in music composition, sound design, voice acting, voice direction, audio direction and game audio technology. He has written the award winning book “Audio For Games: Planning, Process and Production"​ and written columns for "Game Developer"​and "Mix" magazines. He has also lectured at UCLA Extension, Texas State University and Berklee School of Music.

He has also worked with Hollywood voice talent, symphony orchestras, and high profile music acts such as BT. Alex continues to write on numerous game audio subjects, and is always honoring his roots, interviewing such Japanese game music rock stars like Hip Tanaka and Tetsuya Mizuguchi. As part of the game audio community continues to serve on the steering committee of the IA-SIG and has served as a founding member and as the Vice President of the Game Audio Network Guild.

He now owns his own audio production house in Seattle, Washington, “Funky Rustic”, and distributes music through Bandcamp, releasing an album every now and again.

Declan McGlynn | Chief Creative Officer | Voice-Swap

Declan McGlynn is an experienced music tech journalist and consultant who’s worked for and with the likes of Google, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Rolling Stone, Splice, Native Instruments, Universal Music Group and many more. He’s now the Communications Director of AI voice transformation platform Voice-Swap.

Presenter(s)/Speaker(s) TBA

Shauna Krikorian |  Executive Vice President  |  SongHub

Shauna Krikorian has a diverse background in the music industry that spans music publishing, artist development, and working with new technologies to enhance the creator experience. Shauna serves as EVP of SongHub, an innovative blockchain-powered collaboration, rights management and registration platform developed for creators, music publishers, performing rights organizations and music education programs worldwide. An advocate for more transparency within the music industry, Shauna drives SongHub’s mission to help promote the standardization of clean data practices.

As a creative, Shauna has signed and developed artists for synchronization licensing across various visual media including film, TV, ads and promos. She has also spearheaded synch marketing campaigns for many iconic music publishing catalogs (KISS, George Thorogood, Elvis Presley, Charli XCX, Paul Oakenfold and others). Recent projects include Ralph Lauren, Fitbit, Macys, Squishables, Victoria’s Secret, The Good Doctor, Matlock, Yellowjackets, Sweet Tooth, Charmed, and multiple Marvel franchises.

Sourabh Pateriya | Founder & CEO | Soundverse Inc.

Linnea Sundberg (Moderator) | VP of Corporate Development & Head of Partnerships | UnitedMasters Inc.

Jamie Gale | Founder | Jamie Gale Music

Jamie Gale: Curator, Educator, and Visionary in the Guitar Industry.

Jamie Gale is a globally recognized thought leader in the guitar industry, known for curating the Boutique Guitar Showcase, hosting the podcast Life With Strings Attached, and consulting with top makers, brands, and organizations worldwide.

A sought-after speaker and educator, Jamie has lectured at institutions like Harvard University, The NAMM Show, Mondo NYC and La Biennale di Venezia.

His consultancy work focuses on brand development, business strategy, and global engagement.

Through cross-disciplinary exploration and a commitment to collaboration, Jamie Gale is redefining how we think about guitars and their place in the world of art, design, and music.

Presenter(s)/Speaker(s) TBA

Rob Christie (Moderator) | Republic Records* Studios Director | Universal Music Group

2 x Grammy Winning A&R Producer, former Staff Producer for EMI-Capitol Records.

*(Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last 10 years. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning superstar artists such as: The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande, John Legend, Post Malone, Metro Boomin, Stevie Wonder, among others.)

Presenter(s)/Speaker(s) TBA

Chris Horton | SVP Strategic Technology | Universal Music Group

Chris Horton, SVP Strategic Technology, leads Universal Music Group’s Office of Strategic Technology, which is responsible for the technology aspects of digital partner deals and for long-term strategic technology projects and policy. Chris has worked on UMG’s digital distribution deals for more than 25 years, including the first successful download and subscription services. Chris and his team collaborate with technology companies on the development of new music-related products and services, including high-resolution audio, stem-based formats, music-related AI, web3, AR/VR, anti-piracy and more. He has developed and co-founded various music industry standards and standards bodies, including DDEX. He currently leads UMG's AI Task Force and UMG's AI Review Team. Chris received his undergraduate and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Universal Music Group exists to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across musical genres, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans.

Paul McCabe | Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation, Roland Future Design Lab | Roland Corporation

Paul McCabe is the senior vice president of research and innovation at Roland Corporation with 32 years of dedicated service. McCabe has excelled in various leadership roles, including VP global marketing and multiple positions at Roland Canada, such as president & CEO, COO, product manager, and marketing communications manager. He co-authored "Principles for Music Creation with AI", a collaboration between Roland and Universal Music Group that underscores the responsible use of AI in the music creative ecosystem. His influence extends beyond this, as he plays a pivotal role in identifying, researching, and
developing concepts around emerging trends in culture, society technology, and creativity for Roland. A dedicated composer and IT enthusiast, McCabe is renowned for his expertise in AI for music and music creation technologies.

For more than 50 years, Roland’s innovative electronic musical instruments and multimedia products have fueled inspiration in artists and creators around the world. Embraced by hobbyists and professionals alike, the company’s trendsetting gear spans multiple categories, from pianos, synthesizers, guitar, drum and percussion, DJ controllers, audio/video solutions, gaming mixers, livestreaming products, and more. As technology evolves, Roland and its expanding family of brands, including BOSS, V-MODA, Drum Workshop (DW), PDP, Latin Percussion (LP), and Slingerland, continue to lead the way for music makers and creators, providing modern solutions and seamless creative workflows between hardware products, computers, and mobile devices.

Kristina Collins (Moderator) | Research Scientist | Space Science Institute

Dr. Kristina Collins KD8OXT is a Research Scientist at the Space Science Institute, where she uses virtual reality and sonification to study interdisciplinary science questions in Earth system science. As the Chief Operations Scientist for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station Network, she coordinates with the citizen scientist maintainers of the network to identify events of interest, plan campaigns, and validate and curate data for scientific use. Her research interests center on using open-source hardware and software to broaden participation and accelerate progress in science and engineering. She is the 2025 recipient of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association's Technical Award, and a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Order of the Engineer and the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists. Outside of radio, her hobbies include sailing on Lake Erie and being largely ignored by her cats. At NAMM, she can generally be found at the 3D Music booth.

Robert Alexander | CEO | Auralab Technologies Inc.

Robert Alexander is the CEO and Co-Founder of Auralab, a company whose primary focus is to help individuals shift from surviving to thriving through transformational breathing technology. His work bridges inner space and outer space through technology, science, and art. As a NASA fellow, he developed the audification algorithms used by NASA’s CDAWeb archive to make the agency’s collective mission data available as sound, resulting in numerous publications in leading space physics journals. He is the principal investigator of the HEARTS project, which explores the impact of nature’s forces on human beings through interactive real-time data streams and multimodal displays. Before launching Auralab, Dr. Alexander served as Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Michigan and lectured on Sound Design and Psychology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design. The Breathscape app, available free on iOS, supports deep states of relaxation and meditation through real-time biofeedback.

Paul McCabe | Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation, Roland Future Design Lab | Roland Corporation

Paul McCabe is the senior vice president of research and innovation at Roland Corporation with 32 years of dedicated service. McCabe has excelled in various leadership roles, including VP global marketing and multiple positions at Roland Canada, such as president & CEO, COO, product manager, and marketing communications manager. He co-authored "Principles for Music Creation with AI", a collaboration between Roland and Universal Music Group that underscores the responsible use of AI in the music creative ecosystem. His influence extends beyond this, as he plays a pivotal role in identifying, researching, and
developing concepts around emerging trends in culture, society technology, and creativity for Roland. A dedicated composer and IT enthusiast, McCabe is renowned for his expertise in AI for music and music creation technologies.

For more than 50 years, Roland’s innovative electronic musical instruments and multimedia products have fueled inspiration in artists and creators around the world. Embraced by hobbyists and professionals alike, the company’s trendsetting gear spans multiple categories, from pianos, synthesizers, guitar, drum and percussion, DJ controllers, audio/video solutions, gaming mixers, livestreaming products, and more. As technology evolves, Roland and its expanding family of brands, including BOSS, V-MODA, Drum Workshop (DW), PDP, Latin Percussion (LP), and Slingerland, continue to lead the way for music makers and creators, providing modern solutions and seamless creative workflows between hardware products, computers, and mobile devices.

Presenter(s)/Speaker(s) TBA