INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
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MATT ADELL – MusicalAI
Matthew Adell is a distinguished music executive whose career has shaped the industry. Starting at 13 in a Chicago record store, he became VP of Wax Trax!, signing groundbreaking acts like The KLF, KMFDM, and Derrick Carter. He founded Organico Recordings and held senior roles at Radiowave, MusicNow, Amazon, and Napster. As CEO of Beatport, he led its 2013 sale. Adell co-founded MetaPop, later sold to Native Instruments, and launched Sounds.com. Now, as Co-Founder and COO of Musical AI, he continues innovating in music and technology.
MATT HENNINGER – Moises
Matt Henninger (VP, Business Development & Sales at Music.ai) has over 18+ years of experience building, launching, and licensing music services across all aspects of the music ecosystem. In addition to having run BD and Sales Orgs for Audible Magic, SOCAN’s Dataclef, MediaNet, Rovi, and All Media Guide, Matt started his career as a professional bassist, performing 200+ shows a year in the greater Detroit area.
VICKIE NAUMAN – CrossBorderWorks
Vickie Nauman specializes in music licensing, rights, and global strategy at the intersection of music and technology. She is the Founder/CEO of CrossBorderWorks, advising companies in gaming, emerging tech, platforms, and music since 2014. A digital music pioneer, she worked at MusicNet, Sonos, 7digital, and KEXP, building one of the first DMCA-compliant services. With experience in Europe and China, she holds a TRIUM MBA from LSE, NYU-Stern, and HEC-Paris. Nauman collaborates with top innovators like Beat Saber/Oculus, Pixelynx, and Downtown Holdings.
AURE PROCHAZKA – Compiler Inc.
Aurelius Prochazka is a technologist and entrepreneur focused on AI and music technology. He founded AudioKit, an open-source framework powering hundreds of music apps. With expertise in software development, signal processing, and audio synthesis, he has designed tools used by musicians, developers, and major music brands. He holds a Ph.D. from Caltech in Computational Fluid Dynamics and has contributed to projects spanning real-time audio processing and AI-driven music applications.
JOHN STROHM – Meitus Strohm LLP
Strohm is an entertainment and intellectual property lawyer specializing in representing music business and technology clients. Over his 20-year legal career, Strohm has represented multiple Grammy-winning, RIAA gold and platinum certified recording artists, record producers, labels, distributors, publishers, influencers, songwriters, and management companies. A former professional recording artist and touring musician (founding member of The Blake Babies and performed with The Lemonheads and Antenna), Strohm recently served as President of Rounder Records. He regularly advises clients on creative approaches to navigating business planning, asset purchases and sales, and deal structures within the music industry.
MEGH VAKHARIA – SymphonyOS
Megh Vakharia is a creative technologist and entrepreneur building tools for artists and the entertainment industry. Based in New York, he is the founder and CEO of SymphonyOS, an AI-driven platform for audience targeting and growth. As Co-Founder & CTO of Integral Studio, he led marketing strategies for major labels and artists like SZA and Travis Scott, contributing to GRAMMY-nominated and Platinum records. Previously, he worked at Hulu and Sears Holdings. Megh holds a degree in Informatics from the University of Washington.
DARIUS VAN ARMAN – Secretly Group
Darius Van Arman is a music industry leader and entrepreneur dedicated to artist advocacy and independent music. As Co-CEO of Secretly Group, he oversees renowned indie labels like Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, and Secretly Canadian. He also co-founded Secretly Distribution and has played a key role in industry organizations, including A2IM and Merlin. Passionate about fair artist compensation and industry innovation, Darius continues to champion independent artists while shaping the future of music distribution and label operations.
JASON WILBER – CoordN8
Jason Wilber has worked in the music industry for over 3 decades. He was John Prine’s lead guitarist and musical director for 24 years, contributing to one Grammy award winning album and several Grammy nominated albums. Since 2020, Jason has been advising and investing in technology startups. He spent two and a half years as Director of Sales and Production Lead at a music software company, and recently co-founded CoordN8, to develop innovative technology for music creators.
JOVANKA VON WILSDORF – AI Influencer
Jovanka v. Wilsdorf is a Berlin-based musician, creative consultant, and musical director at Hanson Robotics. She founded the DIANA AI Song Contest and the Female Producer Prize (with Sony Music) and speaks globally on Creative AI and Artist Development. As an artist coach, she works with Universal Music and Musicboard Berlin. Before signing with BMG Rights Management as a songwriter and sub-publisher in 2016, Jovanka toured Europe with her electronic band QUARKS, releasing five albums under Sony Music.
TRISTRA NEWYEAR YEAGER – Rock Paper Scissors
Tristra is Chief Strategy Officer at Rock Paper Scissors, a music innovation PR agency, and co-host of the Music Tectonics podcast. With two decades of PR experience and a doctorate on performing arts in Siberia and Mongolia, she specializes in cross-cultural storytelling and tech insights. Her work has secured thousands of media placements worldwide. Passionate about writing, she continues to create in her spare time, blending her love for music, science, and society into compelling narratives.
LAW SPECIALISTS
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SUSAN DAVID DEMAINE
Susan deMaine, Director of the Law Library, Associate Librarian, and Senior Lecturer in Law, joined the Maurer School of Law in 2020 as director of the Jerome Hall Law Library and senior lecturer. Previously, she was associate director of the Ruth Lilly Law Library at IU McKinney. She clerked for the late Hon. David A. Nelson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. DeMaine, a nationally recognized leader in law librarianship, holds a J.D. and M.L.I.S. from the University of Kentucky and actively publishes and presents on legal research and accessibility.
ROBERT MEITUS – Meitus Strohm LLP/IU Maurer School of Law
Meitus is responsible for the intellectual property and entertainment legal matters for many national clients, including record companies, recording artists, filmmakers, authors and creative business clients, including Cage the Elephant, Sufjan Stevens, and Joshua Bell. Robert is also an adjunct professor at the IU Maurer School of Law, a Grammy voting member of the Recording Academy, and was recently named a top music attorney by Billboard. He has performed music professionally for much of his life and has over 20 years experience in the entertainment industry.
KRISTELIA GARCIA
Kristelia García is the Leo George Professor of Communications, Entertainment, and New Media and an Anne Fleming Research Professor at Georgetown Law. She holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University. A former music industry professional, she previously taught at the University of Colorado Law School and was a Fellow at GW Law. Her research, published in top law journals, examines intellectual property law through the lens of law and economics, focusing on policy, legal institutions, and private ordering norms.
MARSHALL LEAFFER – IU Maurer School of Law, Professor
Marshall Leaffer is a Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, teaching copyright, trademark, and intellectual property law since 1997. He has authored three books, including Understanding Copyright Law, now in its 8th edition. A former attorney-advisor for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, he practiced trademark law before entering academia. Leaffer is a renowned speaker on intellectual property law and serves on the executive committee of the Paris-based Association Littéraire et Artistique Internationale.
SEAN O’CONNOR
Seán O’Connor is a Professor of Law at Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, focusing on intellectual property and business law in technology and the arts. They hold a J.D. from Stanford, an M.A. in philosophy from ASU, and a B.A. in history from UMass Boston. A former singer-songwriter, O’Connor is Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Music Law & Policy and Founder of the Music Ecosystems Institute. Their research explores innovation commercialization and competition policy.
WILLIAM PATRY – Quinn Emanuel Law Firm
Bill Patry has over 40 years of experience as a copyright lawyer, including roles as in-house counsel at Google and copyright counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the author of Patry on Copyright and Patry on Fair Use, with his writings cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. A lifelong musician, Patry specializes in fair use, particularly regarding AI-related legal issues. His expertise in resolving business problems with legal solutions has been invaluable throughout his distinguished career.
JOHN RILEY – U.S. Copyright Office
John Riley is an Assistant General Counsel at the U.S. Copyright Office, contributing to Supreme Court cases, AI copyright policy, and major reports on copyright law. He has authored regulations for the Music Modernization Act and CASE Act. Previously, he led IP enforcement at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He holds an LL.M. from George Washington University, a JD from Dickinson, and multiple BAs from Penn State. A 2023 Leadership Music graduate, he has been recognized for his contributions to IP law.
MATTHEW SAG
Matthew Sag, Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law at Emory University, specializes in copyright law and intellectual property. An authority on fair use in copyright law, he focuses on AI and machine learning. Educated in Australia, he practiced law in London and Silicon Valley. Sag has taught at DePaul, Loyola Chicago, and held visiting posts at Northwestern, Virginia, and Melbourne. His research, published in top journals, explores copyright law’s relation to AI and judicial behavior.
ACADEMICS AND HIGHER ED RESEARCHERS
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ALAIN BARKER – IU Jacobs School of Music
Alain Barker is an arts entrepreneur with experience in organization development, policy research, marketing, teaching, and performance. Since 2014, he has been the director of entrepreneurship and career development at the IU Jacobs School of Music, previously leading its marketing operations. He was executive director of the Bloomington Early Music Festival (1994–2004) and has consulted for nonprofits. Barker also serves on multiple boards and commissions, contributing to arts advocacy and career development.
WILLIAM BAUER – University of Florida
William I. Bauer is a Professor and Director of the Online MM in Music Education program at the University of Florida, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. A widely published author and presenter, his work appears in top journals and books. His book, Music Learning Today: Digital Pedagogy for Creating, Performing, and Responding to Music, is published by Oxford University Press. He currently edits Research Perspectives in Music Education and the Research Informed Music Learning book series.
FRANK DIAZ – IU Jacobs School of Music
Frank M. Diaz is an associate professor of music education and coordinator of the Office of Wellness and Arts in Health Initiatives at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He teaches instrumental music education, research methods, and mindfulness for musicians. Diaz is also a clinician, conductor, and active researcher in contemplative science, focusing on meditative practices and their application in music. He is the founder of the Institute for Mindfulness-Based Wellness and Pedagogy and has published widely on mindfulness in education.
DAVID CRANDALL
David Crandall is a Professor of Computer Science at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, and Director of the Luddy Artificial Intelligence Center. His research focuses on computer vision, developing algorithms that enable machines to “see.” Crandall earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Cornell University in 2008, and his M.S. and B.S. from Pennsylvania State University. He has also worked as a postdoctoral associate at Cornell and a research scientist at Eastman Kodak Company.
SCOTT DEAL – IU Herron School of Art + Design
Scott Deal is a percussionist and multimedia artist specializing in telematic performance and music technology. He has premiered solo, chamber, and mixed media works worldwide, with recordings on Albany, Centaur, and Cold Blue. Founder of the Telematic Collective and the former trio Big Robot, he launched the Earth Day Art Model Festival in 2020. Deal’s work, supported by organizations like Meet the Composer and the Lilly Foundation, explores computer musical interactivity, performance art, and high-bandwidth Internet collaborations in music.
ANDREW GOLDMAN – IU Jacobs School of Music
Andrew Goldman is an assistant professor of music theory at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and cognitive science at the IU College of Arts and Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 2015 and was a Presidential Scholar at Columbia University. His research explores the intersection of music theory, cognition, and neuroscience, focusing on improvisation, musical form, and embodiment. Goldman directs IU’s Music and Mind Lab and composed Science! The Musical, blending music and science.
JASON PALAMARA – IU Herron School of Art + Design
Jason Palamara develops machine learning-enabled performance technologies and AI-driven music software. He is the founder and director of the IU Indianapolis DISEnsemble and leads the Machine Musician Lab. With percussionist-composer Scott Deal, he co-designed AVATAR, a machine-learning application for live improvisation. His expertise includes musical AI, audio technologies, composition, improvisation, and generative music. Passionate about the intersection of technology and creativity, Palamara explores innovative approaches to music performance and composition through artificial intelligence and interactive systems.
CHRISTOPHER RAPHAEL – Cadenza/IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Christopher Raphael leads the Music Informatics program at Indiana University’s School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, with adjunct roles in music, cognitive science, and statistics. Holding a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University, he has worked on diverse problems, from Arabic character recognition to mine detection. His research now focuses on music, including accompaniment systems, computational music analysis, and musical signal processing. Raphael’s work bridges technology and music, advancing how computers interpret and interact with musical performance.
REY SANCHEZ – University of Miami
Rey Sanchez is an educator, scholar, producer, songwriter, and guitarist, currently serving as the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and Professor of Music Business and Entertainment Industries at the FROST School of Music, University of Miami. He directs the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program, blending American roots and contemporary composition. With a career spanning work with Latin superstar Chayanne, music publishing, and academia, he also founded FROST Online and co-developed groundbreaking JD/MM and MA degrees in music business.
PETER WEBSTER – University of Florida
Peter R. Webster is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida, teaching in the online master’s program. A former Scholar-in-Residence at USC’s Thornton School of Music, he is also Professor Emeritus at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music, following 23 years there and 14 at Case Western Reserve. His research focuses on creative thinking in music and music education technology. A prolific author and keynote speaker, he continues his work as an independent scholar in music teaching and learning sciences.
CHRISTOPHER WHITE – University of Massachusetts Amherst
Christopher White is an Associate Professor of Music Theory, previously teaching at UNC Greensboro and Yale. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale and studied at Queens College–CUNY and Oberlin. His research explores big data in music perception, detailed in The Music in The Data (2022). His work appears in Music Perception, Music Theory Online, and major media outlets. An organist, he has performed on America’s Got Talent and serves as secretary for the New England Conference of Music Theorists.
COMPOSERS
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ANTHONY BRANDT – Rice University
Anthony Brandt is a Professor of Composition and Theory at the Shepherd School and Artistic Director of Musiqa, a contemporary music ensemble. His works include chamber operas, orchestral pieces, and compositions for dance, television, and art installations. Honors include a Koussevitzky commission and grants from the NEA, Houston Arts Alliance, and MacDowell. Co-author of The Runaway Species with neuroscientist David Eagleman, Brandt has published on music cognition and organized three international conferences on music and the mind.
MARCO BUONGIORNO NARDELLI – University of North Texas
Marco Buongiorno Nardelli holds a Ph.D. in Computational Physics from the International School for Advanced Studies (1993). His research focuses on theoretical and computational materials physics, including materials informatics, nano-catalysis, and molecular electronics. He also explores quantum transport, energy applications, and the design of novel electronic devices. With expertise in ab initio DFT-based methods and multiscale computational techniques, he holds a joint appointment in Composition Studies in the College of Music, bridging science and the arts in his work.
TED MOORE – Composer, Improviser, Intermedia Artist
Ted Moore is a Chicago-based composer, improviser, and intermedia artist. His work blends sound, visuals, physicality, and technology, with performances by ensembles such as the International Contemporary Ensemble and Spektral Quartet. Described as “frankly unsafe” (icareifyoulisten.com), Moore’s compositions have been showcased globally, including at South by Southwest and the Walker Art Center. As a performer and educator, he uses electronics and collaborates with artists across various mediums. He is currently a doctoral fellow in Music Composition at the University of Chicago.
DAVID STOUT – University of North Texas
David Stout is a visual and sonic artist specializing in cross-media synthesis, bridging the arts, design, and sciences. His work includes live cinema, video-dance, experimental film, sound-art, and telematic video events. Stout is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the New Mexico New Visions Award and the Harvestworks Interactive Technology Award. He co-founded the interactive media ensemble NoiseFold and has taught at institutions such as CalArts and SCAD. He currently works with the Initiative for Advanced Research in Technology and the Arts.
STUDENT PARTICIPANTS
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KAYLA BEHFOROUZ – Indiana University Maurer School of Law
CHASE REMSBURG – Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Chase Remsburg, a musician and educator from Boonsboro, Maryland, developed his passion for saxophone through his family’s musical legacy and early R&B exposure. A Shepherd University graduate, he performed at The Kennedy Center and the Alba International Music Festival. After earning his degree in 2018, he worked as a traveling orchestra director while completing a master’s at the University of Florida. Now pursuing a Ph.D. at Indiana University, he explores the intersection of music education and artificial intelligence.
ISAAC SMITH – Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Isaac Smith is an award-winning composer of bright, engaging new music. He is a doctoral candidate in Music Composition at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. His music has been performed by soloists such as Grammy Award-winning soprano Estelí Gomez, flutist Robin Meiksins, and bassist Bryce Holmes. He has collaborated with internationally renowned ensembles including the American Prize-winning vocal ensemble NOTUS, the Balourdet Quartet, the Ultraviolet Wind Quartet, Teen Angst, and Emergency Stopping Only. His work in electronic music spans more than a decade, and he has studied with leaders in both the music industry and music academia. He is the winner of the 2024 Morris and Sheila Hass Award in Computer Music, and will be published in the upcoming Society of Electroacoustic Music in the U.S. (SEAMUS) journal for his perspectives on Music and AI. He holds a B.M. in Theory/Composition from CSU, Sacramento, and an M.M. in Composition from University of Oregon.
PERFORMERS
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BALOURDET QUARTET (performance)
The Balourdet Quartet is renowned for its dynamic energy and bold artistry, blending technical brilliance with emotional depth. Winners of the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant and Cleveland Quartet Award, they perform 70+ concerts annually, including debuts at Carnegie and Wigmore Halls. Currently the Graduate Quartet in Residence at Indiana University, they’ve collaborated with top musicians and premiered new works. Prizewinners at major international competitions, the quartet is dedicated to inspiring audiences and mentoring the next generation of musicians.
DIS-ENSEMBLE – Destructive / Inventive Systems Ensemble (performance)
DISEnsemble (Destructive / Inventive Systems Ensemble) is a performance group that explores music through improvisation, circuit-bending, and inventive instrument design. Founded in 2018 at IU Indianapolis, the ensemble embraces creative problem-solving and musical experimentation. Originally a one-off project, it became a staple of the music technology program through determination and innovation. Students build instruments using analog circuits and Max software, pushing the boundaries of performance. DISEnsemble fosters resilience, creativity, and a fearless approach to musical exploration.
CLARA QI YUN ZHAO (performance)
A special performer and violist, Qi Yun is a graduates of Hochschule Fuer Musik Hanns Eisler and University of Art Berlin. She studied with viola legend Yuri Bashmet, Garth Knox, Walter Kuessner as well as principal and members of the Berliner Philharmoniker. She is recipient of China National Scholarship For Exceptional Artist. She is First Prize winner of International Knopf Competition Germany, Euterpe International Competition Italy, American Great Composers Competition and Doublestop Foundation Competition New York. She joined the first and second “Guangdong Music Culture Week”working with Yo-Yo Ma and conductor Michael Stern and the faculty from the Silkroad Ensemble. She founded the “ARCO” and the “Voiceless” performance Project with an outstanding group of young artists.