APME Italy 2026: Directory

Welcome to the APMExMEMECO Italy 2026 Conference!
Here you can register and update your Sched profile. A draft schedule will be available May 15th, when you’ll be able to explore sessions and build your agenda.

Questions? Visit our website or email [email protected].

Join us July 14–16 in Sulmona, Italy, as we share voices and shape the future of popular music, identity, and education.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

Valerio Apuzzo

Valerio Apuzzo è un trombettista ed educatore italiano specializzato in musica jazz e classica, attualmente basato a Boston. È studente con borsa di studio completa al Berklee College of Music, dove frequenta il master in performance al Global Jazz Institute.Dopo una formazione iniziale nella tradizione classica, ha proseguito gli studi di triennio e biennio di jazz presso la Siena Jazz Academy, sviluppando un linguaggio che unisce solide basi tecniche, improvvisazione e approccio contemporaneo. Ha studiato e suonato con musicisti di rilievo internazionale come Avishai Cohen, Alex Sipiagin...

Company Berklee College Of Music
Position Student

Sarai Brinker

Sarai Brinker is the Associate Director for Academic Studies and Affairs at the Texas Tech University School of Music, where she also serves as a professor of practice of music humanities. Her courses examine a variety of popular music styles, and she is perhaps best known across campus for developing a collection of courses and fine arts seminars focused on the music and cultural impact of Taylor Swift. Her research focuses on the intersections among music, wellness, and community.

Company Texas Tech University
Position Associate Director for Academic Studies and Affairs

TANIA BUCCINI

Tania Buccini is an Italian voice teacher, choir conductor, musicologist and educator with a multidisciplinary academic and artistic background. She currently teaches Vocal Performance and Choral Ensemble in upper secondary music education and works as a tutor, trainer and orientation teacher for future educators.
She graduated with highest honors in Vocal Performance, Chamber Vocal Music, Music Teaching, Choral Conducting and Musicology, and further specialized through advanced pedagogical and digital-education training. She also holds a PhD in European Policy History, with research focused on...
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Company POLO LICEALE STATALE "R. MATTIOLI" - VASTO (CH)
Position Voice Teacher and Choral Director

Richard Cangro

Originally from Staten Island, NY, Richard M. Cangro, Ph. D., is a Professor and Director of Music Education and the conductor for the Symphony Orchestra at Western Illinois University. He was formerly a public school band and orchestra director for 15 years in Connecticut, as well as a youth ensemble conductor and chamber music coach for the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT). While teaching in Connecticut, he also served for 10 years as a beginning teacher assessor for the State Department of Education. Dr. Cangro received a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet... Read more

Company Western Illinois University
Position Professor
Location Macomb, Illinois

GC

Giovanna Carugno

She holds various M.A. diplomas in musical disciplines (Music Education, Piano, Harpsichord, Fortepiano, Early Music, Chamber Music) and has specialized in Music Education (University of Padua), Scientific Research Methodology for Music Education (Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna), and Music Therapy (Roma Tre University and University of Ferrara).She earned a degree in Law from LUISS – Guido Carli University and a PhD from the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Campania. She also obtained the Specialization Diploma for Support Teaching Activities for Students with Disabilities... Read more

Company Conservatory of Benevento
Position Full Professor of Music History Pedagogy

Gianfranco Continenza

(guitarist, composer, arranger and guitar instructor) has justifiably gained acclaim as a Jazz/Fusion guitar wizard, racking up credits with the likes of Billy Cobham, Joe Diorio, Jimmy Bruno, Phil Upchurch, Vic Juris, Don Mock, Bob Mintzer, Bill Evans, Dean Brown, John Beasley, Mark Egan, John Stowell, Carl Verheyen, etc. He begun to play guitar at 8 years old thanks to his father (jazz guitarist) Nino. At the beginning he studied classical guitar for 5 years after that he concentrated his studies towards modern and Jazz guitar.
In 1991 he moved to California to attend Musicians Institute (Hol... Read more

Company Contemprary Music Academy
Position Via Dei Sabini 79 65127 Pescara (Italy)
Location Pescara

Constance M. Cook

Constance M. Cook is a Kodály music educator who has taught general and choral music in elementary public schools in the United States of America for over twenty years. Her work has focused on beautiful and communal singing, with an emphasis on using music and singing games drawn from the cultures in her classroom. She is a doctoral student in the Music Education Program at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She can be reached at [email protected] and on WhatsApp: @constmcook

Company University of Massachusetts Amherst
Position Kodály Music Educator, Doctoral Student

Bianca Corrente

Bianca Corrente è una pianista e studiosa di educazione musicale. Attualmente sta completando un Master in Didattica della Musica con indirizzo in Artistic Research presso il Conservatorio Santa Cecilia di Roma e possiede un Master in Artistic Research (AREMUS) e un Master in Pianoforte.La sua ricerca si concentra su genere, identità e rappresentazione nella pedagogia pianistica e nell’educazione musicale, con particolare attenzione alle compositrici e al ruolo dell’intelligenza artificiale nella riproduzione dei modelli sociali. Ha presentato i suoi lavori in conferenze internazionali come...

Company Santa Cecilia Conservatory
Position Student

M. W. Degan

M. W. Degan is a public-school music teacher in Massachusetts, U.S.A., and a doctoral candidate in Music Education at Boston University, where he also earned Masters in Music Education and Ethnomusicology. His research interests include investigating how individuals conceptualize musicality, music teacher education, issues of social justice within music education, and issues of masculinity in popular music. In addition to his work as a scholar and teacher, M. W. plays bass in several rock bands in the Boston area.

Company Boston University
Position Doctoral Candidate

Claudio Dina

Claudio Dina is an ethnomusicologist, multi-intrumentalist, teaching expert and composer.Former member of the national board of the Italian Society for Musical Education, since 1993 has been involved in the training of musical teacher, musicians in the University and Conservatorie throughout Italy and he’s been also the headmaster of music schools in Piedmont and Trentino.Graduated from the University of Turin whith a dissertation on the folk american violin tradition, he studied ethnomusicology at the Chigiana’s Academy and was part of the Italian Society of Ethnomusicology.He studied Composition... Read more

Company Cororchestra APS
Position Artistic Director and Conductor

Dr Phillip J Doyle

Dr. Phillip J. Doyle, composer, saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, and pianist, is an alum of the Frost School of Music (University of Miami), with a Master of Music Degree and Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His fundamental educational philosophy is modern day music programs must strive to embrace new technology and innovative teaching methodology to stay relevant and pave the way for future generations of artists and educators. Previous work includes Faculty Lecturer of Saxophone (and Interim Director of Jazz Studies) at Eastern Washington University... Read more

Company University of the Arts Iceland
Position Chair of Music Innovation Technology BMus / Associate Professor
Location Reykjavik, Iceland - University of the Arts/Iceland (LHÍ)

Serona Elton

Serona Elton serves as Head of Educational Partnerships for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC). In this role, Elton directs The MLC’s efforts to engage future members of the music industry currently studying music business and related subjects at colleges and universities across the country and around the world.

With extensive experience as a music industry professional and educator, Elton is also a professor and Chair of the Music Industry Program at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. In 2023, she was named Music Business Educator of the Year by the Music Business Asso... Read more

Company The MLC
Position Head of Educational Partnerships

Kris Gilbert

Kris Gilbert received her Bachelor’s in Music Education from the Crane School of Music, her Masters of Music Composition from Binghamton University and her Certificate of Advanced Study in College Teaching from SUNY-Potsdam. She has been teaching for 29 years in the southern tier of New York and currently teaches 6-12 modern band, co- teaches high school band and chorus, basic rock, sound recording, 6-8 chorus and directs the musical for the Windsor Central School District. Previously she taught all levels of band, marching band, jazz band, AP music theory, music production and modern band. Kris... Read more

Company Windsor Central School District
Position Music Teacher
Location Windsor, New York

Chiara Guarino

Teacher and singer, she holds a degree in modern philology and a degree in music education. She completed a Master's degree in Artistic Research in Music at Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. Her education path has been enriched by international experiences, including an Erasmus period at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo in Valencia and a traineeship at the TU Dublin Conservatoire. Her work experience is linked to teaching singing and carrying out music education projects. For the past two years she has been focusing her studies, especially on the performativity of social... Read more

Company Università degli Studi Roma Tre
Position independent researcher

Carla Mattar

Carla Mattar (also published as Carla Ross), is a Canadian-based singer-songwriter, music educator, and emerging researcher currently completing a Master’s degree in Music Production at Leeds Beckett University. She holds undergraduate degrees in Music and Education from the University of Calgary and has three years of experience teaching secondary school band and strings, as well as primary-level music and choir. Informed by her lived experience as a Lebanese woman, her current research focuses on women of colour in music production, exploring issues of representation, access, and creative agency within contemporary music-making spac... Read more

Company Leeds Beckett University
Position Post Grad Student

Candice Mattio

Dr. Candice Mattio is an assistant professor at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, where she leads the Popular Music Teaching & Learning graduate program. She is also the Vice President of the Association for Popular Music Education (APME), a Music Will Higher Education Fellow, and a NAMM-College Music Society Faculty Fellow. An award-winning music educator, researcher, and a multi-instrumentalist and music technology specialist, Candice's work focuses on creativity and representation in music technology education, and socio-political issues in contemporary and popular music education. Prior... Read more

Company University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
Position Assistant Professor
Location Los Angeles, CA

Edward McClellan

Edward McClellan is the Rita O. Huntsinger Distinguished Professor of Music, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at Loyola University New Orleans. Dr. McClellan is a member of the Editorial Boards for the International Journal of Music Education, Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, and Music Educators Journal. He has published research in the Visions of Research in Music Education, Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Contributions to Music Education, and Music Educators Journal. Dr...

Company Loyola University New Orleans
Position Professor, Coordinator of Music Education
Location New Orleans

Theo Metz

Based in Birmingham, AL, Theo Metz is a multifaceted audio specialist, educator, and dynamic performer with over a decade of experience in music technology, live sound, and audio production. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Samford University, Theo teaches courses in music technology, recording techniques, and live sound production while directing one of the Commercial Music Ensembles, Montague.Theo's academic credentials include a Master of Music in Studio Composition from SUNY Purchase and a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance (Magna Cum Laude) from William Paterson University... Read more

Company Samford University
Position Assistant Professor
Location Birmingham, AL

Raina Murnak

Dr. Raina Murnak serves as President of the Association for Popular Music Education and as Assistant Professor and Studio Director of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where she also leads the MA in Popular Music Pedagogy.
Her work moves with a bright, cross-disciplinary energy. A vocalist, composer/songwriter, producer, performance coach, visual artist, actress, choreographer, author, and entrepreneur, she designs experiences that animate creativity and well-being. Recent highlights include contributing vocals to Pharrell Williams...
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Company University of Miami
Position Head of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry
Location Miami, Fl

David Penn

David Penn is the co-founder of Hit Songs Deconstructed, a leading educational platform that provides detailed data and analysis on the craft and trends behind today’s hit songs. Often described as “music theory for popular music,” Hit Songs Deconstructed has become an essential resource for music professionals and academics, and is utilized by institutions including Berklee College of Music, the Frost School of Music, MTSU, Belmont University, and USC Thornton, among many others. Mr. Penn is a recognized expert in the craft and trends behind hit songs, and his insights have been featured...

Company Hit Songs Deconstructed
Position Co-Founder

Yael Penn

Yael Penn is the co-founder of Hit Songs Deconstructed, a leading music platform that provides detailed data and analysis on the craft and trends behind contemporary hit songs. Often described as "music theory for popular music," Hit Songs Deconstructed has become an essential resource for music professionals and academics alike, utilized by renowned institutions like the Berklee College of Music, Frost School of Music, MTSU, Belmont University, USC Thornton School of Music, among many others.Penn’s expertise in contemporary hit-song analytics has been featured in podcasts and leading industry... Read more

Company Hit Songs Deconstructed
Position Co-Founder
Location yael25

Dr Eva Petersen

Dr. Eva Petersen is a multifaceted professional, combining roles as a practitioner, researcher, singer, songwriter, and qualified lawyer. She is a Lecturer in Popular Music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in Liverpool, UK, where she teaches both the BA (Hons) in Music and the MA in Music Industry Management.

Eva’s interdisciplinary and collaborative research focuses on the unregulated nature of performance spaces and the shortcomings of UK employment law as it pertains to women musicians. Her research leverages her unique background as an employment lawyer, musician, and... Read more

Company Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
Position Lecturer in Music
Location Liverpool, UK

Ricardo Santos

Position DELEGATE
Location Portugal

Sehnaz Sünnetcioglu

Sehnaz Sünnetcioglu, PhDDr. Sehnaz Sünnetcioglu is an associate professor in the Department of Primary Education at the Faculty of Education, Bursa Uludağ University. She completed her doctoral degree in the 2009-2016 Integrated Arts Education Program. Her research interests include interdisciplinary music education, developing creative classroom practices for recognizing and understanding contemporary art in schools, intercultural approaches in music teaching and learning, and implementing creative drama in education. In addition to her articles published in national and international scientific... Read more

Company BURSA ULUDAG UNIVERSITY
Position Associated Professor Dr.
Location Bursa / Türkiye

Nicolas Sykes

Nicolas Sykes is the Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production at UAL Awarding Body, overseeing assessment, moderation, and qualification design. As a performer, composer, and educator, he has contributed to curriculum development and innovative course design in music education. Nicolas holds a Master’s in Music from the University of Nottingham, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Training, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has worked extensively in Further Education, with additional experience in Higher Education and Secondary School settings. Passionate...

Company University of the Arts London Awarding Body
Position Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production

Tamara Thies

Tamara T. Thies, PhD is Area Director of Music Education for the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music and Co-Coordinator of Music Education for the Single Subject Credential Program in the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach. Currently, she is the Music Education in Higher Education Representative for the California Music Educators Association. Her creative and research interests focus on music education at the intersection of creativity, culturally relevant and sustaining practices, and empowering individual identities.

Company California State University, Long Beach
Position Area Director of Music Education
Location Long Beach, CA

Hayley Thompson-King

Hayley Thompson-King has been recognized on international stages for her powerful performances, and “explosive display of vocal prowess” (PopMatters). Described by Americana UK as “A voice that could do anything doing just what it wants,” Hayley’s vocal abilities range from the operatic to punk-inspired screams. This range is fully on display in her 2020 solo album Sororicide – produced by Sean Slade (Radiohead, Hole). With Slade’s mentorship and direction, Sororicide accommodates garage-rock and Americana with a nod to her classical roots in her experimental arrangements of R... Read more

Company Longy School of Music of Bard College & Berklee College of Music
Position Associate Professor of Voice
Location Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Arne Wachtmann

Arne Wachtmann is a sound engineer and media culture scholar. Since earning his Bachelor's degree in Recording Arts, he has worked as a sound engineer, music producer, and in various other areas of media production. After completing his Master of Arts in Integrated Media, he worked as a research associate in the project "Research-Based Teaching in Focus" (FLiF) at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. Later, he served as a lecturer for music production, and since 2023, he has been working as a research associate in the project "DiDiPro: Digitality – Diversity – Producing."

Company Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg
Position Lecturer for Music Media Practice

Dr. Lee Whitmore

Dr. Lee Whitmore is a thought leader in music, audio, creative digital media, and education. He’s the Vice President for business-to-business (B2B), including education, pro, post, and government, at Focusrite Group, which includes Focusrite, Novation, Sequential and Oberheim, ADAM Audio, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Linea Research, and Sonnox, and more. With a career that spans three decades, his professional assignments have included leadership positions at music industry companies Avid, Sibelius, and Korg USA, as well as the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition and Berklee College of Music. He has a Columbia University Teachers College doctorate in music education and technology. Because music has dramatically affected his personal life and career, Lee is a vocal advocate for access to music and related arts for all young people. Lee is an author, educator, public speaker, and industry and education executive. Well-read articles include... Read more

Company Focusrite Group
Position VP, Education and B2B, Americas
Location El Segundo, Ca

Brian Wilkins

BRIAN WILKINS - BIO Brian Wilkins is a manager, educator, technologist, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the music, education, and technology. Brian has held executive and creative positions at major record labels (Sony Music Entertainment/Sony BMG/Universal Music Group), broadcasting/live entertainment companies (Clear Channel/SFX), higher education institutions (Frost School of Music/University of Miami) and music technology companies (NUSIC/Lark42).

Brian brings a track record of creating new opportunities and new revenue streams for artists, partners, and clients. H... Read more

Company Aesthetic Music Group/Frost School of Music
Position Founder/Lecturer
Location Los Angeles

Dr. Tom Zlabinger

Dr. Tom Zlabinger is an Associate Professor of Music at York College in New York City and a leading figure in popular music education, serving as Founding President of the Association of Popular Music Education's New York Chapter (APME-NY). With a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the CUNY Graduate Center and an M.A. in jazz performance from Queens College, he has transformed York College's music program from a jazz-centric curriculum to one focused on popular music, establishing new degree programs, minors in hip-hop studies and popular music history, and pioneering live online performance. Dr. Zlabinger... Read more

Company York College / CUNY
Position Associate Professor of Music
Location New York, NY

APME Italy 2026

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