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.
Enjoy an authentic Italian coffee before the keynote and take the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world. Meet new people, continue conversations, and start the day together in the beautiful courtyard of the Annunziata. Everyone is welcome!
Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
'The voice and the body are linked; one can have physicality without voice (in dance) but not voice without physicality. Both are moved and affected in union.' (David Carey). In three practical and accessible warm up sessions, we will explore the fundamentals of voice work and the link between voice, breath and body.
Serena Braida is a writer, performer and academic, interested in exploring the interrelations between the materiality of language and the body.A chorister from the age of 6, she performed extensively before earning an MA in Cultural and Critical Studies from Birkbeck and subsequently... Read More →
Artistic Director Masterclasses, Andrea Bocelli Foundation
Alessio Nelli is an Italian pianist, keyboardist and composer. He graduated in piano from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 2010 and subsequently attended a two-year course in accompaniment at the Giulio Briccialdi Conservatory in Terni. From 2011 to 2012, he studied at Mogol’s... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
This session offers a Black intracultural perspective on allyship in music education, using Black Music Aesthetics as a conceptual framework. Through lived experience and musicological analysis, it examines how timbre, delivery mechanics, and style reveal performative allyship and proposes pathways toward authentic, justice-centered practice.
Assistant Professor of Music Education, University of Minnesota
Dr. Adrian Davis Dr. Adrian Davis is a native of Memphis, TN, and he currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a skilled and experienced educator whose contribution to the profession is developing programs that intentionally center the student voice, community uplift, sociocultural relevance... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Spazio Community Music: una Community Music dedicata a ragazzi in età compresa tra 16 e 35 anni. Uno Spazio per chi cerca Spazio attraverso la Musica. Diverse sessioni musicali e di ascolto diversificate per generi musicali che poi si incontrano attraverso momenti didattici comuni che sfociano in performance aperte al pubblico.
Gioia Fruttini, nata ad Assisi (Perugia) nel 1973, diplomata in pianoforte al Conservatorio F. Morlacchi di Perugia e in Beni Musicali presso l'Università degli studi di Perugia, si perfezionai in seguito in pf e musica da camera presso l'Accademia Internazionale "Incontri col Maestro... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
In this highly interactive and hands-on presentation, you will learn the tools, techniques, tips & tricks for using the iPad as a teaching tool and as a music production platform. Learn how to write, produce, and mix a song using only your iPad.
How can we transform music class into a truly inclusive experience? The ukulele, accessible to everyone, meets the flexibility of YouTube to respect each student's learning pace. We will explore how to rethink ensemble music education, offering every student the opportunity to play, sing, and express themselves.
Guitarist, singer, and educator Angelo Ottaviani is a music teacher in the Italian public school system, following an innovative and deeply inclusive pedagogical vision. Alongside his work in education, his artistic journey encompasses festival artistic direction, national music awards... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This session will showcase how a rural district in upstate New York is giving their students real-world experiences through planning, performing, recording and songwriting. Examples of student work will be shown and discussion of how to implement similar ideas in your program will be shared.
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Imagine being at a Korean party, lost—until a familiar melody emerges. What do I feel? My project integrates migrant students’ native musical repertoires into Italian L2 learning. Through storytelling, songwriting, and embodied workshops, I show how music fosters motivation, identity, and intercultural dialogue, offering a replicable inclusive model.
I am a pianist and specialist in pedagogy, currently teaching Italian to migrant students at CPIA 3 in Rome (Provincial Centre for Adult Education). I earned my diplomas in Piano (1990) and Chamber Music (1993) at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, and in 1997 I graduated in... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Si propongono due esperienze di creatività didattica, l’una svoltasi nel 1970 e l’altra iniziata nel 2023, che coinvolgono i giovani studenti di strumento musicale del Conservatorio “A. Casella” in attività d’insieme appositamente progettate per loro. Socialità, collaborazione, interventi personali sulle partiture stimolano a studiare, suonare e crescere insieme senza barriere.
Docente a tempo indeterminato, Conservatorio di Musica "A. Casella", L'Aquila
Barbara Filippi, compositrice, direttrice, etno-organologa e musicoterapeuta abruzzese, è docente titolare di Teoria, Ritmica e Percezione Musicale e di Etnomusicologia nel Conservatorio “A. Casella” dell’Aquila. Il suo percorso musicale intreccia didattica, ricerca sul campo... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The paper examined instrumental learning processes in students with dyslexia and dyscalculia through two qualitative case studies in Italy and Germany. Focusing on an inclusive pedagogical intervention, the study provides practical insights into adapting instrumental teaching to support students with special educational needs across different educational settings. The paper examined instrumental... See More →
PhD student, Universität Münster – Musikhochschule Münster, Germany. Department of Education, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
Susanna Zanella Cavallero is a Ph.D. student in a joint doctoral programme between Universität Münster – Musikhochschule Münster and Roma Tre University. A professional musician, her research focuses on developing support strategies for musicians with special educational needs... Read More →
Associate Professor in Didactics and Special Education, Departement of Education, Roma Tre University
Amalia Rizzo,Ph.D.,is an Associate Professor in Didactics and Special Education at the Department of Education, Roma Tre University. A pianist and scholar, her research focuses on inclusive music education, evidence-based practices, and effective educational strategies to support participation and lear... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The paper proposes an inclusive teaching model for secondary schools based on the Loop Station, inspired by the experience of one-man bands. The laboratory-based, error-free approach fosters improvisation, creativity, listening, self-correction, and cooperation, reducing individual protagonism and supporting the participation of students with Special Educational Needs in the daily school context.
I have a degree in music, science, and sound technology and am currently pursuing a PhD at the Benevento Conservatory with a project on live looping. I also pursue a career as a solo musician, performing live with a loop station, and in bands.
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This panel explores how music education can move beyond restrictive labels and borders through Mediterranean perspectives. Drawing on MEMECO and APME research and practice, panelists examine culturally responsive pedagogy, participatory music-making, and transnational collaboration to reimagine music education as inclusive, fluid, and intercultural.
Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators
Kat Reinhert is a genre-defying songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader. She has released five independently produced albums and collaborated with artists like Anat Fort, Jo Lawry, Ross Pederson, Michael Leonhart, Josh Logan, Stephen Lit, and David Cook. Her songwriting... Read More →
Born into a legacy of resilience—with genocide in her DNA as the descendant of Armenian genocide survivors and having grown up amid violent conflict— Christiane Karam has transformed personal trauma into a powerful healing methodology. As a Professor of Voice, Ensemble, and Songwriting... Read More →
Stefano Marchese is an award-winning Italian singer-songwriter and educator. He has collaborated with Grammy winners Bobby McFerrin and Luis Enrique, among others. Thanks to his solo album Radici, in 2021 he was nominated by Serafini as one the 100 most relevant Abruzzesi abroad... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
A hands-on, interactive workshop exploring AI as a creative tinkering partner in popular music education. Participants engage in playful sound-making, reflection, and discussion using the HI–AI–MI framework to support musical identity, agency, and inclusive pedagogy through ethical, process-oriented practice.
Dean of the Faculty of Music Education, Levinsky- WIngate Academic College
Amira Ehrlich is a Dean of the Faculty of Music Education and Chair of Graduate Studies in Music Education at Levinsky- Wingate Academic College in Tel Aviv. Amira is a music educator with more than twenty years’ experience in the field of music, as a teacher, producer, and researcher. Ami... Read More →
This presentation explores how Middle Eastern music influenced medieval Europefollowing the 9th-century Arab invasion of Sicily, the Crusades and the commercialnetworks of the maritime republics. Focusing on the dances known as istampitte, in voguein the 1300 Florence, it examines their distinctive style, instrumental features, and MiddleEastern connections, highlighting how these exchanges... See More →
Originally from Milan, Italy, Matteo Mariani began his formal music education at the Conservatory “Giuseppe Verdi” in Milan, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Jazz Guitar.His academic excellence and artistic promise earned him a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he further refined his craft in an international and forward-thinking environment. There, he studied with renowned artists such as Mike... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Poeta, narratore, critico letterario, linguista, studioso di folclore e di poesia dialettale, Ottaviano Giannangeli (1923-2017) analizza, in una lunga serie di studi, le differenze tra canto popolare e canzone abruzzese d’autore, distinguendone le origini storiche e le caratteristiche tecniche, anche alla luce della sua esperienza come autore di canzoni e organizzatore di eventi musicali.... See More →
Andrea Giampietro nasce a Popoli (PE) nel 1985, ma trascorre l’infanzia a Pratola Peligna (AQ) per poi stabilirsi a Sulmona. Autore di raccolte poetiche e di traduzioni, è attivo anche come saggista e critico letterario (collabora con riviste come “Poesia”, “Nuovi Argomenti... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The research investigates singing habits and repertoires for early childhood in family contexts in Italy, comparing them with the proposals of music educators. A profound misalignment is highlighted, which may nevertheless prompt reflection on the role and social potential of music education as proposed by professionals and the media.The research investigates singing habits and repertoires for... See More →
PhD student, University of Milano Bicocca, Deparment of Human Science for Education "Riccardo Massa"
Gabriele Greggio is a social pedagogist and musician, PhD student in Education at Milano Bicocca University. Since 2011 he work as music educator in early childhood context (family, schoolgarden).
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
A practical demonstration using Italian folk choral music (villanelle, laude) as a pedagogical tool. Discover how to integrate accessible historical repertoires to develop rhythm and cultural connection, transforming early music into a dynamic and engaging experience for modern school choirs.
Teacher, Liceo Artistico Musicale e Coreutico Mi. Be. di Pescara
Cristina Di Zio, PhD in History and Criticism of the Arts and Music (University of Padua), is a scholar specializing in music philology and bibliography. Formerly an Adjunct Professor of Music Palaeography and Bibliography at the University of Padua, she has participated in several Research Projects... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
In this session, I will explore the question: Why is it so difficult to integrate certain musical practices into music lessons? In workshops and training courses, I have repeatedly encountered resistance to digital music production in music education. How can this aversion be explained?
Lecturer for Music Media Practice, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The presenters reports on an ongoing, longitudinal duoethnographic study of a duo comprising a classical pianist and a rock drummer who collaborate in performing and recording original arrangements of piano compositions by Beethoven, Mozart and Debussy. Experiencing reciprocity, vulnerability and trust, the presenters advocate for listening and mutuality in musicking.
Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut
Dr. Austina Lee is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of School-University Partnerships at the Neag School of Music, University of Connecticut. Dr. Lee’s research interests include cultural responsiveness, authentic connection, punk pedagogies, pedagogy of love, and improvisation... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Music permeates human life, yet in schools its educational role is often reduced to technical training and classical repertoire. Drawing on critical pedagogy and anthropology, this panel explores music as a transformative human practice that fosters experience, meaning-making, identity, and social development, especially in pre-adolescence and adolescence.
Professor of Music Education, Conservatorio di Musica di Pescara
Valentina Chiola is Professor of Music Pedagogy at the "Luisa D'Annunzio" Conservatory of Music in Pescara, with a background in music education dating back to 1985. She holds degrees in Piano Performance, Music Education, and Pedagogy (Roma Tre University), along with postgraduate... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
“Hear Our Stories” is an interactive workshop examining trauma-informed, identity-focused PME methodologies. Participants will engage in collaborative music creation and acquire techniques that enhance student expression, creativity, and sense of belonging. Participants will acquire versatile tools for songwriting, digital production, and introspective practice that emphasize inclusivity,... See More →
Carmella Berthia is a music educator, curriculum designer, and arts leader dedicated to culturally sensitive and trauma-informed popular music education. She is presently the piano and modern band instructor at Curie High School in Chicago, where she inspires various student artists... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Il nostro contributo presenta due ipotesi di laboratorio, attualmente in itinere, per la restituzione del repertorio di tradizione orale. Le due ipotesi si rivolgono a due fasce di età diverse: gli adolescenti e l’utenza della scuola secondaria di primo grado, i giovani e gli adulti che militano nelle formazioni corali. Il contributo muove dalle premesse... See More →
Session should be about music education in collectivity and how these music practices are grounded to communities and fragile territories. In this case, music is seen not only as an art, but also as a tool for social improvement and empoverment.
Giovanni Conelli is a musicologist who graduated from University of Milan, with a dissertation on contemporary performance in Anselm Kiefer’s adaptation of Strauss’s Elektra at Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 2017, he published an article titled "Syrian music genres, performing... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Lo studio analizza l’impatto ambientale dello spettacolo dal vivo, evidenziando fonti di inquinamento e relative emissioni di CO₂. Propone soluzioni sostenibili, tra cui energie rinnovabili, trasporti a basse emissioni e tecnologie audio innovative. Attraverso casi studio di concerti green, dimostra il ruolo dell’innovazione nel promuovere modelli performativi sostenibili e responsabili.
Laurea Magistrale in Media Arti e Culture - Laurea in Sassofono jazz, Conservatoro Gaetano Braga Teramo
Bruno Tatulli, titolare dell'azienda Eventi sonori Service che si occupa principalmente di servizi per lo spettacolo, in particolar modo noleggio di materiali audio, video, luci ed assistenza tecnica per concerti ed eventi. All'interno dell'azienda rivesto il ruolo tecnico di Sound... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The session presents a transferable theoretical–didactic model that uses Italian songwriting music as a mediation tool between popular music and medieval and renaissance repertoires. Through comparative analysis and active learning methodologies, the contribution explores inclusive strategies for music education in lower secondary schools.
Docente di Poesia per musica e drammaturgia musicale, Conservatorio di Salerno
Giulia Amatruda is a flutist, musicologist, and educator. She graduated in Transverse Flute and holds degrees in Chamber Music, Music Education, and Musicology. She completed advanced studies in Research Methodology for Music Education at the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, in collaboration... Read More →
This roundtable builds on the submitted abstract and previews forthcoming analyses. Alongside psychological resources across conservatory pathways, discussion will address popular and classical music training, assessment practices, equity and inclusion, gendered experiences, relational climates, wellbeing indicators, and institutional cultures, drawing on the broader survey datasets to frame... See More →
Docente Pedagogia Musicale, Dipartimento di Didattica della Musica, Conservatorio Licinio Refice- Frosinone
Luigia Berti è docente di Pedagogia Musicale presso il Conservatorio Licinio Refice di Frosinone. La sua attività didattica e di ricerca si concentra sulla pedagogia musicale, sui processi educativi con particolare attenzione ai processi interculturali.
Medico, Radioterpista, Medico Palliativista, Pianista, Responsabile Ricerca ed innovazione Clinica FSR, Commissione Arte e Cultura OMCEO roma., FSR- Fondazione Sanità e Ricerca | Roma
Antonio Diroma (03.01.1985) è un radioterapista e medico di cure palliative italiano , attualmente in servizio presso la Fondazione Sanità e Ricerca (Roma, Italia), dove ricopre anche il ruolo di Responsabile della Ricerca Clinica e Innovazione . È Segretario del Com... Read More →
Docente di Composizione, Conservatorio Licinio Refice- Frosinone
Riccardo Santoboni è compositore e studioso di musica, docente di Composizione presso il Conservatorio di Musica “Licinio Refice” di Frosinone, Santa Cecilia e Università Tor Vergata di Roma dove tiene corsi di composizione a più livelli... Read More →
Professor, Pontifical Salesian University of Rome.
Sara Schietroma è psicologa e psicoterapeuta, nonché docente a contratto di Psicologia Sociale presso la Pontificia Università Salesiana di Roma . Il suo lavoro accademico e professionale si concentra sulla psicologia sociale e clinica, sui processi educativi e sul benessere psicosociale nei contesti dell'istruzione superiore... Read More →
Questo intervento è dedicato alla figura di Mario Giusti, musicista, compositore e docente che ha rappresentato un punto di riferimento per la cultura mandolinistica abruzzese. Attraverso un percorso che intreccia biografia, attività artistica e testimonianze dirette, verrà ricostruito il contributo offerto da Giusti alla diffusione e alla valorizzazione del mandolino nel panorama musicale... See More →
Francesco Mammola è mandolinista, docente e direttore artistico, riconosciuto a livello internazionale come uno dei più autorevoli interpreti contemporanei del mandolino. Nato a Pescocostanzo (AQ), si è diplomato con lode e menzione d’onore presso il Conservatorio “A. Casella... Read More →
Born into a legacy of resilience—with genocide in her DNA as the descendant of Armenian genocide survivors and having grown up amid violent conflict— Christiane Karam has transformed personal trauma into a powerful healing methodology. As a Professor of Voice, Ensemble, and Songwriting... Read More →
This presentation examines how attire functions as pedagogical communication in popular music education. Through educator interviews and photographs, it explores how clothing establishes authenticity, reduces power distance, and embodies culturally responsive teaching. The presentation reframes "professional" attire as intentional dressing that supports student-centered practices in popular music... See More →
Music Education Student, Oklahoma State University
Katelynn Lewis is a student at Oklahoma State University pursuing her Bachelor's of Music Education degree. She is an instrumental music educator and private horn instructor working with students of all ages.Passionate about supporting student success, Katelynn founded Justincase... Read More →
Visiting Assistant Professor of Elementary Music Education, Oklahoma State University
Lívia Helena de Moraes, Ph.D. is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Elementary Music Education at Oklahoma State University, where she teaches undergraduate courses in music education, including Elementary Methods in Music Education, Introduction to Music Education, and Student Teaching Seminar. Her research fo... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:15pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Breezin Thru Theory/Composing is a comprehensive program that provides lessons and instruction that can be used for all ages. In addition, this program can also assist your ensembles by providing interval drills, fingering charts, and ear training. This program can be accessed on any computer, tablet, or phone, making it easy to complete assignments or exercises from anywhere. This... See More →
Dr. Jackie Martino is an educator, composer, and musician. She has an extensive career in music education as both a teacher and administrator. . She is currently the Director of Performing Arts at The Calhoun School in New York City. For the last two decades, she built a music and... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Childhood is marked by a vivid imaginative engagement with sound, rhythm, and movementthrough which children begin to communicate and make sense of their environment. Drawing onresearch on early musicality and language development, this presentation explores therelationship between music, multilingual development, and translanguaging in early childhood.Because music and language development seems... See More →
Assistant Professor of Music Education, Queens College
Claudia Calì is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Queens College (CUNY) in NewYork. A native of Italy, Claudia Calì holds a Degree in Piano Performance from the Conservatoryof Perugia, as well as degrees from the University of Perugia and the Catholic University ofMilan... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The workshop "Between Light and Shadow: Expressing, Communicating, Including" uses sounds, gestures, signs, and words to facilitate education and reflection on social issues such as gender differences, bullying, and inclusion. Participants experience musical listening and transform music into other expressive languages, promoting personal and social awareness. Based on multiple intelligences and... See More →
Teacher of pedagogy and musical psychology., Conservatory "A. Casella" L'Aquila - Italy
Sicilian, lives in Palermo. She teaches at the “A. Casella” Conservatory in L’Aquila, specializing in Pedagogy and Musical Psychology, Special Pedagogy, Body Awareness Techniques, Communication Techniques, Ensemble Music for Didactics, and Methodology of Musical and Instrumental... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The workshop introduces a model for teaching popular music through embodied, partly non-verbal activity. Drawing on Israel’s diverse musical landscape, it shows how music can serve as a shared language across varied backgrounds. Participants experience a “lesson without words” and examine its pedagogical value for inclusive, identity-building music education.
Senior Lecturer, Levinsky-Wingate Academic College
Dr. Beatrice Bar, choral conductor, composer, and researcher, has been engaged in music education for 30 years. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Music Education at the Levinsky-Wingate Academic College. She previously served as a regional pedagogical supervisor in music education for kindergartens, elementary schools, and choirs, overseeing music instruction in the Tel Aviv district. At the Faculty of Music Education, she has worked as a pedagogical mentor for the past 20 years and... Read More →
Senior Lecturer, Levinsky-Wingate Academic College
Yifat Shohat holds a PhD in Musicology from Rutgers University, New Jersey. She formerly served as Head of the Teaching Practicum Program and as Head of the Music Therapy Program at the Faculty of Music Education at the Levinsky–Wingate Academic Center. She has been teaching various... Read More →
Head of the B.Ed. program in Music Education, Levinsky-Wingate Academic College
Dr. Tal Weiss, the head of the B.Ed. program in musical education and a senior lecturer at Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, a musicologist, researcher, and pedagogical instructor. Over the past twenty-five years, she has worked in the field of musical education. In recent years... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Record Club is a low-cost, high-impact initiative that promotes community among music students through shared listening. Students bring music they love, explain why it matters to them, and listen together. What began with a few students has grown into a supportive community that counters isolation and celebrates students' identities and help them to feel heard, connected, and valued.
Associate Director for Academic Studies and Affairs, Texas Tech University
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Modern band honor ensembles offer a new vision of musical excellence rooted in student agency, creativity, and inclusion. This session shares practical audition models, student-led rehearsal strategies, and technology integration drawn from U.S. All-State experiences, offering adaptable ideas for developing innovative, high-level modern band ensembles in diverse international settings.
Head of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry, University of Miami
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 Ped... Read More →
Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, Montclair State University
Dr. Bryan Powell is Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology and Coordinator of the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University (USA), where he teaches courses in music education, music technology, and popular music, and directs the university’s popular... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This mixed-methods study investigates the lived experiences of women and gender-non-conforming (WGNC) students enrolled in collegiate music technology courses, with particular attention to macro- and microaggressions, classroom climate, peer and faculty interactions, and perceptions of belonging, and how those experiences shape career aspirations in industry and music education.
Assistant Professor, University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Il presente lavoro si propone di studiare l’evoluzione della musica chaabi sin dalle sue origini, esaminandone gli sviluppi sia sul piano poetico che su quello musicale. L’obiettivo di questa ricerca è : spiegare la struttura poetica del ksid, evidenziandone le varianti e l’importanza nella costruzione delrepertorio, analizzare l’evoluzione dell’organico strumentale del chaabi, con... See More →
Hichem Chergui, violoncellista e musicologo originario dell’Algeria. Laureato in Discipline storico-critiche e analitiche della musica presso il Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia a Roma. Presso il medesimo istituto, sta conseguendo una seconda laurea magistrale in Didattica dell... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:30pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
There has been an exciting new Bachelor’s Degree launched in Aug 2025, called “Music Innovation Technology” (BMus) formed by an incredible panel and stewarded by amazing faculty, with a key focus on Experiential Learning. This talk will explain the degree development process, and observations in (the current) Year one of launch.
Chair of Music Innovation Technology BMus / Associate Professor, University of the Arts Iceland
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Have you heard Bluegrass-Grunge, Ska-EDM, or Funk-Irish Jig? This research presentation explores undergraduate music education majors’ experiences, discoveries, and musical products that influenced their perspectives on learning approaches, non-institutionalized musics, culturally valid performances, and intercultural competencies.
Area Director of Music Education, California State University, Long Beach
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 Rep... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The study explores the role of TikTok in Gen Z’s identity construction and their artistic-musical expressiveness. Using digital ethnography and thematic analysis of PoV videos, it examines short musical performances to highlight their community-building dynamics, through music, and its implications in the field of music education.
independent researcher, Università degli Studi Roma Tre
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The cultural diversity within schools makes the development of music teachers’ intercultural competence an increasingly relevant priority (Westerlund, Karlsen, & Partti, 2020; Cabedo-Mas, 2015). From this perspective, beginning with an analysis of the Italian context (Institutional programs and political expectations), the panel will focus on concrete experiences and initiatives in intercultural... See More →
Professor of Pedagogy and Psychology of Music (Phd), conservatory Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
Sandra Fortuna is a Professor of Pedagogy and Psychology of Music at the Conservatory of Music in Rome (Italy). She holds a Ph.D in Systematic Musicology (Ghent University), MA degrees in Musicology, Music Education, and Violin Performance. Her work addresses the integration of... Read More →
PhD student, University of Milano Bicocca, Deparment of Human Science for Education "Riccardo Massa"
Gabriele Greggio is a social pedagogist and musician, PhD student in Education at Milano Bicocca University. Since 2011 he work as music educator in early childhood context (family, schoolgarden).
Professor, Conservatorio "GPL da Palestrina" Cagliari; Conservatorio "G.Braga" Teramo, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna
Elisabetta Piras teaches Music Pedagogy for Music Education at the “GP da Palestrina” Conservatory in Cagliari. She is an adjunct professor and subject expert in “Methodology of Music Education” at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, and collaborates with many... Read More →
Assistant Professor of Music Education, Queens College
Claudia Calì is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Queens College (CUNY) in NewYork. A native of Italy, Claudia Calì holds a Degree in Piano Performance from the Conservatoryof Perugia, as well as degrees from the University of Perugia and the Catholic University ofMilan... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This experiential workshop explores inclusive and transcultural approaches to music education through body-based activities and music circles. Participants engage in intuitive, collaborative music-making without notation, discovering how movement, improvisation, and community-oriented practices can foster creativity, social cohesion, and meaningful musical learning in diverse educational contexts.
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into the tools artists use to create music, so do the risks of artists losing their unique voice, creativity, and musicality. In this demonstration I will discuss practical ways AI can be used to support individual expression and creativity in songwriting.
Dr. Mark Huggins is the Music Program Chair at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, where he oversees the Commercial Music program. Dr. Huggins holds a doctoral degree in music education from Boston University where his studies were centered on the pedagogy of popular music... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
An action research case study showing how structured, activity-based tasks in aSound Design and Creative Synthesis module increased engagement and improvedassessment submission. Attendees will gain evidence-based strategies to energisepopular music technology teaching and foster sustained, student-centredparticipation.
For nearly a decade, I have created charts for the students in my bands. Since the charts proved successful in the classroom, I recently launched a publishing company. This journey into popular music publishing revealed surprising insights about copyright law, U.S. music history, and how to better support popular music educators.
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... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Join us for an evening of conversation, connection, and community as we celebrate the opening of the MEMECO × APME International Conference 2026. Meet fellow participants, presenters, and colleagues from around the world in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.Thanks to the generous support of APME, one complimentary drink will be offered to each registered guest.Registration is... See More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm CEST Hotel Meeting SantacrocePiazza Guido Ginaldi, 3, 67039 Sulmona AQ, Italy
Gruppo Corale Folk SirenteThe Gruppo Corale Folk Sirente is a traditional folk choir from the Abruzzo region of Italy, based in the historic village of Castelvecchio Subequo (L'Aquila). Comprising approximately 35 members, the ensemble is dedicated to preserving and promoting Abruzzo's rich musical heritage through performances of traditional songs and folk dances.Their performances are... See More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:30pm - 11:00pm CEST Piazza XX SettembrePiazza XX Settembre, Sulmona (AQ)
Enjoy an authentic Italian coffee before the keynote and take the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world. Meet new people, continue conversations, and start the day together in the beautiful courtyard of the Annunziata. Everyone is welcome!
Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
'The voice and the body are linked; one can have physicality without voice (in dance) but not voice without physicality. Both are moved and affected in union.' (David Carey). In three practical and accessible warm up sessions, we will explore the fundamentals of voice work and the link between voice, breath and body.
Serena Braida is a writer, performer and academic, interested in exploring the interrelations between the materiality of language and the body.A chorister from the age of 6, she performed extensively before earning an MA in Cultural and Critical Studies from Birkbeck and subsequently... Read More →
Managing Director, Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education; Assistant Chair, Music Education Department, Berklee College of Music
Rhoda Bernard, Ed.D. is the Founding Managing Director of the Institute for Accessible Arts Education and the Assistant Chair of the Music Education Department at Berklee College of Music. Bernard holds a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in government from Harvard University and a Bachelor... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
L’educazione musicale ha storicamente sottorappresentato le compositrici. Ho sviluppato un percorso basato sulla gamification per introdurre gli studenti alla musica folk di Amy Beach, promuovendo modelli femminili. L’approccio sostiene l’identità musicale e personale, integra riflessione storico-critica e interpretazione, esplora l’uso dell’IA e favorisce pratiche eque e inclusive.
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Nel campo “50 Word Session Description” di solito vogliono una mini‑presentazione della sessione, in stile divulgativo, rivolta ai partecipanti (non ai revisori).Ti propongo una bozza in inglese di 50 parole circa, basata sull’abstract sui solfeggi storici:Using seventeenth- to nineteenth-century solfeggio sources, this session explores how historical materials can inform today’s music... See More →
Professor of History and Historiography of Music, Conservatorio di Musica "Licinio Refice" di Frosinone
Paolo Sullo graduated with honours in 2005 in Performing Arts, Music and Theatre Studies (Discipline delle Arti, della Musica e dello Spettacolo) at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. He obtained diplomas in Violin, Viola and Composition from the Conservatorio “San Pietro... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The lullaby is a cornerstone of the ethnomusical and linguistic identity of peoples. Its analysis reveals binary rhythmic structures and crucial anthropological and psychological functions, such as the regulation of infant arousal. Preserving this oral repertoire means safeguarding historical memories and deep relational bonds against the risk of cultural oblivion.
Mattia Francesco D'Amato nasce nel 2002 a Cava de' Tirreni (SA). Dopo aver studiato violoncello negli istituti cavesi intraprende il triennio di violoncello al Conservatorio di musica Santa Cecilia di Roma. Attualmente studia nello stesso istituto il biennio di Formazione per la comunicazione... Read More →
Giorgia Zaccagni nasce a Pescara nel 1985 e fin da giovanissima coltiva la passione per il pianoforte.Dopo essersi trasferita a Roma, arricchisce il suo percorso artistico laureandosi in Lingue Orientali (La Sapienza) e in Canto Jazz (Cons. Casella), affiancando allo studio la dedizione... Read More →
Ho 26 anni sono nata a Palermo, studio pianoforte dall’età di 8 anni. Ho intrapreso lo studio accademico di pianoforte presso il conservatorio “Vincenzo Bellini di Caltanissetta” per poi conseguire il diploma accademico di I livello in pianoforte al conservatorio “Santa Cecilia... Read More →
Incantato dal mondo dei suoni fin dall'infanzia, sono cresciuto in una famiglia dove l'ascolto della musica era un elemento importante della nostra vita, all'età di 11 anni inizio lo studio del pianoforte. Nel 2020 entro al triennio accademico di primo livello in pianoforte class... Read More →
Bruna Iodice, nata a São Paulo, in Brasile, vi ha vissuto fino al 2018. Si è laureata in Lettere presso l’Università Statale di São Paulo (USP). Ha studiato chitarra classica in prestigiose istituzioni, tra cui l’EMESP Tom Jobim, Escola Municipal de Música di São Paulo e... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This session will provide practical strategies for providing powerful language arts experiences for students. Learning activities will be demonstrated to help attendees enhance their classroom instruction and ensemble rehearsal as they develop students’ ability to express music understanding through language and musical expression.This session will provide practical strategies for providing... See More →
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
"The Art of Living with the Arts" is the ability to educate oneself by educating others, to listen to oneself by listening to others, to do in order to be. Schools and socio-educational environments in general need, now more than ever, to put people at the center of their educational project, giving attention and presence to what children, teenagers, young people, and adults bring into the... See More →
Teacher of pedagogy and musical psychology., Conservatory "A. Casella" L'Aquila - Italy
Sicilian, lives in Palermo. She teaches at the “A. Casella” Conservatory in L’Aquila, specializing in Pedagogy and Musical Psychology, Special Pedagogy, Body Awareness Techniques, Communication Techniques, Ensemble Music for Didactics, and Methodology of Musical and Instrumental... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
A discussion centred around the results of two recent surveys conducted to investigate what type of training may still be needed for UK based Popular Music (PM) singing teachers, and to assess their thoughts on and experiences of teaching PM singing styles at school and Higher Education (HE) levels.
Doctoral student, Royal Northern College of Music, UK
A professional singer of Popular Music (PM) genres for over 30 years, and a teacher of them for 20 years, Jo’s research is driven by a desire to promote the value of PM voice training and elevate its educational status in the UK. Her PhD - supervised by RNCM Music Education specialists... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Developing a popular music program from the ground up that is accessible, diverse and creative is a challenge. This presentation follows the author’s experience of building a popular music education program in Ireland as part of a non-profit with support from one of the largest bands in the world, U2 that caters for over 2000 students.
Music Development Officer & PhD. Candidate, Music Generation / Kent State University
Marty Ryan is a music educator from Limerick, Ireland who specializes in teaching popular music education through technology. Marty has released four studio albumsand toured the world with his musical outfits Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets and Anna’s Anchor.Marty currently works... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This session explores how political conflict has shaped Lebanon’s popular music industry and everyday listening practices. Highlighting music as a resource for memory, resilience, and community, it offers educators practical strategies for culturally responsive teaching, critical listening, and approaches that connect music learning to lived social and cultural experiences.
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 exp... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
AI music tools are more powerful in the hands of students with underlying theory and practice. This panel of educators make the case that traditional songwriting and ensemble skills enhance a student’s creative abilities when working with AI.
Suno is a music company built to amplify imagination. Students can turn original lyrics, melodies, or demo recordings into complete, studio-quality songs. Suno empowers students at every level to create, experiment, and discover what they're capable of, unlocking the joy of musical... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Christiane Karam presents The Voices Method: From Neuroscience to Mysticism, your Ultimate Path to Freedom. Through breathwork, toning, and Eastern traditions, she explores trauma release neuroscience and spiritual practices examining four stages: identifying internalized voices, discovering one's authentic inner voice, releasing embodied trauma, and ultimately expressing a liberated voice in the... See More →
Born into a legacy of resilience—with genocide in her DNA as the descendant of Armenian genocide survivors and having grown up amid violent conflict— Christiane Karam has transformed personal trauma into a powerful healing methodology. As a Professor of Voice, Ensemble, and Songwriting... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The primary goal of this workshop is to present compositional approaches that bridge musical styles to create cross-genre works. It invites musicians to discover their creative voice within their cultural identity while fostering meaningful connections across diverse musical voices.
Assistant Professor of Jazz and Commercial Music, University of Central Missouri
Carolina Calvache, a Pan-American composer, seamlessly blends sounds influenced by jazz, classical, and Latin American folk music. Carolina has been engaging in and evolving a global music exchange that spans from her native Cali, Colombia, to New York City. An award-winning composer... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This demonstration introduces mindfulness-based, embodied listening practices for music educators and performers. Through a short experiential exercise and guided reflection, participants explore how presence, awareness, and energy can support performance readiness, expressive confidence, and authentic musical voice in teaching, rehearsal, and performance contexts.
Dr. In Psychology | mindfulness & music therapy practitioner
Raffaela is a dr.i inpsychology specialized in music therapy. She works with mindfulness and healing-oriented practices, using sound, breath, and body awareness to support presence and emotional balance. She explores how energy, listening, and awareness can help people connect more... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Il progetto Raices al Viento nasce dall’incontro tra la cantante Cecilia Guzman Sanchez e il pianista Alessio Nelli uniti dalla passione per la musica tradizionale spagnola. Intrecciano il fervore della copla andalusa, l’intensità elegante del canto lirico e l’energia vibrante della musica latinoamericana.Sono l’esempio di come la musica classica, il pop, il folk e il jazz possono... See More →
Artistic Director Masterclasses, Andrea Bocelli Foundation
Alessio Nelli is an Italian pianist, keyboardist and composer. He graduated in piano from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 2010 and subsequently attended a two-year course in accompaniment at the Giulio Briccialdi Conservatory in Terni. From 2011 to 2012, he studied at Mogol’s... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
In this session, we will present the results of a joint educational and research project involving children from three primary schools with a high density of migrants. We will show how inclusive and participatory musical activities led to the development of social skills, such as group solidarity, self-expression and autonomy.In this session, we will present the results of a joint educational and... See More →
Carlo Nardi is lecturer in music education and sociology at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. He obtained his PhD in musicology from the University of Trento with a thesis on audio mastering. His research interests focus on the use of technology from a sensory perspective, authorship... Read More →
Johann van der Sandt completed his studies at the University of Pretoria. Before his appointment as Professor of Music education at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy he was Professor of Choral conducting at the University of Pretoria and Choir director and Musical rector... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The journey of Antonio Boezio and Bobo Studios describes the transformation of a small recording studio in Southern Italy into an international music university campus, combining British education, artistic production, entrepreneurship and territorial development, showing how music can generate cultural, professional and social growth within peripheral contexts.
Antonio Boezio is a musician, entrepreneur and educator with over twenty years of experience in music education, artistic production and the development of international academic projects. As founder and didactic director of Bobo Studios – MAST Music, he has led the organisation’s... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Music theory was originally developed to describe and explain the Euroclassical repertoire. While its foundations remain essential, relying on traditional theory alone to teach contemporary commercial songwriting and production is a bit like giving students an old map to navigate a city that has transformed. Drawing on systematic analysis of today’s chart-topping songs, this session introduces... See More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This workshop explores circle singing as a participatory, improvisational practice that supports musical growth and social-emotional well-being. Through hands-on activities and research-based frameworks, educators learn how empirical, methodological, and culturally responsive approaches can transform classrooms into inclusive spaces where creativity, confidence, and collaboration flourish.
Stefano Marchese is an award-winning Italian singer-songwriter and educator. He has collaborated with Grammy winners Bobby McFerrin and Luis Enrique, among others. Thanks to his solo album Radici, in 2021 he was nominated by Serafini as one the 100 most relevant Abruzzesi abroad... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This research explores how popular music education can prepare students to thrive in an unpredictable creative economy. By examining adaptability centered pedagogies such as rapid iteration, interdisciplinary collaboration, reflective practice, and AI supported creativity, the study proposes a framework for cultivating confident flexible and future ready musicians.
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
In many cases, the inclusion of popular music course offerings does not necessarily represent a move towards equitable access to music education. This presentation explores this phenomenon with particular attention to the delineation and marginalization of students according to class and ability. In many cases, the inclusion of popular music course offerings does not necessarily represent a move... See More →
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Today’s songwriters must navigate not only the musical aspect of the craft, but also branding, publishing, intellectual property, and digital distribution. For educators, bridging these domains presents both a challenge and an opportunity: how can we teach students to sustain creative lives in an ever-evolving industry without sacrificing artistry?This session examines “The Business of... See More →
Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators
Kat Reinhert is a genre-defying songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader. She has released five independently produced albums and collaborated with artists like Anat Fort, Jo Lawry, Ross Pederson, Michael Leonhart, Josh Logan, Stephen Lit, and David Cook. Her songwriting... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
How can classic Neapolitan song be elevated to shared Mediterranean heritage? Through Roberto Murolo’s legacy, this concert-storytelling format transcends folklore by blending historical analysis with live duo performance. An educational framework for teachers showcasing artistic crossroads through guitar, voice, and percussion, offering a living, universal musical experience.
Guitarist, singer, and educator Angelo Ottaviani is a music teacher in the Italian public school system, following an innovative and deeply inclusive pedagogical vision. Alongside his work in education, his artistic journey encompasses festival artistic direction, national music awards... Read More →
Si è diplomato in Strumenti a Percussione al Conservatorio di musica “A. Casella” di L’Aquila ed è docente di ruolo in Percussioni presso la scuola secondaria di primo grado “Capograssi” di Sulmona. Ha svolto attività concertistica in orchestre sinfoniche e da camera, s... Read More →
Professore Associato, Università degli studi Roma Tre
I deal with Italian, British, American folk song and folklore. My research is especially about the area of Naples and Southern Italy. In addition to that I work on songwriting in Italy, America and the British Isles.
This demonstration presents Sicilian-Jazz as composer and performer Sissy Castrogiovanni’s approach to transforming cultural identity into contemporary songwriting. Through personal narrative and musical examples, the session shows how Sicilian language, rhythms, and vocal traditions inform her songwriting process, later extending into pedagogical strategies for composing, arranging,... See More →
Assistant Professor of Voice, Berklee College of Music
Award-winning Sicilian singer-songwriter, producer, and educator Sissy Castrogiovanni is one of the most original and creative voices in today’s contemporary jazz scene. With her magnetic artistic personality and the charm of a voice that reaches straight to the heart, she has earned widespread acclaim, captivating both audiences and critics while performing on national and international stages, as well as major jazz festivals across the United States... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Hidden meanings are ubiquitous in popular styles, embedded in the musical DNA of American music. This presentation will survey types of meaning created through symbols, double entendre, and coded messages contained within popular styles, and how their methods have been used to engage audiences over time.
Dr. Robert Sabin is a double bassist, composer, author, and educator specializing in jazz and contemporary music. He has appeared alongside such artists as Oliver Lake, Jean-Michel Pilc, Dick Oatts, Donny McCaslin, Ingrid Jensen, Louis Bonilla, Tony Moreno, Rich Perry, John Yao... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Music pedagogy attributed educational value to widely shared musical practices. Popular music, often learned within informal educational context, played an important role in early musical development. However, popular music was frequently neglected and marginalised in educational discourse. The paper aims to shed light on this phenomenon through an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of... See More →
Full Professor of Music History Pedagogy, Conservatory of Benevento
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Negli ultimi dieci anni, la musica italiana ha vissuto una trasformazione profonda: dall’impatto indipendente di artisti come Calcutta al dominio dello streaming, fino al pop contemporaneo contaminato da urban, indie e digitale. Un viaggio tra autenticità, algoritmi e nuovi linguaggi che hanno ridefinito produzione, distribuzione e identità artistica.
Artistic Director Masterclasses, Andrea Bocelli Foundation
Alessio Nelli is an Italian pianist, keyboardist and composer. He graduated in piano from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 2010 and subsequently attended a two-year course in accompaniment at the Giulio Briccialdi Conservatory in Terni. From 2011 to 2012, he studied at Mogol’s... Read More →
Vincenzo Colella è un autore firmato Warner Chappell. Nel 2017, a soli 22 anni, firma il suo primo contratto editoriale con Sony Publishing, dando inizio a un percorso che lo porterà a collaborare con alcuni tra i più importanti artisti del panorama musicale italiano, tra cui Marco... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Come learn about singing games from the Middle East. We will focus on building community and leadership, ease with playing games, and learning and singing Arabic and other languages in the room. Participants are invited to share their knowledge and expertise. Conceptual applications of the songs will be explored.
Kodály Music Educator, Doctoral Student, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
L'analisi, e le riflessioni, e le conseguenze didattiche scaturiscono dalla necessità umana, e fisiologica, di avere nell'educazione musicale di base, e non solo, il suono al centro e non la immediata lettura delle note scritte. Altro ragionamento sono le proposte informali e non per giungere alla lettura formale della musica.
Diplomatosi in Clarinetto, Didattica della Musica, Didattica Strumentale e Didattica del Clarinetto nei Conservatori di Roma Latina e Frosinone, ha poi ampliato la sua formazione nei corsi di perfezionamento e Master nelle Università di Genova e Roma sulle tecnologie didattiche... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This presentation introduces HI–AI–MI, a human-centered framework for ethical AI integration in popular music education. Grounded in qualitative research, the model positions AI as a creative partner guided by human judgment in service of musical identity, agency, and culturally situated popular music practice.
Dean of the Faculty of Music Education, Levinsky- WIngate Academic College
Amira Ehrlich is a Dean of the Faculty of Music Education and Chair of Graduate Studies in Music Education at Levinsky- Wingate Academic College in Tel Aviv. Amira is a music educator with more than twenty years’ experience in the field of music, as a teacher, producer, and researcher. Ami... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The contribution offers a reflection on the educational concept in Sardinian culture, expressed in the traditional music heritage of songs and nursery rhymes dedicated to children. This repertoire is analyzed to define musical structures and educative function, and an operative didactic proposal is articulated, in acculturation and identity recovery perspective
Maria Bonaria Monne teaches Music at the Middle School, and she is currently president and artistic director of the DIAPASON association in Nuoro.She is the author of research works on traditional Sardinian music, and he performs both as a solo soprano and as a choir conductor. She... Read More →
Professor, Conservatorio "GPL da Palestrina" Cagliari; Conservatorio "G.Braga" Teramo, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna
Elisabetta Piras teaches Music Pedagogy for Music Education at the “GP da Palestrina” Conservatory in Cagliari. She is an adjunct professor and subject expert in “Methodology of Music Education” at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, and collaborates with many... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
As an innovative part of the Music Industry degree program at Monmouth University, Blue Hawk Records offers an immersive and collaborative opportunity for students to obtain real-life experience in the various aspects of a recording business venture. This presentation will discuss the context and rationale for developing the student-run record label initiative, along with the methods, outcomes,... See More →
Department Chair, Music & Theatre Arts, Monmouth University
Joe Rapolla ‘90M is the Chair of the Music & Theatre Arts Department at Monmouth University, where he oversees all student performing arts programs, directs the Music Industry Program and founded the university record label, Blue Hawk Records. As department chair, Joe has helped... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The purpose of this study was to examine research on the practices and perspectives of integrating innovative music learning pedagogyinto the learning environment to explore its rich variety of genres, stories, cultures, and creative expressions into the music classroom.
Professor, Coordinator of Music Education, Loyola University New Orleans
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This presentation explores how embedding meaningful choice into project briefs can strengthen student agency and foreground the creative process in popular music education. Through practical examples, the session shows how flexible assessment design supports authentic music-making, reflective practice, and deeper student ownership of learning.
Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production, University of the Arts London Awarding Body
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... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This participatory workshop explores circle singing as a humanizing practice in music education. Through embodied vocal improvisation, listening, and collective sound-making, participants experience how care, presence, and relational learning emerge through shared musical processes in educational and community-based contexts.
PH.D. Student, University of Education Freiburg/ Music Institution
Ph.D. student specializing in music education with a focus on integrating music and caring-thinking pedagogy to support vulnerable groups in Reggio Emilia environments. Experienced in presenting research and leading workshops for children, parents, and facilitators. Committed to advancing... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Some dreams seem simple: making music. For people with severe motor disabilities, it can feel impossible. UniMIDI Hub transforms minimal gestures into expressive musical performance. Compatible with multiple input devices, it enables inclusive participation across educational, therapeutic, and artistic contexts, making music creation accessible, meaningful, and barrier-free for everyone.
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The Loop Lottery uses chance-based composition to spark creativity and build confidence in music-making. Participants select pre-made loops without previewing them, arranging them into a standard pop song format. This playful approach reveals surprising results, encourages collaboration, and teaches song structure while leveling the creative playing field for all learners.
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This paper frames the audiovisual essay as an educational and epistemic resource within Musical Collaborative Action Research. Through three case studies (musical heritage recovery, historiographical analysis, and video art) it demonstrates how videographic editing catalyzes critical thinking, validates embodied musical and sonic knowledge, and ensures the effective documentation and dissemination... See More →
Associate Professor, Università degli studi Roma Tre
Associate Professor at Roma Tre University (since 2024). She holds PhDs in Music History (2013) and Education (2023) from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), supported by competitive fellowships and contracts (FPU, CAM, and UAM), including research residencies in France and... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
L'Orchestra delle Arti Inclusive was founded from an idea by Simone D'Angelo, President of ENDAS and City Councilor of Pescara. The ensemble consists of 30 musicians, including professional performers, adolescents, and young people with disabilities. It is conducted by Marco Vignali and coordinated by Simone Pavone. The orchestra has been active for over a year.L'Orchestra delle Arti Inclusive... See More →
La Panarda – Medieval Dinner ExperienceWednesday, July 15 | 8:00 PMExperience one of Abruzzo's most unique culinary traditions with La Panarda, a historic communal feast dating back to the Middle Ages. Hosted by one of Sulmona's local Contrade, this unforgettable evening features a multi-course banquet with more than ten traditional dishes, accompanied by medieval music, dances, and live... See More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00pm - 10:00pm CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
ORBERT DAVIS SEPTET from Chicago Jazz PhilharmonicOrbert Davis: Trumpet; Bobbi Wilsyn: Voice; Kevin King: Saxophones; Zara Zaharieva: Violin; Leandro Lopez Varady: Piano; John Tate: Bass; Ernie Adams: Drums.Orbert Davis is one of the most distinguished trumpeters, composers, and conductors in the contemporary American jazz scene. An Emmy Award winner, he is the co-founder and Artistic Director of... See More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:30pm - 11:00pm CEST Piazza XX SettembrePiazza XX Settembre, Sulmona (AQ)
Enjoy an authentic Italian coffee before the keynote and take the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world. Meet new people, continue conversations, and start the day together in the beautiful courtyard of the Annunziata. Everyone is welcome!
Thursday July 16, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
'The voice and the body are linked; one can have physicality without voice (in dance) but not voice without physicality. Both are moved and affected in union.' (David Carey). In three practical and accessible warm up sessions, we will explore the fundamentals of voice work and the link between voice, breath and body.
Serena Braida is a writer, performer and academic, interested in exploring the interrelations between the materiality of language and the body.A chorister from the age of 6, she performed extensively before earning an MA in Cultural and Critical Studies from Birkbeck and subsequently... Read More →
Simone Pilon serves as executive director for Berklee College of Music at its campus in Valencia, Spain. Pilon joined Berklee Valencia in 2020 as dean of academic affairs and previously served as chair of Berklee’s Liberal Arts department. Prior to Berklee, Pilon worked as a professor... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am CEST Auditorium dell'AnnunziataCorso Ovidio, 231 - 67039 Sulmona (AQ)
This workshop will focus on creating original music and learning music theory using Soundtrap and Flat.io. We will explore ways in which your students can learn music theory concepts and apply them to creation and collaboration. This collaborative approach will not only increase student motivation and engagement but also foster a sense of community among educators. Resources and sample lesson... See More →
Dr. Jackie Martino is an educator, composer, and musician. She has an extensive career in music education as both a teacher and administrator. . She is currently the Director of Performing Arts at The Calhoun School in New York City. For the last two decades, she built a music and... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
What happens when songwriters are asked to work within limits? Rather than restricting expression, creative constraints can act as catalysts for discovery. In professional songwriting settings from co-writing sessions to industry briefs, songwriters frequently work under specific parameters of style, theme, and form. Bringing those constraints into the classroom not only mirrors real-world... See More →
Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators
Kat Reinhert is a genre-defying songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader. She has released five independently produced albums and collaborated with artists like Anat Fort, Jo Lawry, Ross Pederson, Michael Leonhart, Josh Logan, Stephen Lit, and David Cook. Her songwriting... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
In this session, preliminary findings will be presented on what music means to children from disadvantaged families. Thus, a critical discussion of the influences on children's music culture will be presented, and the importance of hearing their voices in shaping future music education will be emphasized.
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The panel will be a kind of friendly discussion group where artistic realities such as theater, music, and linguistics in the region will be discussed. The panel will include several guests, to be determined.
Full Professor of Opera Studio, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Academic Background Master degree and Minor degree: Piano performance, Composition and Conducting Conducting: he studied with Gianandrea... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This hands-on workshop explores Sicilian-Jazz through composition, arrangement, and performance practices. Using folk-derived melodies and rhythms, participants collaboratively transform traditional material into contemporary jazz forms through guided exercises, group improvisation, and live demonstrations, gaining practical tools to integrate their own cultural roots into modern creative... See More →
Assistant Professor of Voice, Berklee College of Music
Award-winning Sicilian singer-songwriter, producer, and educator Sissy Castrogiovanni is one of the most original and creative voices in today’s contemporary jazz scene. With her magnetic artistic personality and the charm of a voice that reaches straight to the heart, she has earned widespread acclaim, captivating both audiences and critics while performing on national and international stages, as well as major jazz festivals across the United States... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This paper reconceptualizes music education through the concept of musickability, understood as the human capacity to build meaningful relationships with music across the lifespan. It argues for re-centering guided listening as an active, transformative, and relational practice that supports emotional, social, and educational development, especially in preadolescence.
Professor of Music Pedagogy, Conservatorio di Musica "Luisa D'Annunzio" - Pescara
Valentina Chiola is a lecturer in Music Pedagogy at the “Luisa D’Annunzio” Conservatory of Music in Pescara, within the Department of Music Education and Musicological Studies. She has been working in the field of music education since 1985. She completed parallel studies in Piano Performance... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Music is a powerful medium through which bilingual families negotiate culture, language, and emotion. This study examines how parent-musicians in American–Chinese and Italian–Chinese households use everyday musical practices to shape their young children’s bilingual identities, agency, and developmental trajectories.
Professor of Music Education, Conservatory of Adria
Dr. Zhou is a dedicated music educator whose mission is to help students discover happiness, a sense of ownership, and confidence in learning. She currently works at the Conservatory of Adria, Italy, where she teaches music pedagogy and English. After spending 12 years studying and... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This Pop-10! session focuses on supporting student artists as founders by integrating sustainability, creative agency, and real-world context into popular music education while keeping artistry, identity, and creative risk at the center.
Founder/Lecturer, Aesthetic Music Group/Frost School of Music
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:00am - 11:15am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Christiane Karam presents The Voices Method, an innovative approach using the human voice as a somatic healing tool. Through improvisation, breathwork, toning, and Eastern singing traditions, participants explore trauma release, self-discovery, and empowerment. This transformative work addresses vocal, mental, physical, and spiritual health, guiding individuals from internalized voices toward... See More →
Born into a legacy of resilience—with genocide in her DNA as the descendant of Armenian genocide survivors and having grown up amid violent conflict— Christiane Karam has transformed personal trauma into a powerful healing methodology. As a Professor of Voice, Ensemble, and Songwriting... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Transform your lower elementary classroom into a joyful, inclusive hub! Experience hands-on music centers featuring movement, rhythm games, and diverse instruments. Using UDL strategies and family-shared traditions, you’ll explore culturally responsive activities and adaptable manipulatives. Leave with practical resources to build student-centered environments that honor every learner's identity... See More →
Workshop pratico sulla vocalità corale giovanile, focalizzato sulla salute della voce adolescenziale e sulla costruzione del suono d’insieme. Presenta un modello operativo con esercizi, warm-up e strategie inclusive replicabili. Affronta muta vocale, registri e repertorio adeguato, con dimostrazioni guidate e applicazioni immediate per docenti e direttori di coro.
Voice Teacher and Choral Director, POLO LICEALE STATALE "R. MATTIOLI" - VASTO (CH)
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
The purpose of this Pop 10! session is to highlight scaffolded learning strategies used to engage music education majors in culturally valid approaches to fuse contrasting but complementary musical styles while honoring the characteristic musical elements and personalizing a performance.
Area Director of Music Education, California State University, Long Beach
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 Rep... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:15am - 11:30am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
When does a place dedicated to music stop being just a commercial space and become a social infrastructure for the community?This question gives shape to the story of Città della Musica, a historic musical instrument store founded in 1871 and developed for generations by the family, together with collaborators who have shared the same vision: to make music an experience capable of generating... See More →
CEO, Città della Musica/Solidarity Couriers APS/TakeMeBack Project
Antonio Di Leonardo is an entrepreneur, film producer, and founder of social projects.He is CEO of Città della Musica, a historic musical instrument store founded in 1871 and developed for generations by the family. Today, Città della Musica has become a cultural place connecting... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 5PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This paper analyses and critiques the depiction of popular music educators within films released in English/with English subtitles from 1940–2025. It explores how tropes such as the rejection of school policy, a lack of teaching qualifications, and depictions of binge drinking may contribute to the delegitimation of popular music education.
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
A curated popular music canon, reimagined as a pedagogical tool rather than gatekeeping mechanism, streamlines repertoire selection for educators and students. Digital platforms enable dynamic, collaborative catalogs that can be expanded and updated in real time, fostering historical awareness while supporting discovery, skill-building, and collective engagement in classrooms and online... See More →
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Questa sessione presenta una ricerca sulla musica popolare italiana in Puglia e Lazio, analizzando il contesto sociale del dopoguerra, le tradizioni orali e la loro reinterpretazione contemporanea attraverso interviste, analisi delle trascrizioni e pratiche compositive sviluppate nell’ambito del Global Jazz Institute
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
*Note: I’m requesting 2 sessions: 20 min Demonstration (Session 1) and 45 min Workshop (Session 2) This workshop explores vocal distortion and extended vocal techniques through both technical and emotional frameworks. I will demonstrate my own use of "non-singing" expressions and discuss the balance of functional and affective approaches. I will also discuss how sounds are rooted culturally... See More →
Associate Professor of Voice, Longy School of Music of Bard College & Berklee College of Music
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This session uses Suno to show how students can take an original riff and lyrics, sung live, through the arrangement, production, and mixdown process in less than 20 minutes. This is what the songwriting process looks like when the barrier to entry disappears.
Suno is a music company built to amplify imagination. Students can turn original lyrics, melodies, or demo recordings into complete, studio-quality songs. Suno empowers students at every level to create, experiment, and discover what they're capable of, unlocking the joy of musical... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This presentation highlights the impact of an engaged scholarship initiative that brings Palestinian violist and composer Ramzi Aburedwan and his Dal’Ouna Ensemble to Texas Tech University for a week-long residency connecting students, artists, and the local Arab community through music of the Levant region. Building on successful residencies in 2018 and 2024, the 2025 project expands the... See More →
Associate Director for Academic Studies and Affairs, Texas Tech University
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... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Mode Ancien was created by Berklee Students with the goal of reimagining medieval music in ways that modern audiences would appreciate. Through this we have learned valuable aspects of medieval music performance and re-composition that I will share in this presentation.
An interactive workshop on choral arrangements of Italian pop music. From vocal techniques simulating modern instruments to social media strategies, learn how to transform Italian hits into catchy, pedagogically sound choral projects for young and community ensembles.
Teacher, Liceo Artistico Musicale e Coreutico Mi. Be. di Pescara
Cristina Di Zio, PhD in History and Criticism of the Arts and Music (University of Padua), is a scholar specializing in music philology and bibliography. Formerly an Adjunct Professor of Music Palaeography and Bibliography at the University of Padua, she has participated in several Research Projects... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 4PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This session explores how music educators can stay relevant by learning from students’ lived musical experiences and using that knowledge to design popular music curriculum. Through the Soundtrack of Our Lives framework, participants examine interviews, student-generated playlists, peer teaching, and community sing-along performance as tools for responsive, rigorous instruction
Thursday July 16, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 1PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
“Improvvisa con me al pianoforte” offre attività pratiche per coltivare la creatività musicale attraverso l’improvvisazione, fin dalle prime lezioni. Il testo si propone di colmare una lacuna nella pedagogia dell’improvvisazione musicale nei primi anni di studio, fornendo materiali e spunti concreti e adattabili a diversi contesti (scuola primaria e secondaria, scuole private), con... See More →
María del Mar Cabezuelo Sáenz ha sviluppato la propria formazione musicale attraverso un percorso internazionale tra Spagna, Inghilterra, Italia, Svizzera e Stati Uniti, integrando esperienze artistiche, pedagogiche e di ricerca musicale. Ha conseguito il Titolo Superiore di Piano... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 2PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
This paper traces the Romanesca schema from eighteenth-century gallant traditions of contemporary pop music, examining its semantic, rhetorical, and emotional functions across repertories. Combining schema theory, semiotics, and historical musicology, it argues that the Romanesca survives as a flexible tonal archetype functioning as a rhetorical cliché, shaping listener expectation and expressive... See More →
Conservatory of Music "F. Torrefranca", Vibo Valentia
Dr Marco Pollaci holds degrees from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and a PhD in Music from the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century music, opera studies,music analysis, partimento traditions, schema theory, and the history of music... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST Liceo Ovidio - Room 3PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)
Guided Tour of Abbazia Santo Spirito & Open SingingThursday, July 16Join us for a guided visit to the magnificent Abbazia Santo Spirito al Morrone, one of Abruzzo's most important historical and architectural landmarks. Discover the rich history of this centuries-old abbey while exploring its remarkable spaces and cultural heritage.Following the tour, participants are invited to take part in an... See More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm CEST Abbazia Santo SpiritoVia Badia, 28, 67039 Badia-bagnaturo AQ, Italy
Mistura PopolareMembersMichela Farinelli – vocalsDaniele Ferretti – guitar and vocalsAbramo Riti – piano and keyboardsBruno Marcozzi – drums and percussionBiographyMistura Popolare is a musical ensemble that, for more than a decade, has been building bridges between cultures, traditions, and musical languages from around the world. Born from a desire to celebrate the meeting of diverse... See More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:30pm - 11:00pm CEST Piazza XX SettembrePiazza XX Settembre, Sulmona (AQ)
