Samantha Fung is the Founder and Director of Partnerships of Music For Every Child (MFEC), an organization she co-created to provide access to music for children with developmental disabilities. Her interest in this work began through volunteer experiences in elementary and middle school special-education programs, where she saw firsthand the barriers students with disabilities face…
Kenn Mainville is President & CEO of Sistema New Brunswick, the largest youth music program in Canada. A longtime supporter and parent of two NBYO alumni, he champions a program that has transformed music culture in New Brunswick and inspired thousands of young lives over the past 15 years.
Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, MD, PhD, is Professor of Neurology at UMass Chan Medical School–Baystate and a vascular neurologist at Baystate Health in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is also Scientific Director of the Human Magnetic Resonance Center (hMRC) and Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A pioneer in research at the intersection…
Jamie Bernstein is an author, narrator, director, broadcaster, and filmmaker. Her 2018 memoir, Famous Father Girl, is about growing up with composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein, and pianist and actress Felicia Montealegre in an atmosphere bursting with music, theatre and literature. Jamie has written and narrated concerts about Mozart, Aaron Copland, and Stravinsky, among many others. Her family concerts…
Lieutenant-General The Honourable Roméo Dallaire is a celebrated advocate for global human rights, as well as a highly-respected author, lecturer, leadership consultant, international advisor, former Canadian Senator, and founder of the Fondation Romeo Dallaire, and the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security. Throughout his distinguished military career, General Dallaire served most notably as Force…
“If Mortensen were locked in a box in a prison in total darkness, with no pens, no tools, no books, he would make something amazing out of it.”– Dennis Hopper “a man of conviction, of compassion, intelligence, artistic integrity, a great actor and a fine citizen of the world . . .”– Ed Harris “…with…
Dr. Wendy A. Stewart is a pediatric neurologist with a diverse educational background. Originally from Dundee, Scotland, she now lives in New Brunswick, Canada. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia, where her thesis focused on proton spin relaxation in multiple sclerosis. She earned a Doctor of Medicine from the…
Zeda Ali is a music educator at Sunnyview Middle School in Brampton, Ontario, celebrated for her culturally responsive and student-centered approach to music education. A 2024 nominee for the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, she has been nationally recognized for building inclusive music programs that reflect and celebrate the diverse identities of her students….
Dr. Shimi Kang is an award-winning psychiatrist, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and internationally recognized expert on mental health, innovation, and resilience. With over two decades of clinical experience working with people from all walks of life, Dr Kang has dedicated her career to understanding and promoting emotional well-being through innovative, holistic approaches that integrate neuroscience,…
Since 2015, Dr. Forrester has taught undergraduate music education courses at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In addition, Forrester conducted the UMass Boston Orchestra and held leadership positions including Program Coordinator of Music and Music Education. In 2018, she was awarded the Community Engaged Innovation Teaching Award by UMass Boston. As a scholar of music…