Aimee Curtis Pfitzner has dedicated over thirty years to working with children and educators through joyful, playful, and purposeful music making and learning. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has completed Orff-Schulwerk certification training through Level I at Bridgewater State University (MA), Levels II and III at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Master’s Level training at the University of Memphis. Aimee is also an approved Level I Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Educator.

Aimee is a frequent presenter at national and international music education conferences and workshops. Her numerous published resources for music educators are available through Beatin’ Path Publications. Beyond her professional work, Aimee is passionate about singing, gardening, adoption, and a wide range of creative pursuits including painting, zendoodling, jewelry making, and sewing.

When she’s not singing, teaching, writing music, or presenting, Aimee shares her thoughts and inspirations on music education through her blog: www.ofortunaorff.com. 

As a first-generation Filipino-American and military child, Melissa Fuller Flores grew up showcasing Filipino folk dances on Air Force bases. The foundations of how to move to music primed her for a Bachelor’s in Music Education at the University of Alabama, and a Master’s in Clarinet Performance at the University of North Texas. Her career began at the Houston Symphony, where she coordinated concert logistics for over 120,000 students, witnessing the transformative power of music in fostering community and belonging. This experience inspired her to transition into the classroom to be closer to the transformative power of music education.

Melissa’s teaching journey spans a wide age range, from infancy to elementary grades and even college students across Alabama, Texas, Iowa, and Missouri. She is a dedicated mentor to pre-service and new teachers and a fierce advocate for students of all backgrounds and ages, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and celebrated in and outside of the music classroom.

As a dynamic presenter, Melissa leads workshops nationwide, fueled by her belief that music is a source of peace, empowerment, and transformation. She is committed to empowering educators to create supportive, inclusive environments where every learner can thrive.

Jesse Rathgeber, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor and Chair of Music Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research interests include disability, inclusion, music teacher education, and popular/vernacular music.

Molly Joyce is a composer and performer whose work explores disability as a creative source. Described by The Washington Post as “one of the most versatile, prolific, and intriguing composers working under the vast new-music dome,” her music has also been praised by The New York Times for its “serene power” and by Vulture as “unwavering…enveloping.” Joyce frequently performs on an electric vintage toy organ—an instrument she found on eBay that physically suits her body and conceptually embodies her engagement with disability in sound.