Karla Booth is a movement specialist with over thirty years of international performing and teaching experience. She began exploring the world of music and dance as a young child, developed her choreographic skills at college, and became certified as a yoga instructor as well as a teacher of the Alexander Technique.

Karla maintains a busy teaching studio in Westchester where she enjoys helping adults and children explore their creative potential through dance and music, so that they have the confidence to use their creativity to enhance not only their lives, but also of those around them.

Michael Brenner is a talented, versatile, and inspiring musician. Despite having challenges such as autism and a visual impairment, he has an amazing ability to connect with all the people that he makes music with and for. This ranges from toddlers to nonagenarians and includes a mastery of an enormous repertoire of music that he can play and sing.

He takes great pride and joy in sharing his passion for music with others, which has resulted in his active participation in many community groups in the Hudson Valley, as well as becoming a much sought after performer for conferences and professional meetings. In every setting, Michael adds a unique flavor that fills each attendant and participant with a happy heart.

Sue Carpenter has worked internationally as an arts educator in schools, museum education and extensively in special education. She is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Science and Human Services at Kingsborough Community College—part of the City University of New York.

At Kingsborough she is the course coordinator for the Arts in Education courses, mandatory courses for students working toward their associate degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education. She also advocates for students with Intellectual Disabilities, and is a member of the CUNY wide committee looking into credentials for these students.
Dr. Carpenter has published widely. Her research interests include altruism, arts and disability.

Lauren Davis received her Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin College Conservatory, her Master of Music from Louisiana State University, and her PhD in Violin Pedagogy from The Australian National University. She has played with numerous orchestras in the United States including the Canton Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Louisiana Sinfonietta, Acadiana Symphony, and the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra.

She is currently the leader of the Riverina Chamber Orchestra, the Limestone Consort, and a member of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, she has played in a number of ensembles including the Riverina Trio, the Valcour String Quartet, the Aurora Trio and the Brioso String Quartet. She has been teaching violin for a number of years both privately and at such institutions as Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Music for Everyone, Orana School, and at the Australian University in their Pre-Tertiary and Colourstrings programs. Lauren currently teaches at the Riverina Conservatorium in Wagga Wagga, Australia.

Susan Diamond is a concert and operatic soprano soloist of international caliber. Trained at the Juilliard School of Music, she has performed with many opera companies and orchestras in the US and Europe, given numerous solo concerts throughout the US, and completed five tours in Australia. Her recording of the Nielsen Symphony Number 3 conducted by Sixten Ehrling has been widely praised. An accomplished popular/jazz singer as well, she has also performed in jazz concerts in the US, Britain, Europe, and Australia. She is former Professor of Voice at Fairfield University in Connecticut and Columbia Teacher’s College in New York City.

Ivan Hunter specializes in teaching, encouraging, and empowering recreational players of all levels. He believes that his role as a teacher is to activate the musician in every student. The focus at all times is on playing Music.

Note reading, technique and range are dealt with when and if necessary; recreational players, by definition, do not aspire to professional careers.

He runs Jaeger Brass in South Salem, New York, where he designs, modifies and repairs brass instruments, consults on all aspects of brass playing as well as sharing his knowledge through internet forums and blogging.

A past World Champion cornet player, Ivan started his musical career singing in a children’s choir making weekly radio broadcasts. During his over 50 year playing career, he has been principal trumpet in symphony orchestras and stage shows, session musician for TV shows and studio recordings, and has given numerous solo and ensemble performances in both classical and jazz styles.

Peter Muir is a world-class musician whose work is guided by a passionate belief in the power of music to transform people’s lives.

An internationally renowned pianist, singer, and musicologist, equally at home in classical, jazz, and blues styles, his work has been described by the New York Times as “potent.” As an educator with thirty years experience, he has taught everybody from beginners to professionals, and has developed a unique approach to teaching people with disabilities.

He has worked internationally in the field of community music, running and participating in hundreds of programs in Europe, Australia and the US.

Erika, born and raised in Germany, has been passionately involved with American Popular Music for nearly 20 years.  She is married to a professional trumpet player/builder in the New York area and is a qualified bookkeeper with experience in several company start-ups.  She first got interested in the concept of Life Energy 30 years ago when visiting her German medical doctor who referred her to a book called “Life Energy”.

Brigitte Pohl has been interested in health and healing her whole life. Originally from Germany where she is a licensed Naturopath, she moved to the USA to continue her studies and is a Licensed Acupuncturist. For the past twenty-five years she has also trained extensively with John Diamond M.D., on how how to use the arts to promote healing. She has given lectures and workshops on the arts and healing in Europe, Australia, and the USA.