Lara Downes is a world-class concert pianist, recording artist and arts activist. She's a Top 20 Billboard artist and counts the likes of multi-instrumentalist/composer/singer Rhiannon Giddens, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and folk icon Judy Collins among her collaborators. Her latest album, Some Of These Days, was called "a musical ray of hope" by NBC News, and was chosen as one of NPR Music's Top Albums of April. Upcoming performances include world premieres of newly discovered works by Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, and large-scale commissions from Paola Prestini and Clarice Assad, in collaboration with the Chicago Symphony and the Louisville Orchestra.

Kat Reinhert is an award-winning educator, author, vocalist, and songwriter. She has released five independent albums and sung on multiple projects and recordings for noted artists. She went all the way in school and got a PhD. She is the former Director of Contemporary Voice at The University of Miami and is a sought-after clinician, speaker, and artist. She has authored several book chapters and journal articles on contemporary voice and songwriting and is the current president of The Association for Popular Music Education. 

Chloe Veltman is a creator and shaper of engaging written, audio and visual content, an in-demand educator and speaker, and a content strategy consultant, helping others share their stories. Her home base for storytelling is KQED, where as a staff reporter and producer, she covers a broad range of arts, culture, and other news topics locally, statewide, and nationally. In addition to her ongoing beat reporting, she is the creator of award-winning documentaries and interactive audio experiences and serves as a guest host and commentator on many radio shows and podcasts including KPCC’s The Frame, WNYC’s Soundcheck to KQED’s The Bay.

Justina Shandler is an award-winning singer-songwriter, experienced educator, and hair dye enthusiast. She has obtained two degrees in music from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where she currently serves as an adjunct professor of songwriting. Justina has inspired students ranging from inmates in the federal prison system to summer campers at Interlochen, and is thrilled to continue teaching in social isolation.

Josh Thurston-Milgrom is a jazz bassist and educator based in Palo Alto. He is Director of Instrumental Music at Castilleja School, Lecturer in Jazz Bass at Stanford University, and a longtime member of the faculty of Stanford Jazz Workshop. He also teaches privately and performs frequently, both as a sideman and leading his own group.

Frank Levy is Professor of Piano at San Jose State University School of Music and Dance in California. Mr. Lévy taught at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division for 13 years (1995-2008) and in the DMA program of the CUNY Graduate Center (2008-2012). He has been Artist/Teacher at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City, Schlern International Music Festival in Italy, Beijing International Music Festival and Academy, among others. 

Phillip Harris is the Vocal Music Director at Head-Royce School. He performed at Carnegie Hall as a soloist under the baton of Jacqueline Hairston (MidAmerica Productions) and at New York’s Lincoln Center where Classical Singer Magazine noted,“Sims assembled a stellar group of singers with a talented younger generation of artists including Phillip Harris.”  A winner of the Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Harris has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, The Aspen Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Percussion Ensemble. 

Chrissa Hayes Medina has been working as a vocal coach and piano instructor for over 12 years. Aside from private instruction she also conducts a choir and performs whenever she can on the side. Chrissa has also worked as a vocal director on 7 different musicals. She studied independently throughout her whole life as well as at Citrus College and received a bachelors degree from the University of La Verne.