Dru Davison is a music program leader for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools in Memphis, Tennessee, and an active researcher in areas of creative leadership, education policy, and program development. Davison recently served as project chair for the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Standards Revisions for Arts Education. He is active with the National Association for Music Education, with past service as chair of the council of Music Program Leaders, where he oversaw the revisions of Opportunity-to-Learn Standards for Music Instruction. Prior to his work in administration, Davison taught instrumental music in rural and urban areas, was an adjunct jazz and saxophone instructor at Arkansas State University, and was a teaching fellow at the University of North Texas, where he received a doctorate in music education. He recently developed a course in creative leadership for Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. He is also active as a freelance saxophonist in the Memphis area.
Amanda Galbraith is an art educator with the Bartlett City Schools in Tennessee. In 2017–2018, she was an educator fellow with the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, a Tennessee-based nonprofit education research institution. Her students have consistently received recognition and awards, and many have gone on to successfully pursue further studies in the arts. Galbraith has served on the Tennessee Department of Education’s subject matter expert committee, two standards revision committees, a textbook and instructional materials advisory panel, and numerous curriculum development teams. She’s received the Tennessee Art Education Association’s West Tennessee Art Educator of the Year award two times—in 2011 and 2013. In 2019 Galbraith was named the Tennessee Art Education Association Art Educator of the Year. She is a frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences.
Luis Lanao III is a Colombian born artist, designer, and innovator. After graduating from Full Sail University with a degree in film and movie production, he worked on feature films in Florida before accepting a job with the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, where he became technical director of the game presentation department. He also created Luna Productions, where he and his wife designed brands, websites, and marketing materials for key players in the South Florida construction industry. Lanao currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he works as design director for IBM’s global brand and leads the company’s humanitarian initiative, the Be Equal design team. At IBM he has also collaborated with other members of the design, illustration, and video teams to create cross-company language guidance for the visual styling and approach of the entire company. He prides himself on being as multifaceted as a Swiss army knife and a designer for designers.
Luis Lanao III is a Colombian born artist, designer, and innovator. After graduating from Full Sail University with a degree in film and movie production, he worked on feature films in Florida before accepting a job with the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, where he became technical director of the game presentation department. He also created Luna Productions, where he and his wife designed brands, websites, and marketing materials for key players in the South Florida construction industry. Lanao currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he works as design director for IBM’s global brand and leads the company’s humanitarian initiative, the Be Equal design team. At IBM he has also collaborated with other members of the design, illustration, and video teams to create cross-company language guidance for the visual styling and approach of the entire company. He prides himself on being as multifaceted as a Swiss army knife and a designer for designers.
Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Alysia Lee is the founder and artistic director of Sister Cities Girlchoir, the El Sistema-inspired, girl empowerment choral academy in Philadelphia, Camden, and Baltimore, which is currently in its tenth season. She recently ended her tenure as the arts education policymaker for the Maryland State Department of Education. This role encompassed five arts disciplines: music, dance, visual art, theatre, and media arts. This year, Lee debuts as the series editor for Hal Leonard’s Exigence for Young Voices, a new choral series uplifting Black and Latino composers for young choir ensembles. Lee is also on the faculty of Longy School of Music of Bard College and Peabody Conservatory, as well as a proud board member of Chorus America.
Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Alysia Lee is the founder and artistic director of Sister Cities Girlchoir, the El Sistema-inspired, girl empowerment choral academy in Philadelphia, Camden, and Baltimore, which is currently in its tenth season. She recently ended her tenure as the arts education policymaker for the Maryland State Department of Education. This role encompassed five arts disciplines: music, dance, visual art, theatre, and media arts. This year, Lee debuts as the series editor for Hal Leonard’s Exigence for Young Voices, a new choral series uplifting Black and Latino composers for young choir ensembles. Lee is also on the faculty of Longy School of Music of Bard College and Peabody Conservatory, as well as a proud board member of Chorus America.
Tricia Williams joined the staff of the California-based Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation in 1999. In her role as program director, she supervises and implements all aspects of the program. This includes strategic planning and implementation of support services to school districts, as well as school application review, site visits, administration of instrument donations, and evaluation of schools that receive grants from the foundation. Additionally, she maintains relationships with schools and districts nationwide through music education consultation and community engagement. She has performed with the Boston Chamber Ensemble, Brookline Symphony, American Repertory Theatre, New England Brass Band, and with former Frank Zappa guitarist Mike Keneally. Through a highly selective international process, she was acknowledged by American Express as a leader in the nonprofit sector and selected for the American Express Leadership Academy, which was held in New York City in 2017.
Tricia Williams joined the staff of the California-based Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation in 1999. In her role as program director, she supervises and implements all aspects of the program. This includes strategic planning and implementation of support services to school districts, as well as school application review, site visits, administration of instrument donations, and evaluation of schools that receive grants from the foundation. Additionally, she maintains relationships with schools and districts nationwide through music education consultation and community engagement. She has performed with the Boston Chamber Ensemble, Brookline Symphony, American Repertory Theatre, New England Brass Band, and with former Frank Zappa guitarist Mike Keneally. Through a highly selective international process, she was acknowledged by American Express as a leader in the nonprofit sector and selected for the American Express Leadership Academy, which was held in New York City in 2017.
