Rena Branson Rena Branson (they/them) is a Jewish composer, ritual leader, and educator who uplifts personal and collective healing through song. They founded A Queer Nigun Project (aqueernigunproject.org), which organizes singing events for LGBTQIA+ folks and sends audio content to people in the Jewish community who are incarcerated. Rena writes…
Simon Tam Simon Tam is an author, musician, activist, and self-proclaimed troublemaker. He is best known as the founder and bassist of The Slants, the Asian American dance rock band that won a landmark case at the U.S Supreme Court in 2017 to help expand civil liberties for marginalized groups.…
Agalisiga Mackey Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey is a Cherokee singer/songwriter who grew up in the small traditional Cherokee community of Kenwood, OK. Mackey melds a classic country and blues sound drawn from Jimmy Rodgers and R.L. Burnside with his deep baritone voice honed from his upbringing in singing Cherokee ceremonial…
Marie-Isabelle Pautz Marie-Isabelle Evangeline Pautz is a second-generation culture bearer. She grew up immersed in Louisiana French, bartering economies, and folkways with her grandparents, who lived across the street from her. Since 2002, Marie-Isabelle has led programs and initiatives at EarthShare Gardens, Lafayette Hurricane Survivors Coalition, Center for Restorative Approaches,…
Gregg Griffin Gregg Griffin, Jr. is a Talented and Gifted Music Instructor in the Vermilion Parish School System with nearly 20 years of experience as a music educator, performer, and cultural advocate. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University and a Master’s degree in Music…
Kennedy Pugh Kennedy Pugh is founder of Music for the Cause, a mission‑driven music collective that began as a grassroots effort to spotlight suicide prevention and has since evolved into a powerful amplifier for health equity and social‑justice issues affecting communities of color. Blending soulful performance, personal storytelling, and collaborative…
Al "Papa Rap" Lopez Al Papa Rap Lopez is originally from Puerto Rico and has lived in NWA since 1994. Al is a self-taught musician who has composed and arranged hundreds of songs that he uses in his live performances. He performs solo or he can also bring his 8-piece…
Vidya Ramachandhiramani Vidya Ramachandhiramani is a software engineer and Carnatic singer from the South of India. She has been an instructor and practitioner of Carnatic music for many years and the founder of Sadhana Fine Arts—a music school dedicated in promoting and teaching South Indian classical music—Carnatic Vocal and Veena—in…
Anjelica Lindsey ANJELICA LINDSEY is a classical composer, violinist, and recording artist based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Her work is concerned with language revitalization, cultural reclamation, and the sonic expression of identity through immersive and emotionally resonant composition. She has premiered original works…
Bo Shimmin Bo Shimmin (Pueblo of Acoma) is a dynamic and versatile tenor whose captivating performances have earned him recognition on both national and international stages. Bo brings a unique blend of passion and technical mastery to his craft, consistently delivering compelling interpretations of a diverse repertoire. Trained at prestigious…
