Afton Battle: Arts Leader, Strategic Visionary, and Change Agent

Afton Battle is a transformative force in American arts administration, combining her training as a dramatic soprano with an unwavering commitment to equity and community engagement. With 15 years of nonprofit management experience, she has revolutionized how leading arts institutions connect with their communities while raising millions of dollars for artistic excellence. Battle's fundraising expertise has generated substantial revenue for premier institutions including New York Theatre Workshop, The Joffrey Ballet, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. As General and Artistic Director of Fort Worth Opera, she launched "The People's Opera," dismantling traditional barriers through groundbreaking programming featuring celebrated artists of the Global Majority and innovative community initiatives. In 2022, Battle founded BMG Consulting to center the expertise of Global Majority and women administrators, serving clients including Gateways Music Festival, Chicago Sinfonietta, Red Clay Dance Company, National Black Theatre, and Grammy Award-winners Karen Slack and Kenneth Overton. At Lyric Opera of Chicago, Battle served as Vice President of Lyric Unlimited and Artistic Operations, transforming community impact by serving over 10,000 residents through programs like Artists and Scholars in Residence, Opera in the Neighborhoods and OPERA Insights. A thought leader in classical music's cultural influence, Battle mentors through OPERA America's Opera Leaders of Color Cohort, SPHINX, serves on OPERA America's board, and speaks at major industry conferences. A native of Texas, Battle holds degrees from the University of Houston and Westminster Choir College. She embodies the change she champions—transforming institutions while honoring Black artistic excellence and community voice.

Brittney Bryanna Burgess is a music educator, arts administrator, and opera singer from Queens, NY. She currently serves as the Program Manager for Partnerships and Access in the Office of Community and Culture at the Juilliard School, where she develops initiatives that expand access and strengthen community partnerships. After hours, Brittney wears her other hat as the co-founder and Executive Director of Black Collegiate Musicians (BCM), a national nonprofit that supports collegiate musicians by providing access to financial, professional, and mental health resources. Through mentorship and community engagement, BCM empowers students as they pursue careers in the performing arts. Brittney is an alumna of the fifth cohort of SphinxLEAD, a national arts leadership program, and a recipient of the 2025 Sphinx MPower Grant. She holds a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Nazareth College. She remains an active performer and voice teacher.

Marvin V. Curtis, Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Music of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts at Indiana University South Bend, is the only African American commissioned to write a choral work for a Presidential Inauguration. The Philander Smith Collegiate Choir of Little Rock, Arkansas and The United States Marine Band performed his City on the Hill at the 1993 Inauguration for President Bill Clinton, and it is housed at the Smithsonian. He is currently Coordinator of Arts Equity and Public Art for the City of South Bend, Indiana. A Chicago native, his degrees are from North Park University (BM), The Presbyterian School of Christian Education (MA) and The University of the Pacific in Music Education (EdD). Additionally, he studied at Westminster Choir College, The Juilliard School of Music, and The University of Ghana at Lagon as a Ford Foundation Fellow. An active composer of musical genres and choral and orchestral conductor, his writings on African American music are published in scholarly journals. He is the African American to be elected President of the South Bend Symphony Board of Directors. For 12 years, he was National Scholarship Chair for the National Association of Negro Musicians. His honors include his 2021 induction into The South Bend Hall of Fame.

Johannes (Yo-Ha-Nis) Escobar is the 2025-2026 Grammy U Atlanta Chapter Representative, a rising music executive and dynamic force in artist management. He has already made significant strides in the industry serving as the protégé of veteran music executive Cortez Bryant and has lead a 25-city tour as Assistant Tour Manager, all within his four-year collegiate journey at Clark Atlanta University. Escobar plays a key role on the management team for R&B star Zae France. He specializes in connecting talent with Gen Z audiences, building standout brand identities, and driving meaningful impact across the music and entertainment landscape.

Since debuting as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, Tami Lee Hughes has extensively toured the United States, Europe, and Central America. Her solo album, Legacy: Violin Music of African-American Composers gained critical success and led to the creation of The Legacy Collective, a multicultural ensemble of acclaimed artists devoted to recording and performing the music of African-American composers. As artist of versatility, Hughes has performed for numerous orchestra, television, and film projects. She is currently on the faculty of Spelman College, Morehouse College, and the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. Her teachers include Sally O’Reilly, Paul Kantor, and Camilla Wicks.

Josh Jones is a Chicago native and accomplished percussionist who has been playing drums since the age of three. His formal percussion studies began in fourth grade at the Percussion Scholarship Program under the guidance of Patricia Dash, a member of the Chicago Symphony, and Douglas Waddell, a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera and Grant Park Orchestra. Josh earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the DePaul School of Music. He went on to serve as orchestra fellow for both the Detroit Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony orchestras. From 2017 to 2022, Josh held the position of principal percussionist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and Grant Park Orchestra, where he is currently based. A highly sought-after artist, Josh has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall and has appeared on radio and television programs. His work has been profiled in renowned publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Defender, and The Washington Post. Josh has also been the subject of three short documentaries and has performed on two Grammy-nominated orchestral recordings. Additionally, he is the author of a percussion method book series, Spatial Studies for Hitting Things. Through his website, DrumMojo.com, Josh shares educational blogs, short video lessons, and compositions for percussion ensemble and solo performance. Passionate about giving back to the community, Josh enjoys mentoring young musicians and traveling to broaden his horizons both personally and professionally.

Alex Laing became the President and Artistic Director of Gateways Music Festival in January, 2024. A leading figure in American classical music, he has been invited to address the annual conferences of both the Association of British Orchestras and the League of American Orchestras, the latter as a keynote speaker. He has been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and made contributions to significant projects such as the League of American Orchestras 'Essentials of Orchestra Management Seminar', the Juilliard School’s Evening Division, the LA Phil's YOLA program (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), and Sound Systems: Reimagining the Future of the Orchestra, a book project he conceived, organized and co-edited with the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University.

His work has been recognized with a Sphinx Medal of Excellence and in being named one of Musical America's Professionals of the Year. An accomplished performer, Alex spent 22 years as principal clarinetist of the Phoenix Symphony.

Alex is a graduate of Northwestern University, received his master's degree in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, an artist's diploma from the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam and a certificate in nonprofit management from Arizona State University's Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation.

Camille Delaney-McNeil is an accomplished arts leader, educator, and advocate with a deep commitment to equity and access in music education. She currently serves as Vice President, Learning at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where she leads the organization’s learning and community engagement programs, including the nationally recognized Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) initiative. Camille began her career in Baltimore as Director of Programs for OrchKids, a Baltimore Symphony Orchestra program serving thousands of students across the city. There, she developed innovative community-based programming that combined music education with neighborhood revitalization and youth development. In 2021, she was appointed the inaugural Director of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center at Inglewood, where she helped establish a landmark, Frank Gehry–designed facility as a hub for creative youth development and orchestral training. A classically trained flutist and vocalist, Camille holds degrees from the University of Maryland (B.M.) and the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University (M.M.). She is a Musical America Top 30 Professional (2021), a Leading Women Award recipient (2017), and an alumna of the SphinxLEAD executive leadership program. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for El Sistema USA and is a frequent speaker at national conferences focused on arts education, equity, and social impact.

Thee Phantom, born Jeffrey McNeill, penned his first rhyme at just 8 years old, and by 13—back in 1987—he was already blending genres, creating his first beat by fusing the Beastie Boys’ Paul Revere instrumental with Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony. Alongside his wife and creative partner Andrea Coln, Phantom co-founded The Illharmonic Orchestra over 25 years ago—a groundbreaking ensemble that seamlessly marries Hip-Hop with orchestral accompaniment. Together, they’ve brought their genre-defying sound to some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Kimmel Center, and Wolf Trap Amphitheater, among many others. The Illharmonic Orchestra’s mission is to create safe, empowering spaces for Black musicians within classical music, while delivering high-quality, culturally resonant programming for underrepresented audiences. Through their work, they are reimagining what orchestral music can be—and who it’s for.

Dantes Rameau is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Music Project. AMP provides world-class music training and performances opportunities supporting youth growth and development. Operating in under-resourced communities, AMP’s mission statement is to empower youth to realize their possibilities through music.

As CEO of AMP, Dantes leads an organization serving more than 1,000 students and offering tuition-free programming in band, orchestra, choir, and private lessons. AMP also provides international travel and competition opportunities, college and career counseling, and workforce development.

A bassoonist by training, Dantes holds a Bachelor of Music from McGill University, a Master of Music from the Yale School of Music, and a Performance Certificate at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a graduate of the Sistema Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory and recently completed the DeVos Institute’s Global Arts Management Fellowship.

Dantes is married to Katori Rameau, an attorney. They have three kids.

Marcia is Co-President at Russell Philanthropies. Her extraordinary and uniquely wide-ranging experience is built around education, public service, belonging, and inclusion. She joined Russell Philanthropies from the Metropolitan Opera, where she was Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant General Manager.

In her role at the Met, Marcia was charged with crafting and implementing the institution's diversity, equity, and inclusion programming across multiple departments. Before the Met, Marcia spent more than five years working at Harvard Law School (HLS) as Associate Dean & Dean of Students. Prior to HLS, Marcia was Associate Dean & Dean of Students at Columbia Law School. 

‍She also worked at Columbia as Associate Vice President for Community Engagement with the office of Government & Community Affairs, and Associate Dean for Arts Outreach with the School of the Arts. She has held roles at the National Basketball Association and later at Reuters as Vice President of Employee and Organizational Development.

‍Marcia began her career in New York City over 40 years ago, working for Arthur Mitchell, co-founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem. She performed in many ballets with the company, which can be viewed in an early Dance in America presentation, as well as in the book Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby, published by Penguin Random House. Marcia earned a BA from Barnard College and a JD from Columbia University School of Law. 

Cameron Smith is a junior at Morehouse College studying the performing arts with an emphasis in double bass. His love for music started at a young age with artists such as John Coltrane, Ray Chalres, Jill Scott, Al Green, and James Brown. He began his musical journey at the age of 9 starting with classical music on the cello. He studied cello until the age of 13 when he switched to the double bass for the duration of his highschool career. He is currently a member of the Morehouse College House of Funk Marching Band as a tuba player, The Atlanta University Center Orchestra as a double bassist, and also the AUC Jazz Collective. He founded the first SpelHouse Jazz Festival that takes place every spring where he has performed in, and directed the show. With this jazz festival he plans to show his fellow students and the city of Atlanta a new view on jazz.

Lani Smith serves as Principal Oboe with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
She is a founding member of the Symphony’s Artist In Residence program, a groundbreaking initiative in Memphis that connects the symphony musicians with local schools in an ongoing relationship to bring music education into the classroom in meaningful and flexible ways. As an oboist, she has performed with the Nashville, Fort Worth, and St Louis Symphony Orchestras and served as faculty at Alma College and Michigan State University, where she directed several courses and maintained a private studio. She received her Bachelor’s degree from New England Conservatory and her Masters from Michigan State University, where she was awarded the prestigious University Distinguished Fellowship. Lani was a prizewinner at the Sphinx Orchestral Partners Competition in 2023, and a recipient of a fellowship from the Pittsburgh Symphony in 2007. In her free time, she practices yoga, enjoys reading, and nurtures a nascent skill in carpentry.

From living room performances with her cousins to leading stage productions and choirs, Ariana Swindell discovered early on that music and directing were more than passions—they were callings. Over time, she became a stronger collaborator and leader, learning that creativity flourishes when shared. Now a senior music major at Spelman College, Ariana Swindell specializes in songwriting and composition. She serves as Student Conductor of the Emmy-nominated Spelman College Glee Club, leading over 90 members in rehearsals and performances. From refining her compositional skills with the Chicago Sinfonietta to traveling the nation with the Glee Club, Ariana uses her voice to make a change.
Moreover, she is passionate about bridging creativity with execution, transforming bold artistic vision into meaningful musical experiences. Through experiences like The Recording Academy’s "Your Future is Now" Program, her work with the Atlanta Music Project, and her time as an HBCU Intensive Scholar with Warner Music Group, she continues to use music as a tool to uplift others, help them find their voice, and reflect the heart of God.

Music industry executive turned restaurateur and cultural architect, Zak Wallace is a curator of experiences whose impact spans cities and communities across the U.S. Best known for co-writing the multi-platinum hit “Goodies” by Grammy-nominated recording artist Ciara, Zak transitioned from a successful 15-year career in music to pursue a deeper mission—building businesses and platforms that create lasting change.

He launched Local Green Atlanta, a purpose-driven food truck and restaurant dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities through clean, accessible, and flavorful food. In 2022, Zak’s influence expanded into civic leadership, serving on the transition team for Atlanta’s 61st Mayor, Andre Dickens.

In 2023, Zak executive produced Jeezy’s first-ever symphony production, an innovative cultural moment that blended hip-hop with orchestral mastery. The success of that groundbreaking performance sparked a 25-city national tour, cementing Zak’s role as a visionary bridging art forms and pushing culture forward.

Today, through ventures like Culture Classics, Zak channels his passion for music, storytelling, and collective experience into platforms that honor the past, elevate the present, and shape the future. “I move with one intention: to leave every space, every city, and every generation better than I found them—honoring the legacy of those who paved the way and creating pathways for those yet to come.”

Dr. Demarr Woods is Chairperson of Music and Performing Arts at Hampton University located in Hampton, Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, Master of Music from Howard University, the Performer’s Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, and Doctor of Arts in Music Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.  Dr. Woods is a Sphinx LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts, and Diversity) fellow. Sphinx LEAD is a fellowship designed to evolve the industry landscape by empowering the next generation of executive leaders of Color. This is achieved through participation in executive leadership retreats, mentorship, and networking at top institutions at the national level. Dr. Woods has been recognized as one of the nation’s foremost music educators. He has received several teaching awards including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Peabody Preparatory of The Johns Hopkins University’s Diversity in Teaching Award.  Dr. Woods has held teaching positions at the University of Northern Colorado, Coppin State University, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the Levine School of Music, and the Peabody Preparatory of Music. Dr. Woods has enjoyed performing and teaching throughout the U.S., Japan, China, and Thailand.  Dr. Woods is very committed to community engagement. Dr. Woods is currently a member of Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Music Advisory Council, and a member of the board of directors with Soundscapes Music.

Dr. Alvoy Bryan Jr. is a violist, violinist, and conductor. A native of Decatur, G.A., he began studying the violin at age ten, and viola at age eighteen. His early music experiences include being an alumni of William Grant Still Memorial Youth Orchestra (Currently Sinfonia Orchestra), Dekalb Youth Pops Orchestra, Dekalb Youth Symphony, and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. His formal music education includes a B.M. in music performance from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), a M.M. in music performance from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a D.M.A. in music performance from the University of South Carolina. Some of his principal teachers include Shirley Cartman, David Robinson, Chester Griffin, Kimbraly Grimes, Ronda Respess (Joseph Gingold student), Mimi Zweig, Dr. Scott Rawls, Frits De Jonge, and Ryan Kho (Dorothy Delay student).

Dr. Bryan has over 20 years of conducting experience. He has conducted string, chamber, and symphony orchestra. He has taught orchestra on all academic levels in South Carolina (elementary through college). Dr. Bryan has served as guest conductor for the University of South Carolina Chamber Orchestra. He has served as Director for the Chamber Orchestra at Presbyterian College, String Ensemble at Benedict College, String Ensemble at South Carolina State University, and Chamber Ensemble at Allen University. He has also served as an orchestra teacher at Cardinal Newman High School (private catholic school), and in Richland One and Richland Two School Districts in South Carolina. He was a guest conductor for Richland One School District Middle School Honor Orchestra in 2007. Dr. Bryan has also served as guest orchestra clinician throughout the Southern Region in the United States, and recently served as a guest clinician for the South Carolina American Strings Teachers Association Workshops in 2023 and 2024.

Dr. Bryan has over 23 years experience as a professional orchestral and chamber musician. He is a member of Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra (principal viola), Western Piedmont Symphony (principal viola), Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra (section viola and violin). Additional orchestras include: Aiken Symphony Orchestra (former principal viola), Augusta Symphony Orchestra (section viola and violin), Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Danville Symphony, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, and Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra. As a professional chamber musician, Dr. Bryan has performed in Europe and South America. He served as the violist in the Atlantis String Quartet, is the founding member of the Gervais String Quartet and Bryan Chamber Ensemble. Dr. Bryan has also served as principal viola with The Palmetto Opera Orchestra (Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, Rigoletto, etc.). He has served as violist and violinist in the pit orchestra for several broadway shows (Temptations: Ain’t Too Proud, Funny Girl, Into The Woods, etc.) in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC.

Dr. Bryan has a very extensive background in higher education. He has served on the faculties at Allen University (Associate Professor and Chair of Music Department), Benedict College (Music Department Coordinator), South Carolina State University, Claflin University, Presbyterian College, and Webster University. Dr. Bryan has made a life long commitment to teaching young persons how to become professional orchestral musicians and music educators. Several of his students have earned masters and doctorate degrees in music, and are currently teaching music in elementary, middle, high school, and college throughout the nation.

Dr. Lexi Ligon Holloway recently obtained her Cultural Anthropology PhD at Duke University and is currently Mount Holyoke Fellow and visiting instructor in Critical Race and Political Economy.

Stemming from personal experience, her research explores how the mechanisms of white supremacy operate in classical music performance, examining how racial and aesthetic hierarchies position Black bodies as aberrant in these spaces. Specifically, Lexi's' research centers on the resilience and resistance that Black muisicians display in the face of racism in classical music pedagogy and performance.. As a filmmaker,

Lexi produced a multi-modal dissertation, consisting of a written portion and an accompanying documentary that attends to the aural and performative aspects of her research. Lexi has worked on the Decolonial Pedagogy Committee at Duke, and collaborated with professors to create a Black feminist theories syllabus for incoming Cultural Anthropology graduate students. As one of the chairs of the Association of Black Anthropologist’s Student Interest Group (SIG), Lexi is passionate about working against gate keeping practices that discourage Black and other POC students from feeling welcomed and valued. As a member of the Black Orchestral Network and a former violist, Lexi is excited about working to develop a mentorship initiative for burgeoning and junior Black musicians.

Michelle Manson is a violist who has dedicated their career thus far to giving back to their community and creating inclusive spaces through the arts, while innovating viola technique and providing musical performances around the world. During their undergraduate education, they began hosting events for musicians’ wellness, including a live meditation and music series and communal events for Black community members and musicians. Their writings center viola performance techniques and have been published in both the Journal for the American Viola Society and Strings magazine’s online platform. They have explored music of various genres, performing alongside Kirk Franklin, Kanye West, NoName, Itzhak Perlman, Angel Bat David, Lauryn Hill, and many others. They hold a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and Master of Arts in Humanities degree from The University of Chicago.

Weston Sprott is Dean of the Preparatory Division at the Juilliard School and a trombonist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. His work includes performance, education, administration, and thought leadership. He is an active speaker, writer, and consultant for diversity and inclusion initiatives in classical music, regularly presenting at conferences and contributing to musical publications. Weston enjoys an exciting career that includes orchestral, chamber, and solo performances. He has performed with several of the world's leading orchestras and music festivals and has been a featured soloist throughout the United States, Europe, South Africa, and Asia.  He has been recognized as “an excellent trombonist” with a “sense of style and phrasing [that] takes a backseat to no one." 

A dedicated and tireless teacher, Sprott holds faculty positions at The Juilliard School and Bard College. He regularly serves on the faculties of numerous summer programs and appears frequently as a guest teacher at conservatories, universities, and other leading programs such as the New World Symphony and The Orchestra Now. 

He is an active speaker, writer, and consultant for diversity and inclusion efforts in classical music. He is a recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and the Atlanta Symphony Talent Development Program's Aspire Award. He is the Board Chair of the Friends of SICMF, a member of the Bronx Arts Ensemble’s Artistic Advisory Board, and a member of the Avery Fisher Artist Program's Recommendation Board. For more information, please visit www.westonsprott.com.

Shea Scruggs was announced as the new director of the John J. Cali School of Music effective July 1, 2025. A highly accomplished arts administrator, educator and former professional oboist, Scruggs brings a dynamic background in music education and institutional leadership and program development to the Cali School.

Scruggs joins Montclair from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, where he served as Chief Enrollment Officer and Director of Institutional Research and Musician Experience. At Curtis, he led initiatives in admissions, alumni engagement and institutional research, while also playing a pivotal role in enhancing opportunities for all in classical music.

A graduate of Swarthmore College, the Curtis Institute of Music and Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, Scruggs has also enjoyed an acclaimed professional career, serving in principal oboe positions in the San Francisco Opera, Cincinnati Symphony and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. His leadership extends beyond performance and education – he is also a founding member of the Black Orchestral Network, an organization dedicated to increasing representation for Black musicians in classical music. His work in this space has garnered national attention, including being featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Titus Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music associate professor, Emmy Award winner, and 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence award. He received his Master of Music from The Juilliard School and bachelors from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Also, he has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Mr. Underwood has also played principal in Chineke!, Gateways Music Festival, and Bellingham Festival of Music. Underwood serves as teaching artist for Aspen Music Festival and the National Youth Orchestras program at Carnegie Hall. He also teaches and mentors for the National Alliance for Audition Support program maintained by the League of American Orchestras, The Sphinx Organization, and New World Symphony. His latest project was a short film he directed entitled “A Tale of Two Tails”.

Freelance cellist, zealous about bringing music to all walks of life. Her favorite quote “When words fail, music speaks” 

Deja graduated high school from Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy, then continued her studies at University of Arizona in Music Performance. Deja has the hopes to continue her education in both Music Performance and Music Therapy. She is now based in Phoenix, teaching cello to kids at SOUNDS Academy. Deja also performs gigs around the Phoenix Metroplex among other cities as well. 

Her goal is to not only create more musical opportunities to our youth, but create more diversity in the music that they play.  While Deja is classically trained, loves to incorporate jazz, R&B, and rap in her cello playing. She believes cello is not just a classical instrument, but a vessel for creating all types of music. When Deja is not playing cello, she loves to travel and bake delicious desserts.