Keynote Speaker
Immanuel Wilkins

Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins burst onto the musical scene in 2020 with the release of his Blue Note recording debut, Omega, featuring his longstanding quartet of Micah Thomas, Daryl Johns and Kweku Sumbry. Although just 22 at the time of its release, his quartet had already been together for over four years and their cohesiveness and musicality is reflected in both the maturity of Wilkins’ sound and the sophistication and depth of his compositions.

Accolades and press soon followed, including Omega being named the best new jazz release of 2020 by the New York Times; the best debut jazz album by NPR and being nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz recording of 2020. The year ended on an even higher note, with Wilkins winning the prestigious Letter One Rising Stars Award.

Terri Lyne Carrington

Terri Lyne Carrington is an NEA Jazz Master, Doris Duke Artist, and four-time Grammy award-winning drummer, composer, producer, and educator. She serves as Founder and Artistic Director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, as well Artistic Director for both Next Jazz Legacy program (a collaboration with New Music USA) and the Carr Center in Detroit, MI. She has performed on more than 100 recordings over her 40-year career and has toured and recorded with luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, Esperanza Spalding, and numerous others. Her artistry and commitment to education has earned her honorary doctorates from York University, Manhattan School of Music and Berklee College of Music, and her curatorial work and music direction has been featured in many prestigious institutions internationally. The critically acclaimed 2019 release, Waiting Game, from Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science earned the esteemed Edison Award for music and a Grammy nomination. In fall of 2022, she authored two books, Three of a Kind (about the forming of the Allen Carrington Spalding trio) and the seminal songbook collection, New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets By Women Composers. This book was accompanied by the album new STANDARDS vol.1 (Candid Records) which won the GRAMMY® Award for the best jazz instrumental album, and New Standards art installation, at Detroit’s Carr Center and the Emerson Contemporary Media Art Gallery, as part of the Jazz Without Patriarchy Project.

Orlando Haddad

Orlando brings a wealth of influences not only from his country of Brazil as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and arranger, but from his classical background as well. A native of Lavras, in the state of Minas Gerais, Orlando has been a bandleader since age 12. He studied classical piano before moving to Rio de Janeiro, where he attended the Villa-Lôbos Institute, and later studied classical guitar.

J. Michael Harrison

J. Michael Harrison’s first radio show, WPEB’s “Is That Jazz” launched in June of 1993. In 1994 he began volunteering with WRTI as a production assistant and later a substitute host. In 1996, J. Michael debuted his own program, The Bridge, which continues to air Friday evenings on WRTI.

The Bridge was selected as Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best Radio Program” in 2002, and in 2007, the Philadelphia City Paper called it the “Best On-Air Reminder That Jazz Didn’t Die in 1965.”

The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts made him a Stakeholder in 2016 and invited him to participate on their Advisory Board. In October of 2022, J. Michael was hired as an Education Coordinator by the Clef Club. J. Michael has also recently joined the Rosenbach Museum’s Programming Committee. He was presented the Above & Beyond award for Outstanding Contributions to Arts & Culture by the People’s Emergency Center in 2017, that same year the Jazz Journalist Association named him a “Jazz Hero.”

Hiruy Tirfe

Coming off of the fresh, captivating release of his debut record entitled “10,000 Hours” with a outstanding 4 of 5 star review on DownBeat Magazine, Hiruy Tirfe is a distinguished saxophonist, musician, composer, arranger, educator, musical director, band leader, voting member of the Recording Academy and film scorer hailing from the vibrant musical landscape of Philadelphia, PA. His journey as a versatile musician began during his time in Upper Darby public schools, in addition to extra curricular programs such as the Kimmel Center Creative Music Program, and then continuing his studies at the University Of The Arts in Center City Philadelphia, where he honed his craft and emerged as a sought-after sideman for
numerous local Philadelphia artists. Tirfe received his bachelors in Music Performance (Saxophone) with a Minor In Music Education in 2017 then the following year received his Master in Music Education while attending University Of The Arts. In 2022, he launched “Tirfe Music World”, a company in which he contracts numerous musicians for a plethora of functions from private events to national tours providing artists and clients a high level of musical mastery all from “Tirfe’s World.” Tirfe was very fortunate to provide musical mastery from clients such as the American Association For Cancer Research, Channel 10 NBC, The Mann Music Center and also artists such as Chill Moody for the “Moody Klubbhouse” Series held at City Winery. Tirfe has also lent a hand for the Delaware County Jazz Jam Festival, a festival run since 2023 run by Tirfe, Upper Darby Arts And Education Non-proft and the Upper Darby Township in which Tirfe runs the booking, contracting, accounting, stage management and MC.

Ella Gahnt

Ella Gahnt is a Philly-based Jazz vocalist dubbed “Philly’s Class Act” by local media and fans. She has “wowed” audiences at major venues and Jazz Festivals and performs regularly with her own Trio and with several other Bands in the area. Ella was honored by the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy when she became a recipient of the “2019 Philly Celebrates Jazz Award.” Ella has performed at Washington DC’s acclaimed Westminster Presbyterian Church hosted by Dick Smith where she received standing ovations for her performance, and she has also been one of the featured artists performing on the Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival Club stage for several years. Ella’s CDs – “Immaculate Union,” “By Request,” “Third Stage Of Elegance” and her newly released CD “Celebration 4 Life” are in rotation on WRTI-FM. Ella’s 4^th CD “Celebration 4 Life” was co-produced by pianist extraordinaire Aaron Graves. Both “Third Stage of Elegance” and “Celebration 4 Life” showcase her songwriting abilities. Look out for Ella Gahnt – she’s traveling at the speed of swing!

Lori Williams

Described by President Joe Biden as having “the voice of an angel,” international jazz vocalist Lori Williams boasts an impressive career spanning over 30 years. As a performing artist, music educator, business owner, songwriter, producer, and musical theater actress, her talents are far-reaching. She is the founder and Executive Director of Positive Music for Positive Minds, Inc. (PositiveMusicPM.org), a non-profit organization that mentors students in understanding the power of positive music and lyrical content through various art forms, with a special focus on jazz and contemporary music. Her annual vocal jazz tours and performances have taken her across Europe (including Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and more), Japan, the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout the United States.

Marcus Johnson

Marcus Johnson is a celebrated jazz keyboardist, pianist, and influential speaker, known for blending his professional and personal experiences to inspire transformation. He launched his career with the independent release of his debut album, Lessons in Love, which sold hundreds of thousands of units and garnered millions of spins across streaming platforms. This early success led to a partnership with BET founder Robert L. Johnson, and together they established Three Keys Music, a label that has featured artists like Nick Colionne, Marcus Anderson, Michael Lington, and Alyson Williams.

Olivia Hughart

Olivia Hughart is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, advocate, and the Founder and Artistic Director of Key of She Jazz (keyofshejazz.org), an organization devoted to supporting and encouraging more girls and nonbinary students in jazz. She is a gigging and recording musician with bands in New York City, Philadelphia, and beyond. Hughart is a member of the NYChillharmonic, the Grace Fox Big Band, the Andrew Neu Big Band, and Triad Brass, and has performed with Aberdeen the
Band, New Heights Brass Band, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and is frequently called for off-Broadway productions. Hughart has attracted the attention of the press from various publications including Philly Magazine, NPR Live Sessions, CBS Philly, WRTI, NYU News, Cool Jazz Radio, Shoutout LA, Voyage LA, and various podcasts. Hughart is a Presser Scholar, 2023 JEN Mary Jo Papich Women in Jazz Scholarship winner, 2020 Bruce Montgomery Foundation Springboard Grant Winner, and 2020 Pennsylvania Project Stream Grant winner.

Michael Kline

Michael Kline launched Spy Boy Productions in 2012, bringing over 25 years of experience in talent booking, programming and relationship management across multiple disciplines to his events organization. Producer of the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May, NJ, a bi-annual, world-class music festival in Cape May, NJ, that has become known as one of the most respected and creative jazz festivals in the country.

Carter Fox

Introducing Carter Fox, affectionately known as the Soulful Traveling Spaceman Bassman, a moniker bestowed upon him by his dedicated followers. With a career spanning decades, Carter has emerged as a multifaceted talent, earning acclaim as an award-winning musician, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. His journey into the realm of music commenced at a mere 15 years old, igniting a passion that would shape his life’s work.

From touring across the globe playing bass with R&B artist Freddie Jackson to crafting his own music that has amassed millions of streams, Carter’s influence knows no bounds. His musical and marketing collaborations range from indie sensations to revered icons across all facets of the music industry, from legendary icons Freddie Jackson and Leon Huff to independent music publishing powerhouse Reservoir Media Management, Universal Music Group, and CD manufacturer Disc Makers. Through his expertise in marketing, social media strategy, brand development, and beyond, Carter has left an indelible mark on the music landscape.

Gail Boyd

Gail Boyd is President of Gail W. Boyd, P.C., an entertainment law firm, and Gail Boyd Artist Management LLC. She is a graduate of De Paul University and De Paul University School of Law. She was a founding partner in Boyd, Staton and Cave, the first African American female law firm in New York. Gail has been involved in entertainment law since 1976. She has been involved specifically in music with a specialty in jazz since 1979.

Gail presently serves on the Boards of the Pan African Center for Empowerment, the Martin Luther King/Coretta Scott King Memorial, The International Society of Jazz Composers and Arrangers, The Cape May Jazz Festival Foundation, The Heart of Jazz Foundation, The International Society of Jazz Composers and Arrangers, and the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA). In October 2019, she was elected President of NAPAMA serving three terms and is now the Immediate Past President. She is the former Vice Chair of the Entertainment, Sports, and Art Law Committee of the National Bar Association. She also chaired the Entertainment, Sports, Art Law Committee of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association and served as a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Entertainment Law. She served on the Board of WBGO FM Radio in New York as well as the Noel Pointer Foundation. For nearly 20 years, she served as Chair of the Board of Brooklyn Legal Services. 

Pamela Hetherington

Pamela Hetherington is a Philadelphia native tap dancer, choreographer, master educator and community leader in tap dance and jazz music. Since 2013, she has created award-winning work for the The Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble that has been commissioned by numerous cultural institutions, received multiple awards, and has fostered deep and lasting connections between tap dancers and jazz musicians, thus building bridges between the audiences of dance and music. The PJTE was the 2023 Overall “Fringie” Award winner, given by the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, for her piece, “Terry Pollard: A Jazz Epistolary.” She was the trailblazing studio director of Sound Space Performing Arts in North Philadelphia for ten years, and her 27 years of cumulative work as a master dance educator in countless learning environments, from public school gyms to universities, is now focused on leading Philadelphia Youth Tap, a tap dance training program and performance ensemble that sustains the legacy of Philadelphia tap dance.

Josh Jackson

Josh Jackson is the associate general manager for programming and content at WRTI. He was the founding producer of the multi-platform concert series Live at the Village Vanguard and The Checkout: Live, a concert experience for the hourly music magazine he created, The Checkout. His efforts in multimedia production led to the creation of NPR’s Jazz Night in America. At WRTI, he was the producing partner with JazzDanmark for the 2022 Dangerous Sounds podcast. Josh is a two-time recipient of the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Broadcasting.