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Did you know that music instruction in early childhood primes the brain for reading success? Or that singing in a choir helps seniors distinguish speech from background noise? From birth through the golden years, research shows that music profoundly shapes how we learn and communicate.Join us for an inspiring morning of TED-style mini talks exploring the transformative power of music on the brain. From groundbreaking research to hands-on demonstrations, this event brings together leading voices in music therapy, neuroscience, and education for a dynamic morning of discovery. Expect video highlights, live demonstrations, and engaging discussion!
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. — Pastry reception
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. — Program
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — Coffee/tea break
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Program
Speakers by order of appearance:
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is internationally celebrated for her vocal and dramatic artistry, as well as her advocacy for the powerful impacts of the creative arts in health. A five-time GRAMMY® winner, Kennedy Center Honoree, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health, she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Super Bowl. Renée’s anthology Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness was published in 2024.
Tom Sweitzer
Mr. Sweitzer is Co-Founder, Creative Director and Head of Music Therapy at A Place to Be, a non-profit organization serving over 300 families weekly, offering Music Therapy in Northern Virginia. Tom holds a B.F.A. in Music Theater, a Graduate Certificate in Music Therapy from Shenandoah University, and a Master’s in Music Therapy from Berklee College of Music. He is an adjunct professor at Shenandoah University and consults as a Music Therapist across the country.
Dr. Assal Habibi
Dr. Assal Habibi is an Associate Research Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. Her research takes a broad perspective on understanding the influence of arts and specifically music on health and development, focusing on how biological dispositions and learning experiences shape the brain and development of cognitive, emotional, and social abilities across the lifespan.
Dr. Sean Hutchins
Dr. Sean Hutchins is the Director of Research for The Royal Conservatory of Music. He founded and currently leads The Royal Conservatory’s Research Centre, focusing on experimental studies of music neuroscience and performance. Dr. Hutchins co-developed the Smart Start early childhood music education curriculum and has researched the effects of early music training on cognitive, linguistic, and musical development.
Dr. David Fakunle
Dr. David Olawuyi Fakunle serves as Assistant Professor of Public and Allied Health at the Morgan State University School of Community Health & Policy, Associate Faculty in Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and formerly as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine. Dr. Fakunle is also co-founder and CEO of DiscoverME/RecoverME, an organization that utilizes the African oral tradition to empower use of storytelling for healing and growth.
For questions or concerns regarding accessibility needs, please contact [email protected].
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
925 13th St NW, Washington D.C., DC, United States, Washington, District of Columbia 20005
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
