Music Will - Largest Non-Profit Music Program In U.S. Public Schools - To Hold Annual Modern Band Summit

Keynote Speakers Mandy Harvey, Brandi Waller-Pace, Ruth Lemay & More

National Teacher Conference

July 9-11, 2025 at Colorado State University

Thursday, May 1 - Music Will - the largest non-profit music education program for schools in the United States - will host their Modern Band Summit this July 9-11, 2025 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. This three-day national teacher conference will gather educators from across the nation for a transformative experience of workshops, artist talks, jam sessions, experience the Modern Band curriculum and more. This year’s theme will center on Culture Bearers. The summit will celebrate and elevate those who practice and pass on their cultural legacies in music communities. These practitioners are especially embedded in American roots music, hip hop, the disabled music community, and many others.

For more information on this year’s summit, registration and how to get involved visit: https://musicwill.org/modern-band-summit/

Music Will’s work in Colorado is made possible by longstanding partnerships with organizations equally committed to transforming music education. In partnership with Take Note Colorado, Music Will has helped to expand access to student-centered music instruction in schools and districts across the state. This collaboration aims to provide universal music access for every K-12 student in Colorado.

In addition, the Fort Collins-based Bohemian Foundation, a philanthropic leader in music education, has played a pivotal role in supporting Modern Band Summit and Music Will’s year-round work in Colorado. Their generous investment helps ensure that educators from across the state and beyond can experience high-quality, culturally relevant music training, ultimately enriching the lives of thousands of students nationwide.

Keynote speaker and workshop leader at this year’s summit, Mandy Harvey is a singer, songwriter, author, and speaker who happens to be deaf. Harvey was first seen as Simon Cowell‘s “Golden Buzzer” pick on America’s Got Talent. She uses her talents and artistry to encourage others which can be seen by her many acts as part of nonprofit organizations such as No Barriers USA and work for “Music: Not Impossible” with Not Impossible Labs. Her heart’s mission is to help others achieve their dreams by encouraging them to “Try” and move forward as a community. Harvey was also most recently featured in the documentary Hero, which challenges the notion that heroes possess superhuman abilities, emphasizing that everyone can be the hero of their own story by unlocking their innate potential. Mandy has also been featured in NBC Nightly News, Great Big Story, Vacations of the Brave, Music: Not Impossible (Not Impossible Labs), The LA Times, Dr. Oz, Pickler & Ben, America’s Got Talent, TODAY, Access Hollywood, Steve Harvey, and more. 

Brandi Waller-Pace, Founder and Executive Director of Decolonizing the Music Classroom, will present on American roots music, and the critical role Black Americans played in its development by sharing resources for both traditional roots instruments, like the banjo, alongside common classroom instruments like guitar and ukulele. 

Ruth LeMay will also share 3 Strings, an adaptive music literacy approach that empowers neurodivergent students to make music—often by the end of their first class. Teachers will leave ready to implement the first level of 3 Strings in their classrooms and spark conversations about launching inclusive pop ensembles using gear they already have. Come explore music-making that’s simple to teach, joyful to play, and radically inclusive.

This April 9, Music Will held their annual benefit at Gotham Hall in New York City. The evening honored Grammy-winning artist, producer, writer, and composer Wyclef Jean (The Music Innovator Award), award-winning singer, songwriter, actor and producer Sara Bareilles (The Luminary Award), singer/songwriter and member of the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame Jackson Browne (The Legacy Award), and Emmy and Tony award-winning singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth (The Inspire Award). The evening raised nearly one million dollars to support Music Will’s mission to transform young lives through innovative, popular music education programs in public schools. A generous matching grant from The Wildflower Foundation will double the impact of donations made during the event, ensuring that even more students will have access to life-changing music education. With the forward momentum this year’s benefit and celebrity partnerships will provide, Music Will can reach their goals to reach more students and kids across the country. Over the next five years, Music Will aims to impact 11 million students annually through their direct programs.

Research shows that more than 3.6 million students in the United States lack access to music education in their schools. Music Will is working to change that by expanding access and increasing participation in music programs. A recent study published by the American Psychological Association reveals that music students score significantly better in science, math, and English than their nonmusical peers, demonstrating that music is a vital component of academic success. Thanks to this year’s donations and generous matching grant from The Wildflower Foundation, even more students across the country will have the opportunity to experience transformative music education through Music Will.

ABOUT MUSIC WILL

Music Will is the largest nonprofit music education program for schools in the United States. Since 2002, they have provided teacher training, curriculum, and instruments to over 6,000 schools across all 50 states, impacting over 1.8 million students to date. Their mission is to transform lives by transforming music education, while making it equitable and accessible to all students. Music Will's inclusive modern band curriculum is as diverse as the students they serve, spanning a wide range of genres including rock, hip-hop, pop, R&B, Latin, country, and more. 

The program's inception dates back to 1996 when Dave Wish, a first-grade teacher in East Palo Alto, CA, began giving free guitar lessons to his students in response to the lack of a formal music education program at his school. What started in one elementary school in a single city has spawned a national movement, expanding to more than 1,000 school districts nationwide. Through partnerships with teachers, districts, departments of education, and industry leaders, the organization is expanding opportunities for students to engage in music programs that reflect their diversity and interests. Their collaboration with over 100 colleges and universities also ensures future teachers are prepared to foster student-led, culturally responsive learning from day one. Learn more at musicwill.org.

For more information please contact musicwillpr@shorefire.com