APME Miami 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to the APME Miami 2026 Conference!
Here you can register and update your Sched profile. A draft schedule will be available March 1, when you’ll be able to explore sessions and build your agenda.

Questions? Visit our website or email [email protected].

Join us June 4–6 at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, as we celebrate the rhythms, relationships, and revolutions shaping popular music education.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

9:00am EDT

👋OPENING WELCOME

Thursday June 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am EDT

Newman Recital Hall @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Speakers

Raina Murnak

Head of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry, University of Miami

Dr. Raina Murnak serves as President of the Association for Popular Music Education and as Assistant Professor and Studio Director of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where she also leads the MA in Popular Music Ped... Read More →

Candice Mattio

Assistant Professor, USC Thornton School of Music

Dr. Candice D. Mattio is Vice President of APME, and Assistant Professor of Music Teaching & Learning at USC’s Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles where she leads the graduate program in Popular Music Teaching & Learning .

She is a music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and music technology specialist. Candice's research focuses on creative thinking and representation in music technology education, and socio-political issues in contemporary and popular music education. She recently served as the inaugu... Read More →

Bryan Powell

Associate Professor, Montclair State University/Music Will

Dr. Bryan Powell is Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, and Coordinator for the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University where he teaches classes in music education, music technology, popular music, and directs the Montclair State... Read More →

Stacey Swanson

PhD Student, Music Education, University of Miami

Stacey Swanson is a PhD student in Music Education at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, researching the intersection of artificial intelligence, music business, and music education. She serves as Director of Operations for the Association for Popular Music Education... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am EDT
Newman Recital Hall 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

🔑KEYNOTE

9:15am EDT

🔑KEYNOTE CARLOS RIVERA!

Thursday June 4, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT

Newman Recital Hall @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Carlos Rafael Rivera is a Grammy and five-time Emmy Award-winning composer celebrated for his work across film and television. Best known for the critically acclaimed score for Netflix's The Queen's Gambit, Rivera has earned numerous accolades, including SCL, BMI, HMMA, and IFMCA Awards.
His recent work includes Apple TV+'s Lessons in Chemistry, Netflix's Griselda and Department Q, and HBO Max's Hacks, now entering its fifth season, cementing his reputation as one of today's most versatile and distinctive composers. Carlos is also Professor and Chair of the Media Scoring and Production Department at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music.

Thursday June 4, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT
Newman Recital Hall 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

🔑KEYNOTE

9:00am EDT

🔑KEYNOTE PANEL: MusicReach, Guitars Over Guns, Young Musician's Unite

Friday June 5, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT

Newman Recital Hall @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

The award-winning Donna E. Shalala MusicReach mission is to enrich the education of under-served youth in the Miami-Dade community through unique and innovative music education programming while providing opportunities for Frost School of Music students to develop their teaching and community engagement skills. MusicReach aims to encourage youth participants to stay in school and pursue a college degree.

Guitars Over Guns is on a mission to empower young people through music, mentorship, and the arts. We are here to shift how young people think about the world and their place in it. By sharing skills and experience, rooted in our common passion for music, we inspire our students to see a future that’s filled with potential – and help them be excited and accountable.
We cultivate an enriching community bound by the arts. United by community-based performances. Powered by high-quality instruction. Inspired by meaningful connections between professional musicians and our community’s youth. Because the world changes when people find their voices – and have the opportunity to be heard.
Young Musicians Unite believes that every student deserves access to music education regardless of their socio-economic background. We collaborate with schools to provide free music education, which has been proven to inspire personal development, foster a sense of community and prepare our future leaders.

Speakers

🔑KEYNOTE

APME Miami 2026

9:00am EDT

Raina Murnak

Candice Mattio

Bryan Powell

Stacey Swanson

9:15am EDT

9:00am EDT

Andrew DeMuro

Candice Mattio

Zachary Larmer

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