John Jacobson is an internationally recognized composer, author, and master educator whose musicals and choral works have been performed by millions of children worldwide. For more than four decades, he has inspired music teachers and students through his creative artistry, dynamic presentations, and unwavering commitment to quality music education.

A celebrated leader in the field, John has written and produced hundreds of resources for educators—from musicals and choral collections to instructional videos, movement resources, and professional-development materials that have empowered teachers in thousands of classrooms. His work has been published and distributed globally through major educational publishers and platforms.
Beyond his writing, John has directed and staged large-scale festival performances across the country, including ensembles in partnership with Walt Disney Productions and other major arts organizations. His productions have featured thousands of young performers and have been showcased in prominent national events such as NBC’s broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

John is widely regarded as a “teacher’s teacher”. His workshops are known for their energy, inspiration, and practical classroom relevance—drawing enthusiastic educators year after year. With an exceptional ability to combine movement, music, and motivation, he helps teachers rediscover joy and purpose in their work.
John is also the founder of America Sings!, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting young performers with meaningful service opportunities through music.

Today, he serves as President and Creative Content Designer of JJ & Me, Inc., in partnership with Musicplay, where he continues to create innovative musicals, songs, choreography, and teaching materials for a new generation of educators and students.

Stacy Werner is a music specialist with over 15 years of experience teaching choir, instrumental ensembles, piano and classroom music. Stacy currently teaches kindergarten to Grade 6 music in Alberta, Canada. Stacy is a valued contributor to Musicplay Online and a frequent guest on Wednesday Webinars. She is also the author of the “Super Simple Music Centers” series published by Themes and Variations.

Collaborating closely with her mentor and mother, Denise Gagne, Stacy is dedicated to continuous growth as an educator and creating a vibrant musical learning environment for her students. Stacy has completed training in Orff and Kodaly pedagogy at the University of Kentucky and University of Alberta. Her commitment to excellence is evident in the student performances she orchestrates, showcasing her dedication to nurturing musical talent within her classroom.

Outside of teaching, Stacy enjoys supporting her children’s passions – she can often be found at the rink cheering on her son’s hockey games and admiring her daughter’s figure skating performances. Additionally, Stacy embraces the outdoors, indulging in skiing and hiking adventures in her leisure time.

Franklin Willis is a dedicated music educator, author, and clinician with over 15 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and arts administrator. He is passionate about using the arts to support academic achievement and works to create inclusive environments where every student’s unique talents are valued and nurtured. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his efforts to build meaningful learning experiences through music.

In his previous role as Community Impact Director for the CMA Foundation, Franklin helped advance music education initiatives both locally in Nashville and nationally. He now serves as Fine Arts Director for Metro Nashville Public Schools, where he was recently honored with an Emmy Award by the Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards for producing the documentary Every Student Known: The Creation of an Anthem. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, where he teaches future music teachers.

Through his consulting business, F. Willis Music, Franklin creates relevant and engaging resources that bridge the gap between the music students know and love outside the classroom and the pedagogical tools teachers bring into the classroom—helping both educators and students connect more meaningfully through music.

Katie Grace Miller is an elementary school music teacher in Orange County in Orlando, Florida. She began teaching in 2005 and currently teaches at Lake George Elementary School. She received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida and received her masters degree in Teacher Leadership with a focus on curriculum development from the University of Central Florida. She has her Orff Level 3 certification. She teaches before and after-school musical groups named "Lake George Jammers” for 3rd – 5th graders and directs a school musical each year. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 and 2020. She was named an Alumni of Note from her alma mater University of South Florida in 2022. She has presented clinics to music teachers in many states and has conducted various all county choirs and Orff groups in the state of Florida. She published the book “Get to the Point” with her aunt, Artie Almeida and has 5 published teacher resources of her own. Katie enjoys singing and spending time with her husband Jesse, her 2 children, Jackson and Emily and basset hounds, Calvin and Hobbes.

Chelsea L. Cook holds bachelor's and master's degrees in vocal performance from Clayton State University and Georgia State University, respectively. Shortly before finishing her graduate studies, Cook was ignited with a passion for teaching music. She eventually entered the field of elementary music education, where she initially struggled to gain footing. However, after years of adjustments and steadfastly holding onto her passion, she persevered.

Her “out-of-the-box” arrangements have endowed her advanced Orff ensembles with a distinct style that has garnered widespread praise within their community. Cook's work was so highly regarded that it elevated the program to become one of Dekalb County’s premier elementary to middle school music initiatives.

Accomplishments:
Her accolades include performances at the White House, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference (GMEA), four National Championships, and the William P. Foster Program of Distinction Award. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution listed her as one of the Top 10 Educators in the 2018 Celebrating Teachers Awards. Additionally, she was invited onto The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Certifications and Honors:
Cook was named the 2020–2022 Teacher of the Year at Dunaire Elementary and the 2022 Region IV Teacher of the Year for the Dekalb County School District. She is Orff Level 3 certified and completed her Masterclass certification under the leadership of Paul Cribari in June 2022 and again with Dr. Rene Boyer in July 2023.

Dr. Artie Almeida recently retired from 37 years of teaching in the public schools. She was the music instructor at Bear Lake Elementary in Orlando FL, where she taught 1200 K-5 students. Her dynamic student performing groups have performed for AOSA, NAfME, Walt Disney World, Florida Music Educators Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, many general education conferences, and on the NBC Today Show.

Artie’s accolades include Florida Music Educator of the Year, International Educator 2006 (Cambridge UK Biographical Society), school level Teacher of the Year 6 times, Seminole County Teacher of the Year, and University of Central Florida Alumni of the Decade. Artie is included in the publications Who’s Who in American Education, and Great Minds of the 21st Century.

Artie’s 29 publications celebrate innovative delivery systems for K-6 music instruction. Heavy Academics: Delivered Joyfully!

Artie was an adjunct professor of music education at the University of Central Florida for 34 years, the saxophone instructor at Valencia State College, the Music & Movement instructor at Seminole State College and a saxophone performer and teacher. Additionally, she performs early music with the Halifax Consort.