Presto 2027 in Las Vegas

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.

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.

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.