Founder, Executive Director
Brandi Waller-Pace (she/they) is a Fort Worth-based artist, educator, and scholar. She holds a BM and MM in Jazz Studies from Howard University and is pursuing a PhD in Music Education at the University of North Texas. During her eleven years as a music educator, she co-wrote music curriculum and participated in district and community work in racial and systemic educational equity. In 2019 and 2020, she served on the Texas African American Studies Course Curriculum Advisory Team, which helped to formulate curriculum standards for Texas’ first state-approved African American course. Brandi sits on the board of directors of Folk Alliance International. She is an active musician and performs various styles, most often jazz and early American Roots music. She is the founder and organizer of the Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival. Brandi presents workshops and speaks nationally and internationally.
Brandi Waller-Pace
Staff
Content Coordinator, Lead Editor
Lorelei Batisla-ong (she/they) is an Associate Professor of General Music Education at Baldwin Wallace University outside Cleveland, Ohio. She received a BM from Southwest Texas State University, an MM in Instrumental Conducting from Texas State University, and a Ph.D in Music and Human Learning at The University of Texas at Austin.
Lorelei taught undergraduates at UT Austin for 5 years and elementary general music in San Antonio and Austin for 14 years. She has served on the AOSA Board of Trustees, chaired the AOSA Diversity and Equity subcommittee, and is the State Director of the Texas affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. She presents clinics and workshops both nationally and internationally and is the co-author of Elemental ʻUkulele: Pathways and Possibilities.
Lorelei Batisla-ong, PhD
Presenter, Educational Content Co-Creator
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Syreeta Neal (she/her) is an upper elementary music educator, 3rd generation Blues musician and activist based in Los Angeles. Syreeta was born into a family of artists and began her 21 year musical career as an international touring artist before moving to LA and transiting into music education in 2011, with an emphasis on racial equity in the music classroom. Aside from her lived experience and deep roots in Black American traditional music, Syreeta also holds a specialist certification in vocal jazz, R&B and pop/rock from Berklee College of Music and is a board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association.
Syreeta Neal*
Co-Presenters
Presenter, Educational Content Co-Creator
Christopher Mena (he/him) is currently a PhD candidate in Music Education at the University of Washington, Seattle and an orchestra/guitar teacher in Seattle. His dissertation research is focused on cultural straddling and the historical impact of education policy on Mexican American access to music education. Mr. Mena has also published widely in various journals and volumes as well as engaged in international work in music education. His most recent project being a four year summer residency to assist in developing a teaching artist program in the country of Myanmar. In addition to his scholarly work, he has worked as a consultant for various arts organizations and school districts.
Christopher Mena*
*This team member is a contractor.