TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Dr. Brian Coyle

  Director of Cultural Affairs - Village of Barrington

  Brian is the Director of Cultural Affairs for the Village of Barrington, IL. He served as the Executive Director of the Civic Music Association in Des Moines. He is a non-profit administrator, educator, composer, & clinician who appears at festivals, conferences, & educational institutions worldwide. He has been an integral part of the International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers and International Association for Jazz Education. He served as a Professor of Music at Hope College. His compositions have been performed by professional ensembles & educational institutions. As a performer he's worked with a diverse array of artists. He is the author of many music reviews, articles, & book chapters. He was an adjudicator for the GRAMMY Foundation. He received a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the USF, a Master’s in Instrumental Conducting from CSU at Northridge, & a Doctorate in Instrumental Conducting from MSU. He lives in Chicago with his wife & has two grown children.

• Josh Skaja

  Owner of GuitarOS & Music Director for Under The Streetlamp

  Josh Skaja is the guitarist & music director for national touring act Under The Streetlamp, the principal arranger for Artists Lounge Live, and maintains a busy schedule of weddings, private parties, & corporate events. He's played with big-city symphonies like Nashville, Detroit, & Phoenix, at legendary venues like Wolftrap & The Greek Theatre, and filmed four live concerts for PBS. But he's also a music school dropout, a slow learner, and doesn't have much "natural" talent. His current focus is helping guitarists get unstuck from their personal plateaus. He lives in Lake Zurich with his wife & two children.

• Mary Anne Block

  NCTM, Founder and President of Music Blocks

  Mary Anne Block received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan & received her Juris Doctor from DePaul University School of Law. After practicing law for 14 years, she returned to her first love, music. She studied piano pedagogy & piano ensemble at Harper College. She opened her private studio in 2005, where she teaches students of various levels. In 2017 Mary Anne created Music Blocks, a non-profit providing access to the building blocks of music literacy. Initially established as an after-school program at Sunny Hill Elementary for Boys & Girls Club students, Music Blocks transitioned in 2021 to a weekly private lesson program for underserved families in the Barrington area. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, where she received her professional certification & is a member of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association. As a 20-year member of the Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association, she has served in various committee positions.