Originally from New Hampshire, Dr. Emily Mariko Eng currently serves on the music faculty at University of North Carolina Asheville, where she is Director of Wind Bands. She holds a DMA in Conducting from the University of Georgia, an MM in Conducting from New England Conservatory and a BS in Biochemistry and Music Composition from Brandeis University. Her research and artistic interests include fostering comprehensive musicianship in the college music curriculum, exploring the role of conductor-as-facilitator in the collaborative creative process, and creative citizenship. At UNCA, Emily leads the Wind Ensemble, Songwriters Ensemble, and Pep Band, teaches classes in Aural Skills and Composition, and advises students in undergraduate research and creative projects. In 2023, she led a team of songwriting students in the creation of original music for UNCA’s production of Elektra, a collaboration with Drama and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. For the past three summers, Emily has led creativity programs for highschoolers at UNCA’s Music Composition & Songwriting Pre-College Program. As conductor and composer-songwriter, Emily’s experience spans genres, often crossing out of the classical sphere into popular and contemporary music. At UGA, Emily was involved with the Athens Hip Hop Harmonic at its inception, serving as conductor for its inaugural set of performances and recordings. She conducted department and recital ensembles and served as a teaching assistant for UGA Athletic Bands. Dedicated to promoting new music, Emily has built close collaborative relationships with composers and has premiered works by Kevin Day, Badie Khaleghian, and Ayako Pederson-Takeda.

Jay Sanders is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work seamlessly bridges jazz, classical, and contemporary genres. Based in Asheville, N.C., Sanders brings decades of compositional experience ranging from structured thematic works to experimental soundscapes. His recent solo album Evanescent (2024) demonstrated his orchestral sensibilities through an eight-person ensemble featuring saxophone, fiddle, and synthesizer, earning critical praise for its "astonishing range of styles and sounds." Sanders' extensive background includes over two dozen recordings, performances across 47 states and six countries, and collaborations with acclaimed acts including Acoustic Syndicate and Donna the Buffalo. His "Sinfonietta Helene" marks his first symphonic composition, representing a natural evolution of his lifelong exploration of musical fusion and his commitment to expanding the boundaries of contemporary classical music.