Katie Cornell (she/her) serves as Executive Director of ArtsAVL, where she works to bring people together through the arts and strengthen Buncombe County’s creative sector. Since joining the organization in 2019, she has led efforts—alongside ArtsAVL’s dedicated staff and board—to amplify the region’s vibrant arts communities and ensure the long-term sustainability of its diverse cultural ecosystem. Katie brings over 20 years of experience in Asheville’s arts sector and holds a Master’s degree in Arts Leadership & Cultural Management from Colorado State University. She currently serves as Board Chair of Arts NC, President of the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina, and a board member of both the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Asheville’s Public Art & Cultural Commission. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Katie has served as a key point person for regional arts recovery, helping to lead efforts to support and rebuild Western North Carolina’s creative sector.

Jennifer Pickering, the dynamo behind LEAF Global Arts and Lake Eden Retreat, has been recognized for her incredible work supporting the arts community during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Her creation of the LEAF Local Artists Relief Fund provided financial aid to local artists impacted by the storm, allowing them to recover and continue their creative practices. Beyond financial relief, the efforts of Jennifer and her team have been a lifeline for many in the artistic community, helping to facilitate healing through creative expression. LEAF Global Arts has been instrumental in rebuilding the spirit of the region, offering a space for recovery and connection in the wake of Helene’s devastation.

Jeff Whitworth is the creative force behind Worthwhile Sounds and one of Asheville's most beloved musical ambassadors. Formed in 2015 by Jeff Whitworth, former owner and current talent buyer for The Grey Eagle in Asheville NC, Worthwhile Sounds has established a reputation as one of the premier INDEPENDENT talent buying organizations in the Southeastern United States. Jeff's musical fingerprints are all over Western North Carolina's vibrant scene. As the talent buyer for The Grey Eagle (Asheville), Bijou Theatre (Knoxville), AVLFest (co-founder), Asheville Downtown Association, he's the wizard behind the curtain bringing world-class acts to intimate venues where magic happens nightly. But Jeff isn't just about booking shows—he's a community builder. As co-founder of AVLFest, he created a multi-day music festival experience that takes place in the majority of venues throughout the greater Asheville area, showcasing the city's incredible venue collective while keeping music accessible. His vision? "While continuing to bring world class talent to Asheville, AVLFest will also showcase our city's formidable venue collective, giving patrons the opportunity to explore our vibrant music scene without breaking the bank."

Jay Sanders extensive musical 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. Jay's commitment to fostering musical community extends beyond performance. He organized the inaugural Asheville Improvisational Music Festival in 2012, and serves on the board of URSA Asheville, a non-profit dedicated to "igniting musical innovation that creates connection" by linking emerging composers with world-class performers and establishing Asheville as a hub for musical creativity. Beyond music, Jay co-owns the award-winning cocktail bar Little Jumbo, which re-opened after two weeks in order to provide a haven for the community. Sanders leads a quartet there every Tuesday night, and Mindtonic Music, a record label, talent buying, full service representation and music publishing company based in Asheville, North Carolina.

NEH Distinguished Professor and Professor of Music Dr. William Bares received his Ph.D in ethnomusicology from Harvard University and taught at Harvard, Brown, Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory before moving to UNC Asheville in 2011. Bares's musical and academic interests lie in the fields of jazz studies, experimental music, and ecomusicology. He has published articles in American Music, Jazz Research Journal, and the Grove Dictionary of American Music, and his book, Jazz and the European Dream, is forthcoming on Routledge Press. An active pianist and music promoter in Asheville’s musical community, Bares has released several albums, leads acclaimed local groups, and hosted several series, including the weekly Sunday Jazz Showcase at Asheville’s Isis Music Hall, and “Ecomusicologies 2014: Dialogues”—a conference/festival that took place in Asheville in October 2014. .