APME Memphis 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to the APME Memphis 2025 conference. Here, you’ll be able to register for the conference and update your Sched profile. The conference schedule will be available in late spring 2025. At that time, you can view the schedule and select the presentations you’d like to attend. If you have any questions, please visit our conference website or contact us at conference@popularmusiceducation.org We look forward to coming together as a community June 4–7, 2025.

10:15am CDT

Roger Bacon Rhythm 'n' Blues Rock Band (RB3)

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Harris Hall - Legacy Building

Speakers

Roger Bacon High School

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

10:15am CDT

The Zoo Band

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

The Zoo Band at Music Box is a group of emerging-professional musicians, composed of middle and high school students. These are students that take instrument, vocal and music production lessons. The group's diverse and expansive contemporary music repertoire of covers and originals speaks to the complete human experience of identity, love, loss, longing, and good times. Music Box musicians meet weekly to learn, write and practice together, under the leadership and guidance of a Music Box Modern Band Educator. The band draws inspiration from past and present music legends, various cultures and music styles, and always seeks to further refine their signature sound, give back to their community, and use their skills and talents for good. The band has been playing together for over 3 years, and has several recorded originals that they also perform.

Speakers

Yelena Ovando

Artists

The Music Box

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
SPAC - Traicoff Music Hall 3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

APME LIVE

11:30am CDT

Holyoke STEM Beats

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Performing music ranging from Usher to Herbie Hancock to Kendrick Lamar, STEM Beats takes pride in delivering only the highest quality. Hailing from Holyoke, MA, we are the music program at Holyoke STEM Academy, a public middle school with approximately 300 students. Every student at STEM Academy is part of STEM Beats for the entire year.

STEM Beats has performed at various local schools, Boston University, hosted music education classes, and much more. We perform music chosen and arranged by our students. Our group features keyboards, drum sets, singers, rappers, mallet percussion, bass, and guitar. We are not a band, we are not a choir—WE ARE STEM BEATS!

Artists

Holyoke STEM Academy

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

11:30am CDT

Versatile

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Versatile is a collective of talented musicians from Alabama State University. Established in the spring of 2022, the ensemble includes both non-music, music majors, and majors who excel as musical code-switchers. The group takes pride in their professionalism, creativity, and versatility as music makers and multi-instrumentalists.

Speakers

Shane Colquhoun

Artists

Alabama State University

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
SPAC - Traicoff Music Hall 3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

APME LIVE

2:00pm CDT

Sounds of Soul

Thursday June 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Soulsville Strings Electric is a quintet comprised of some of our best string players. They perform various genres of music on an electric string quartet along with electric bass guitar.

Speakers

Heather Trussell

Teacher, The Soulsville Charter School

Artists

Soulsville Charter School

Thursday June 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

10:15am CDT

The Limewires

Friday June 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

The Limewires from P.K. Yonge in Gainesville, FL are: Makayla Moss, a senior vocalist and songwriter, is scared of birds, but loves Burgs; Diego Hernandez, a 2nd year guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who has released his first EP; David Demers, vocalist, guitarist, and newbie to the group plays music when not training for ridiculous athletic events; Luke Norcoss, a senior keys & bassist who hates Reeses?!?; Josh Guiterrez, our guitarist who missed his calling with Red Hot Chili Peppers; and Victor Malmgren, an imported Danish drummer who is working on borrowed time.

Speakers

Jamie Burg

Artists

P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School

Friday June 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
SPAC - Traicoff Music Hall 3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

APME LIVE

10:15am CDT

SuperNova

Friday June 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

The ECCS Super Band is composed of Middle and High School students from the Eastern Carver County Schools. This group began as a WIN time activity during the 23-24 school year. Its intent was to open up creative space and perform rock and pop hits found outside of their band, choir, and orchestra repertoire. These high-achieving musicians have participated in regional and state honor bands, choirs, and orchestras and are excited to share their music and energy.

Artists

Pioneer Ridge Middle School

Friday June 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

11:30am CDT

Osceola Rocks!

Friday June 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Osceola Rocks! is a dynamic, student-based band program at Osceola Arts that nurtures young musicians in developing their skills, confidence, and passion for performance. This program provides a creative platform for Osceola students to explore various genres, including rock, pop, and fusion music. With students aged 8-19, Osceola Rocks! emphasizes collaboration, musicianship, and stage presence, fostering a sense of community and artistic growth. Students perform at local events, sharing their talents with the community and inspiring audiences of all ages. Osceola Rocks! celebrates the power of music to unite, educate, and empower the next generation of performers.

Speakers

Chris Burns

Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist, School District of Osceola County

Christopher Burns is currently the Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist in Osceola County, Florida. He received his B.M.E. from the University of Central Florida and his M.M.E. from Boston University and holds a PhD in Music Education from the University of South Florida with... Read More →

Artists

School District of Osceola County

Friday June 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

2:00pm CDT

SoundScape

Friday June 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

SoundScape is Briarcrest Christian School’s premier commercial music ensemble. Founded on Jazz, Rock, Blues and popular music rooted in the rich musical culture of Memphis Tennessee, SoundScape is distinctly cutting edge in its content and approach, and embraces the principal musical movements of our time. Integrating live performance and studio recording, SoundScape performs a variety of musical styles, utilizes relevant technologies, and exposes its members to college and professional opportunities open to today's musician.

Speakers

Michael Parsons

Director of Instrumental / Commercial Music, Briarcrest Christian School / The Univ. of Memphis

Michael Parsons, serves as the Director of Instrumental and Commercial Music at Briarcrest Christian School. Michael directs the Briarcrest Symphonic Band, Briarcrest’s commercial music ensembles, SoundScape and 76-South, Studio 73 Record Label and oversees all aspects of Briarcrest’s... Read More →

Artists

Briarcrest Christian School

Friday June 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

3:15pm CDT

University of Pikeville Bluegrass Ensemble

Friday June 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

This group is a course for students who wish to perform in the University of Pikeville Bluegrass Ensemble. This ensemble is a bluegrass band format and performs at UPike special events, concerts and other off-campus performances throughout the year. Instrumentation includes: upright bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals, and other instruments as needed. Music is selected and arranged by students and is typically based on the instrumentation, make-up of the group, and performance opportunities.

Speakers

John Eric Rutherford

Friday June 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

5:00pm CDT

APME LIVE Showcase

Friday June 6, 2025 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Join us for a celebration featuring student bands, solo artists, and DJs from the APME LIVE Student Festival. Doors open at 4:30.

Friday June 6, 2025 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
TBA

APME LIVE

9:00am CDT

Polar Drift

Saturday June 7, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Polar Drift is an extra-curricular ensemble at North High School that meets before and after school twice a week. A project many years in the making, Polar Drift was as an extra endeavor for solos and duets at Show Choir events. Polar Drift has now become a 30+ person ensemble of the music program and is now attracting students not participating in the curricular bands. Repertoire is selected through teacher knowledge and student input which fosters an active folder spanning multiple decades. Arrangements are primarily written by Mr. Hammerman, but students are given encouragement and tools to create their own.

Artists

North High School

Saturday June 7, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

10:15am CDT

Within

Saturday June 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

We are Within, a group formed in the ALA Modern Band program in 2022. Our members are Viviana Villanueva (lead singer and bassist), Evan Bohmann (drummer), Kathleen Juarez (guitarist), and Marissa Esparza (guitarist and pianist). We have been performing covers as a band for 3 years, and play a wide variety of music genres ranging from rock, pop, and other famous classics. We have recently been writing our own songs and plan to continue writing more originals going forward. In our audition video, we will be playing one of our original songs called Scout.

Artists

Advanced Learning Academy/ Fox Tech

Saturday June 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

11:30am CDT

Pumpkin Pie Beans

Saturday June 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

This all 8th grade band will amaze you with their versatility, creativity and style. From 80s rock to current hits and pink guitars to punk attitudes, you'll fall in love with their show. Covers and originals. Formed through the school's innovative flex time initiative, it's amazing what this group of 13 and 14-year-old superstars from Prince's backyard in Minnesota have created.

Speakers

Eric Songer

Music Educator, Eastern Carver County School District

27 years is a long time to teach middle school music, but I love it. I was hired to direct concert bands, but the program is much more than that. Students write songs, produce, form their own bands, learn non-band instruments, rap, beatbox and more. Our students perform in rock bands... Read More →

Artists

Chaska Middle School West

Saturday June 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

2:00pm CDT

Dysfunctional Family

Saturday June 7, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

This all 8th grade band will energize you with their driving rock, attitude and fun personalities. From early 2000s punk to current rock hits this all-girl band will make you fall in love with their show. Formed through the school's innovative flex time initiative, it's really amazing what this group of 13 and 14-year old superstars from Prince's backyard in Minnesota have created.

Speakers

Eric Songer

Music Educator, Eastern Carver County School District

Artists

Chaska Middle School West

Saturday June 7, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Harris Hall - Legacy Building

APME LIVE

3:15pm CDT

Daylors

Saturday June 7, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT

3800 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

This all 8th grade band will dazzle you with their energy, attention to detail and passion. From their love of Disney to their obsession with Taylor Swift, plus their combination of woodwinds and brass with traditional rhythm section groove, you'll fall in love with their show. Pop tunes with a movie favorite or two mixed in. Formed through the school's innovative flex time initiative, it's really amazing what this group of 13 and 14-year old superstars from Prince's backyard in Minnesota have created.

Speakers