Events

Jostin Grimes was an educator at Kipp Metro Atlanta Schools before becoming an Educational Specialist with the Soundtrap for Education team. Jostin strongly believes student voice is at the core of uncovering one’s identity and culture and how an individual inspires others to share stories. Through his work at Soundtrap, Jostin has been able to connect, learn, empower, and collaborate with teachers and partners to unlock the magic of storytelling in the classroom and beyond school walls.

Taylor comes from the wonderful “Land of Band” that is Texas. His love of music and percussion was at the center of everything from middle school through university at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Taylor has taught percussion in two Grammy award-winning districts, founded a creative music education organization, and discovered Soundtrap as a way to democratize access to creative music tools. As a Senior Education Specialist, Taylor’s work is centered around helping teachers and students building their skills in Soundtrap and amplifying their creative abilities to maximize their potential to connect, express, and grow. Taylor works to fuel the creative renaissance that is happening now!

Jess Kertz is an enthusiastic learner and is excited to learn from educators all over the world as an Education Specialist. Her work in both European and American public schools informs her perspective. After more than a decade in the field, Jess is passionate about PBL and curriculum design, dual language instruction, and building creativity through storytelling and music-making.

Audrey O’Clair is, first and foremost, a community builder. As a former special education teacher, she knows that using every available resource—from edtech to social media to professional learning networks—is the trick to helping individuals succeed. She’s an Education Specialist for Soundtrap at Spotify who knows that authentic learning is most engaging regardless of the learner’s age. Audrey uses audio recording software to help everyone find and share their voice. Her work builds educator capacity and grows teacher dialogue around the world. Audrey’s passion for education is built on the belief that, wherever two or more are gathered, there is learning to be had.

Pontus Wiklund is a musician and producer and Education Specialist at Soundtrap. He studied Jazz Piano at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and then freelanced as a musician, hip hop producer, and piano teacher before joining Soundtrap in 2018. Prior to his role as an Education Specialist, Pontus was the Head of Customer Support at Soundtrap for Education. Throughout Pontus’s life, music has always been his creative outlet. Pontus strongly believes that every individual has a unique voice and, whether it be through music or storytelling, getting creative is the most direct way of finding it!

Serena Robinett was an educator for New York City DOE before she became an Education Specialist at Soundtrap. She was the Instrument Music Director at a middle school in Queens where her students learned music literacy, music history and participated in various ensembles like modern rock band, symphonic orchestra, and digital music. Serena then taught technology at a K-8 school in Harlem for two years. Her students learned to use technological applications to share their voices and knowledge. They also learned to be digital citizens and computational thinkers. Serena is focused on the importance of cultivating and sharing student voices, building trusting relationships, and creating a culturally responsive classroom.

Alan Cameron is a Scottish composer, teacher, and former Lead Officer for Music for Glasgow City and Dumfries and Galloway authorities. He has presented at music education conferences and events in the UK, USA, Finland, Germany, China, Malaysia and Australia. Alan has composed music for TV including a theme tune for BBC News ‘Reporting Scotland’ and for a drama-documentary 'Florence Nightingale'. In 2017, Alan composed several tracks for a vinyl album ‘One More Time’ featuring legendary rock keyboardist Keith Emerson. In the classical field, Alan has had his piece ‘Displacement’ performed in the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow. As a teacher, his classes have won national UK songwriting competitions and in 1999 recorded a winning CD track with Sir George Martin (Beatles Producer) in Air Studios, London.

Kateri Lirio is a Los Angeles teaching artist specializing in arts integration. Kateri designs cross curricular approaches in instruction where students confidently lead with their interests while maintaining academic rigor. Through the art form of songwriting, students are able to share their authentic voices, cultural backgrounds, and ultimately, feel like they belong. Kateri is an enthusiast of intergenerational spaces where both adults and children can humbly learn from each other.