Return: Get Involved / Conference & Summit / 2025 Virtual String Teachers Summit

Monday, July 14 - 12:00-12:45 PM ET

Out of the Box: A Musical Journey with Special Friends

Everyone’s musical journey is unique. This session will introduce strategies that will help string teachers collaborate with the special needs community to help guide their musical journey. Strategies, experiences and stories will be shared helping everyone learn more about students with special needs, and the incredible impact music can have on everyone’s lives.

Recipient of the American String Teachers Association Elizabeth A. H. Green Award for a distinguished career in string teaching, James Palmer is the Orchestra Director at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia, the Music Director for the Youth Orchestras of Greater Columbus in Columbus, Georgia and an editor, arranger, and featured clinician for Alfred Music. Mr. Palmer has published 23 compositions and arrangements and is the Co-Author of Sound Orchestra: A Full Orchestra Method book.

Tuesday, July 15 - 12:00-12:45 PM ET

Keys Towards Engagement: Transforming Teaching Through Belonging and Dignity

This keynote explores how embracing cultural diversity and fostering belonging can transform string teaching and student engagement. By honoring diverse musical traditions, valuing students’ lived experiences, and creating inclusive learning spaces, educators can deepen connections and inspire meaningful growth. Through stories, research, and practical strategies, we will reimagine engagement as more than participation—it's a commitment to equity, representation, and student-centered learning that empowers every musician to thrive.

Stanford Thompson is Executive Director of Equity Arc and a principal of Goldsmith Strategies where he is a leading national voice in arts education and leadership, specializing in promoting cultural equity and driving transformative change within underrepresented cultural communities. As the founder and former leader of Play On Philly, Stanford guided the organization for thirteen years, gaining international recognition for its use of music as a tool for social change. He also served as the Founding Board Chairman of El Sistema USA and Equity Arc, where he led complex strategic planning and organizational design initiatives that impact the lives of over 35,000 students across the country. A proud graduate of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program, Stanford holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and New England Conservatory.