Keynote Presenters
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Keynote Speaker: Aaron P. Dworkin
Named a 2005 MacArthur Fellow and Member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee, Aaron P. Dworkin is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization, the leading national arts organization that focuses on youth development and diversity in classical music. An author, social entrepreneur, artist-citizen and an avid youth education advocate, he has received extensive national recognition for his vast accomplishments. He has been featured in People Magazine, on NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN’s Airport Network-Innovator Series and Anderson Cooper 360°, in Newsweek as one its 15 People Who Make America Great, NPR’s The Story and Performance Today, in addition to articles in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, The Washington Post, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Emerge Magazine, Jet Magazine and many other media outlets. He is the recipient of the National Governors Association 2005 Distinguished Service to State Government Award, Detroit Symphony’s 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003 Michiganian of the Year, Crain’s 40 Under 40 and Who’s Who Awards, BET’s History Makers in the Making Award, AT&T Excellence in Education Award, University of Michigan’s African-American Alumni Council’s 5 Under 10 Award, National Black MBA Association-Detroit Chapter’s Entrepreneur of the Year award and Interlochen Arts Academy’s 2003 Path of Inspiration Award.
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Interactive Keynote: Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
The renowned Liz Lerman Dance Exchange was established in 1976 by Liz Lerman, who has been described by The Washington Post as “the source of an epochal revolution in the scope and purposes of dance art.” Liz Lerman Dance Exchange is a professional company of dance artists that creates, performs, teaches and engages people in making art. Liz Lerman Dance Exchange pursues a broad definition of dance as a multi-disciplinary art form that encompasses movement, music, imagery and the spoken word. Since its founding, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange has produced more than 100 innovative dance/theater works, presented thousands of performances and conducted innumerable community encounters. With these activities, the company has reached communities of every size from Los Angeles, and Eastport, Maine, to Yamaguchi, Japan and Gdansk, Poland. Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will lead an interactive keynote at the THR!VE Symposium through which participants will create, rehearse and present a collaborative project over the course of the three-day Symposium.
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Concert & Conversation: Peter Buffett
Emmy Award-winning musician Peter Buffett has an acclaimed career that spans more than 28 years as a professional musician, composer, philanthropist and author. Life Is What You Make It: A Concert & Conversation with Peter Buffett, is a 90-minute live music event that incorporates multi-media and personal stories to give the audience an authentic, inspirational, and impactful evening and features Peter Buffett on piano with cellist, Michael Kott. This multi-media presentation takes the audience on a journey with Peter from his discovery of the piano, to writing music for commercials and film, and then on to how his current philanthropic work with the NoVo Foundation has ultimately influenced his songs and life. Using his own life story and experiences as illustration, Buffett discusses how important it is for each person to define his or her own path, regardless of their wealth or background, and ultimately conveys that it’s one’s values—and what we are able to give back to society—that shape and define us as individuals. Buffett’s integrity, candor and musical talent make for an uplifting and rewarding evening that will resonate with every audience member looking to lead a more fulfilling life and leave a meaningful legacy. The event is the live companion to Buffett’s recently released book, Life Is What You Make It (Random House / Harmony Books, April 27).