Watch creativity and entrepreneurship take center stage as music students present bold ideas and business ventures in a live pitch format. A panel of jurors asks questions, sparking insightful discussions and culminating in an awards presentation—with up to $3,000 in funding on the line.
Special thanks to the MSU Federal Credit Union and Kim Kleasen, ED.D for awards funding, including support from the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Thank you to our panel of judges, Belle Coty, Damien Crutcher, Kristin Pagels-Quinlan, Quinton Morris, and Christian Hebel.
Pitch Presentations
North Wave Performing Arts
A nonprofit organization expanding access to competitive marching arts in mid-Michigan through high-quality instruction, community partnerships, and a growing winter winds program, with plans to expand into percussion and color guard. Presented by Matthew Stewart.
The Voice of the E-flat Clarinet
A collaborative commissioning project that explores the expressive possibilities of the E-flat clarinet through a newly created chamber work, culminating in a lecture-recital designed to support both performance and pedagogy. Presented by Elyor Gofurov.
Inclusive and Accessible Jazz Concert Series
A series of free live jazz concerts presented in community spaces that traditionally lack access to professional jazz performances, bringing high-quality music directly to underserved audiences. Presented by Preston Fox.
Tutti Strap
An adaptive instrument support system designed to improve comfort, fit, and accessibility for musicians of all body types, identities, and physical abilities, challenging one-size-fits-all design in music gear. Presented by Madeline Wilks.
Leading Tones
A mentorship-based chamber music program pairing middle and high school girls with female-identifying MSU music education majors to foster leadership, confidence, and representation in music. Presented by Maggie Cipriano and Ava Lowell.
Lost//Found
A percussion chamber project that transforms everyday, low-cost found objects into instruments through newly commissioned works, creating engaging and accessible contemporary concert experiences. Presented by Noah Kanner and Glenn vanValkenburgh
The Iridescence Project
An interdisciplinary performance and exhibition blending live music and visual art, featuring collaborative work between composer Benjamin Horne and painter Jade Davis. Presented by Benjamin Malcolm.
Mirana Quartet: Living Sound
An immersive chamber music project combining string quartet, voice, and visual elements into a narrative, real-time performance that emphasizes storytelling, presence, and audience connection. Presented by Alirna Korieva.
