Silvia Nakkach, M.A., M.M.T., will present the Thursday evening keynote speech and serve throughout the conference as our "sound focalizer."

A pioneer in the field of sound-healing and the transformation of consciousness, Sylvia is a music therapist, psychologist, award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, author and voice culturist. She is steeped in the healing elements of cross-cultural music and leads retreats in sacred music in the United States, Brazil, India and Spain.

Sylvia is the founding director of Vox Mundi School, an international project devoted to teaching and preserving sacred music traditions. In addition, she serves as director of the California Institute of Integral Studies Public Programs' Sound, Voice and Music Healing Certificate Program.

She graduated from the National Conservatory of Buenos Aires Argentina in piano and voice performance. She holds Masters´ degrees in music therapy and psychology from the National University of Buenos Aires, and in music composition from Mills College in Oakland, California.

David Nesmith will present Friday´s plenary session on the subject of body mapping. David also will be available throughout the conference for private sessions.

Body mapping is the study of the proper way to hold and use one´s body based on an accurate concept of one´s physiology, and the conscious correction and refining of one´s body map.

The body map is one's self-representation in one´s own brain, one's assumptions or conception of what one´s body is like, in whole or in part. By consciously correcting and refining our body maps, we play and sing more efficiently, naturally and vibrantly and with less chance of injury. Progress can be very rapid and a person can, over time, learn to move more naturally.

As a certified member of Andover Educators (Barbara Conable, founder), David presents the course "What Every Musician Needs to Know about the Body©" to musicians around the country.

David also is a certified Alexander Technique instructor and a professional musician. He performs with the Cathedral Brass Ensemble, the Columbus Broadway Series, the New Hampshire Music Festival and the West Virginia Symphony. He served for 10 years as principal horn of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, an ensemble specializing in the presentation and recording of new American music.

Karl LaRowe, M.A., L.C.S.W., will present the Friday plenary session concerning compassion fatigue and simple methods to overcome it. By learning to transform stress and burnout, caregivers can re-invest themselves in their work and bring to it new energy and a renewed sense of purpose.

Karl teaches internationally about Flow Motion™, a series of energy-transforming, mind-body exercises developed from the Chinese martial art of Qigong, which Karl learned from a master while living in Singapore.

Bruce Wilson, M.D., will present Saturday´s plenary session on HeartMath and how therapeutic musicians can directly apply medical research findings to their work.

Dr. Wilson is a board-certified cardiologist and medical director of the HeartMath Institute. HeartMath is a method of stress reduction based on research describing communication between the heart and the brain. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the topic of stress and using the HeartMath tools to reduce it, thereby improving health as well as performance.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Dr. Wilson did his residency in internal medicine as well as his cardiology training at the University of Minnesota.

Previously, he served as chief of cardiology and chairman of medical education at Columbia Hospital. He is former director of the University of Pittsburgh Heart Institute.

Michael J. McNally will present Sunday´s closing plenary session, as well as a very interactive and informative concurrent session, "Best Practice Your Way to Success."

The concurrent session will provide an opportunity to learn from our successful colleagues what they have done and are doing to create and maintain a successful practice. You will have the opportunity to identify and plan the use of specific practices that will add to any CMP´s success.

The inspirational closing presentation, "Seeing is Believing ... and More," will provide insights into a critical factor in a sole proprietor´s business success–his or her professional self-image. By breaking down the concept of "self-fulfilling prophecy" into its fundamental components, we will uncover two useful keys for self-enhancement.

Michael is a personal and professional development expert with more than 37 years of experience. His energetic and rejuvenating presentations have brought valuable insights, enhanced self-confidence and increased business results to a wide variety of audiences.

He is the owner and president of Aivia Corporation, provider of management consulting, leadership and business training sessions to companies and organizations throughout the United States.