The EPLC collaborates with EMA’s Board of Directors to support the organization’s young professionals and prioritize engagement. EPLC members are mentored by EMA board members and participate in EMA board meetings and committees. They connect with other emerging early-music professionals and make a difference in our community through creative programming.
Past EPLC projects include hosting the EMA Mixer, networking events at the Boston, Berkeley, Bloomington Early Music Festivals, as well as the EMA Summit, and contributing to EMA’s publications with a varieties of essays and features.
Call for New Members
EMA’s Emerging Professional Leadership Council (EPLC) seeks applications for 2024-2025. EPLC The EPLC is a creative, energetic and welcoming community. If you are under 35 and feel passionate about shaping the future of early music, we would love to hear from you!
View the member guidelines and EPLC Mission below before applying.
Applications are due Friday, August 2, 2024 by 11:59pm U.S. Pacific Time.
EPLC Member Guidelines
- The EPLC will comprise a maximum of 15 members.
- EPLC Members will serve a 2-year term, renewable once for a 1-year term extension. (3-year term max)
- To be an EPLC member in good standing, members are expected to attend a minimum of three of the four quarterly Council meetings (August, November, February, and May) and actively participate in Council projects.
- EPLC members should expect a commitment of four hours per month over 10 months each year.
- All EPLC members receive a complimentary EMA Personal membership.
- Membership is not required at the time of application.
- EPLC members are invited to attend EMA Board meetings (in person or via Zoom), as non-voting participants and to actively participate in EMA’s Board training programs and committees.
- Candidates should be no older than 35 at time of application.
2023-2024 EPLC Members
Julia Bengtsson, co-chair
Sophie Genevieve Lowe, co-chair
Ibis Laurel Betancourt
Chan Wei En
Theodore Cheek
Julia Connor
Michael Delfin
Teresa Deskur
Iván MarÃa Feliciano, Jr.
Patricia GarcÃa Gil
Alvaro Ibarra
Ashley Mulcahy
Curtis Pavey
Matthew Shorten
Mission
The Emerging Professional Leadership Council (EPLC) provides young professionals valuable non-profit board experience by working alongside the board of Early Music America to support and advocate for the next generation of early music professionals, performers, scholars, patrons and enthusiasts in North America.
The EPLC is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility and building a diverse council.
If you have comments or questions for members of EPLC, Contact EMA.
EPLC Programs
Connect with your early-music community across the Americas! Join us for fun and conversation with special guests on a range of topics hosted by EMA’s Emerging Professional Leadership Council with special guests and a wide range of topics. And stick around afterwards to test your early-music knowledge in a low stress game of trivia… with prizes!
EPLC presents Early Music: the Americas
America’s First Published Black Composer?
The Women Who Preserved Music in Latin America
Esteban Salas and a Start of Cuban Music
Julia Connor
I have co-founded both the Berwick Fiddle Consort, which performs historical folk music on period instruments, and Room to Spare, which composes and performs original music blending jazz, classical, and folk traditions. Recent highlights include a performance with Rumbarroco and La Donna Musicale at the Boston Early Music Festival, a residency at Avaloch Farm, multiple solo recitals, and teaching at the Panama Jazz Festival. When not performing, I like to hike and make pies.
Michael Delfin
I am a historical keyboardist and pianist from central California and am now based in Cincinnati, OH, teaching piano at Cedarville University and performing across the US. I recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati with doctorates in both piano and harpsichord and serve as artistic director of Seven Hills Baroque, which I co-founded. My research interests include Renaissance Italian keyboard, Brahms performance practice, Latin American Baroque, and new music for early and modern keyboards.
Patricia GarcÃa Gil
Patricia studied piano in Spain and the UK, fortepiano in Italy, and is currently pursuing a DMA in Historical Keyboards at UNCG. Winner of international competitions, she collaborates with prestigious early music institutions all over the world. With her repertoire choices and research, she strives for IDEA by enhancing the profiles of underrecognized female composer-pianists and outreaching to audiences who tend to rarely connect with classical music. Patricia was an EMA Emerging Artist in 2022. She also serves on the Board of Directors of HKSNA.
Curtis Pavey
I am a harpsichordist, pianist, and educator working at the University of Missouri as the Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy and Performance. I recently completed a doctoral degree at the University of Cincinnati under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Unger and Professor James Tocco, where I developed An Introduction to Early Music and the Harpsichord, a textbook designed to introduce pianists to the harpsichord.
