Wavelengths: Global Music Conference Panel

Taína Asili will be a featured panelist at the 2026 Wavelengths: Global Music Conference, joining the powerful conversation: Community Matters: Building Audiences & Cultivating Connection.

9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Hilton Hotel – Midtown, Concourse A (Downstairs)
Free Entry – Registration Required

Taína will join fellow panelists Nermeen Arastu (Law Professor & Co-lead of U.S. Strategy for Saami Family), David Chavez (Chicago Cultural Producer), and Rauf Saami (Head Vocalist & Khayal Practitioner, The Saami Brothers), with the conversation moderated by Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR Culture Correspondent.

Community building fosters social connection, civic participation, and a more inclusive, vibrant society—and when powered by cultural programming, it’s one of the most dynamic and rewarding ways to bring people together and fill seats! From culturally rooted music practices to social justice organizing, this conversation will showcase three unique voices who have each cultivated community, nurtured audiences, honored traditions, and innovated creative strategies to drive long-term engagement. Take away ideas to build community in your neck of the woods and to sustain the performing arts during this complicated period when we need it most!

This special convening serves as a pre-conference event to the annual APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals).

Click here to view the full Wavelengths Conference schedule.