UpNext

Priya is currently an undergrad business student at Drexel University. She is very passionate about supporting in her local music scene and supporting local venues. A fun fact about Priya is that she has been a drummer for the past 10 years, and it is one of her favorite things to do!

Marigny is a contemporary jazz and rock pop singer in her own band called Marigny + The Vital Signs and is a public relations and music festival management specialist in New Orleans. She is a recent graduate from Berklee College of Music’s music business and management program and has previously served as New Orleans’s Grammy U ambassador for the Memphis chapter. Marigny is looking very forward to be a part of the initiative to be bring the next generation of the music industry to center stage.

Jay is a recent graduate of University of Southern California and he is extremely passionate about live music and production. Jay enjoys reading, songwriting, anime, exercise, watching horror short films/movies, binging TV series, and exploring the city.

Brittani is a Business Administration student based in Music City! She is excited to give back, connect, and explore the music industry as a music lover and aspiring industry professional. She is a graphic designer professionally and has been a designing since childhood! She is also a fashion lover and enjoys watching runway shows and creating styling boards in her free time.

Stephanie is a proud first-generation Latina woman, age 19, deeply connected to music and culture. Her aim in this field is to elevate and support talented artists whom she admires, serving as a manager. Additionally, as a current student, she is enthusiastic about broadening her understanding and expertise as a member of UpNext, Music Forward’s Youth Advisory Council!

As a 2x GRAMMY-winning percussionist with a B.S. in Music Education now pursuing an MBA in Music Business, Rhameek has dedicated his career to both performing at the highest levels and shaping the future of the music industry through education and leadership. His expertise spans music education, curriculum development, and strategic business management, allowing him to contribute significantly to the world of music education and the music industry. Passionate about nurturing new talent, he strive to blend practical performance skills with critical business insights to empower the next generation of musicians and music professionals.

A senior at NYU studying music business and political science. She believes music is so essential to her core human experience, and think it has so much power in healing and living. Music allows so many to find mutual understanding, new ways to understand and be understood.

A junior at Baruch College & an aspiring music producer passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusivity and cultural diversity in the music industry. Ethan loves attending concerts, making music, reading, writing, anime, learning languages, and marine life.

Zsana Hoskins, graduate of Howard University and upcoming grad student at University of Maryland, passionately merges authentic storytelling, music, and entertainment in her work as an artist, journalist, producer, and media personality. She is a 2022 Recording Academy scholarship recipient and a 2023 Emma Bowen Foundation Fellow. Hoskins, a classically trained vocalist and published poet, is devoted to making the world a better place through music.