Speakers
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess has the distinction of taking classical piano training at the Juilliard School of Music at nine years old. Rudess has played with Steve Morse, both in his solo career and in Dixie Dregs. He has also recorded with David Bowie, Annie Haslam, and Vinnie Moore. He and fellow Dregs man Rod Morgenstein have a side project called the Rudess Morgensein Project. He is a member of the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment and also the third keyboardist for Dream Theater.
Richard Devine
During the past three years, Richard Devine has remixed top Warp artists like Aphex Twin and Mike Patton (Faith No More). He has released 4 full-length albums on Schematic, Warp, Asphodel, and Sublight records and has performed his own ear-tearing music mayhem worldwide. Based from Atlanta, Georgia he has done film score work for
Touchstone Pictures (with John Hues & Kyle Cooper). He has also collaborated with BT (Brian Transeau on movie “Surveillance” Directed by Adam Rifkin, Wieden & Kennedy, AKQA Inc., and have done sound mangling/programming for Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, composed and designed commercials for the Nike Shoe Company and worked with various companies doing sound design for Audi, BMW, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Scion, Coke, LandRover, Lexus, Peugeot, Dodge, HBO, Nestle, Nike Japan, McDonald's, Sprite, Sony, Spike Television network and XBOX (Halo2 and 3 for Microsoft International Websites. He has also worked with Konami gaming division for the Dance-Dance Revolution game. In 2007 he signed a deal with Sony Media to release his first two Sound Effects libraries, “Pulse” and “The Electronic Manuscript” which won 2009's best sample library by Remix Technology Awards. in 2008 Richard launched a new sound design company “Devinesound” which was nominated the Cannes Lions Award for the work with Microsoft Gaming division for the Halo Believe Campaign.
In conjunction with TV and film work Richard also has done programming and sound design work with some of the biggest audio companies in the world. His work has been featured on new software and hardware titles from many innovative companies such as: Alesis, Access Virus Keyboards, Akai, Ableton Live, Apple Computers, Arturia, CamelAudio, Native Instruments, Izotope software, WayOutware Softare,Eventide Effects Company, GRM tools, Korg, Clavia Nord, DigiDesign, Openlabs, Universal Audio, Hartmann Neuron synthesizers, Stanton Magnetics DJ Company, Roland, Propellerheads, Yamaha and M-Audio Division.
Stephen Fortner
Stephen Fortner is Executive Editor of Keyboard magazine, the world's most trusted and longest-running source of information and inspiration for keyboard players, producers, and all musicians who use technology. He first became fascinated with synthesizers while in grade school, actually began reading Keyboard at 12 years old, saved up and bought his first synths at 15, and played in various bands through high school, college, and graduate school. It was while completing his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of California, Santa Barbara, that he began writing for Keyboard. Small assignments gradually became bigger ones, and in 2005, he blew off working on a long-overdue chapter of his dissertation to go interview Depeche Mode. He credits that decision with putting him where he is today. His favorite music is old funk, but he loves anything good.
For more inforomation, visit www.keyboardmag.com.
Mike Bennett
An innovative and progressive musician, Mike Bennett continues to emerge as one of the nation’s top drummers and percussionist. His tremendous musicality and onstage charisma has led DRUM! Magazine to call him, “a full fledged chameleon, showing restraint or blasting chops when called for, with a clean sound, metronomic feel, and a distinctly melodic soloing style.” Modern Drummer Magazine agrees saying that Bennett is, “on the fast track…a versatile drummer who is building a reputation as one of L.A.’s finest.”
Able to easily cross many contemporary and world genres, Bennett has performed on either drum kit and/or percussion with artists such as Hilary Duff, Benise, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and many others on stages around the globe. He has also made many television appearances on programs such as The Tonight Show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America, The Today Show and many more.
A highly recognized face in many major drum publications, Bennett’s interviews, articles and advertisements have been seen in magazines such as Modern Drummer, DRUM!, Batteur, Batterie, Drum Scene and others. He is also featured in the new drum book Sticks ’n’ Skins.
Off stage Bennett is an in-demand producer, programmer and sound designer. Co-Owner of Music Evolutions Productions, he continues to produce and compose music for artists, television, radio and film around the world. He has also authored the Demystifying Drumming book series and is an active clinician and educator.
An electronic drumming/music specialist, Bennett has worked as a consultant for many major/independent artists such as Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Marilyn Manson and others.
Mike Bennett is proud to be an artist and clinician for Sonor Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Rhythm Tech Percussion, Regal Tip Drum Sticks, Aquarian Drum Heads, Roland Electronics and Gibraltar Hardware.
For more information please visit MikeBennettDrums.com or MySpace.com/MikeBennettMusic.
