People and Partners

William Dougherty is an American composer, sound artist, and writer. His creative work engages with elements of loss, decay, and memory through the sounds of audio recordings and audio recording technologies. With a particular interest in collaborative and community-based models of composition, Dougherty’s work questions notions of authorship, agency, and the work concept.

Philadelphia native Skyy Brooks is a jazz vocalist and musician in the Harvard- Berklee Joint Studies Program. At Harvard, she studies African and African American Studies, exploring the intersection of Black art and educational inequality. At Berklee, Skyy is pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Jazz studies. Using her voice, Skyy aims to preserve Black tradition and inspire memory through music.

Dr. Jay Fluellen is a Philadelphia-based pianist, composer, and educator with deep roots in both classical and jazz traditions. A graduate of Temple University, he has dedicated his career to teaching, directing choirs, and composing, while championing the city's rich musical heritage. Honored by the Mann Center for his work with the Philadelphia Community Mass Choir, he remains an active performer and advocate for music education, and directs the instrumental program at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA).

Chelsea Meynig is a versatile flutist known for her rich tone and expressive storytelling. She is the principal flute of Revolution Winds and ENAensemble, a member of Network for New Music, and a frequent collaborator with composers, premiering and recording new works. A graduate of Temple University and Shenandoah Conservatory, Chelsea has performed as a soloist and ensemble musician across the U.S. and internationally, with appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, and in Australia.

Dan Nosheny is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and composer who has been performing across genres for over two decades. A sought-after musician in the Philadelphia scene, he has played sousaphone, accordion, and baritone horn with the West Philadelphia Orchestra, sousaphone with The Asphalt Orchestra, and trombone/tuba/accordion with Cuban percussionist Francois Zayas. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Dan blends traditional jazz with avant-garde and pop culture influences, creating whimsical, dreamlike, and funky musical landscapes. He has performed with Christian McBride, McCoy Tyner, and Laurie Anderson and has been a featured performer with the Violent Femmes since 1999. 

Sepehr Pirasteh is a composer, conductor, and interdisciplinary artist from Shiraz, Iran, whose work blends Persian classical and folk traditions with contemporary classical music. His compositions explore themes of activism, political struggle, and personal migration, and have been performed by ensembles such as the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, and PRISM Saxophone Quartet. A Ph.D. candidate at Temple University, Sepehr is also the artistic director of Temple University’s New Music Ensemble and the co-founder of the Shiraz Ensemble, dedicated to amplifying Iranian musical traditions and contemporary voices.

Tony Royster, founder of Positive Movement Drumline, is a drummer and community leader dedicated to uplifting youth through music. Growing up in Philadelphia’s Pulaski Housing Projects, he found solace and purpose in drumming, which became his path out of adversity. Now, he channels that passion into mentoring young musicians, using rhythm and discipline to inspire and empower the next generation.

Moms Bonded by Grief is a Philadelphia-based support network founded by mothers who have lost children to gun violence. The organization provides a compassionate space for healing, advocacy, and community engagement, helping families navigate grief while working to prevent future tragedies. Through outreach, events, and policy efforts, they amplify the voices of those affected and foster a sense of solidarity and hope.

The Positive Movement Drumline, led by Tony Royster, is a high-energy, community-based drum ensemble in Philadelphia that empowers youth through music, discipline, and teamwork. Known for their dynamic performances at parades, community events, and rallies, they use drumming as a tool for positive change and youth development. Their mission is to inspire and uplift through drumming while providing young people with mentorship and performance opportunities.

The Philadelphia Obituary Project publishes obituaries of people whose lives were taken by gun violence. They will publish documentation of Hearing Philadelphia including obituaries of those memorialized in the project.

The Souls Shot Portrait Project pairs visual artists with family members who have lost a loved one to gun violence in Philadelphia. After a dialogue with the family, the artist creates a portrait of their lost loved one. The Souls Shot Portrait Project will exhibit the portraits for those who are memorialized in Hearing Philadelphia.