MELA LEE

Mela Lee is an American voice actress for film and television as well as the lead singer/composer and founding member of the band, Magnolia Memoir.

As a voice actress, Mela Lee has been featured in numerous commercials, animated series, games and movies.

Her game franchises include Fall Out, Final Fantasy, Xenoblade Chronicles, and Fire Emblem Awakening. She has voiced the lead characters in popular anime titles – Fate Stay Night – Unlimited Bladeworks, Vampire Knight, Blaz Blu, Durarara, Hunter x Hunter, Rozen Maiden, When they Cry, Sword Art Online II. She is currently on Nickelodeon’s breakout hit, Miraculous Ladybug as Tikki.

In addition to her animation voice work, Mela is voice match & replacement specialist for shows including Gotham, Ballers, Better Call Saul, Notorious, and recent films The Finest Hours, Independence Day Resurgence, and Suicide Squad.

Outside of voice acting, Lee is a founding member of Magnolia Memoir. As a vocalist, Mela’s five octave range and unique sound are reminiscent of the spirit of a young Etta James or Billie Holiday, the mischievous sensuality & rock edge of Fiona Apple, and the winsome vocals of Adele. The late Gospel great, Andrae Crouch, said of Mela, “…She has the voice of an angel and can break the heart of heaven.” Activist and Comedienne Margaret Cho says, “…Mela’s voice and lyrics are stunning and altogether unforgettable.”

Magnolia Memoir’s previous two albums – (Pale Fire & The Perfect Crime) are available on iTunes/ Amazon and have made the iTunes Top Picks.

When not working, Mela supports causes close to her heart including the California Fire Foundation – supporting Fallen Firefighters and their families, and organizations empowering women to overcome abuse.

NINA ROSE PAOLICELLI (NINA P)

Nina Rose Paolicelli, known professionally as Nina Paolicelli or as “Nina P”, is an American singer, songwriter and philanthropist, originally from Rochester, NY. In 2013, in the wake of an abusive relationship, Nina’s mother moved both Nina and her brother to Los Angeles, where Nina was able to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.

Inspired by the events of Nina’s past, she wrote her first song, “Prove Them Wrong” (released Oct 2014) immediately followed by “Done and Over” (released Jan 2015); earning her multiple accolades and recognition, including an unsolicited shout out from Courtney Love.

Within two years of moving to Los Angeles, Nina released her first EP “Dream”, has performed at numerous venues and, most recently, has signed a distribution deal with a label under Sony.

On April 7, 2016, Nina, for the first time, performed her song “Look” at the RESOLVE of Greater Rochester fundraiser for victims of Domestic Violence – a cause close to Nina’s heart. On April 22nd, “Look” will be released under the Sony label for the world to hear.

TESS CACCIATORE

Tess Cacciatore: Founder & Chief Visionary Officer

Tess is an award-winning producer for the past 20+ years in the areas of entertainment, technology and philanthropy.

Tess has dedicated her life to advocating for peace, justice, and equality around the globe. She has traveled the United States and abroad as a humanitarian documentary producer and activist, while conducting empowerment and mentorship programs to empower people and to eradicate unjust systems that are a plight to humans, animals and the environment. Tess uses her voice as a vehicle to bring awareness and activate people to take a stand for making changes in the world.

Tess’s career as a producer in the entertainment and technology industries drives the global productions of GWEN and now her 20 year vision of a global online television network GWEN Network is launching in 2017.

As an author, Tess will be launching her first chapter to our audience for the book to be released in Spring 2017 called, “Homeless to the White House.”

Ken Dunkin is a Democratic Representative in the Illinois General Assembly serving the people of the 5th District of the State of Illinois.

As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Dunkin serves on several committees, and is the chairperson for the Tourism and Conventions for the State of Illinois. He is also on the Appropriations-Higher Education committee. He focuses on legislation to raise the quality of life for working families, children and seniors, and has been successful in boosting Illinois' economy by working to strengthen Illinois' tourism and film industry.

Representative Duncan currently serves on the Associate Board of the Chicago International Film Festival. He was the sponsor of a bill that created legislation to extend tax credits to film producers to encourage them to bring more of the film industry to Illinois. Representative Dunkin is also a proud member of the world renowned PhiBeta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.

JOHN HALCYON STYN

John Halcyon Styn was the subject of an MTV documentary, won 2 Webby awards, and hosted the NBC.com series, “Fears. Regrets. Desires.” He is the author of “Love more. Fear less.” and has hosted the weekly video broadcast Hug Nation for over 10 years. In 2010, Halcyon co-founded the San Diego-based “1st Saturdays” homeless outreach program. If you see him around, he’d love a hug.

STEPHEN DAY

Sarod player, singer / songwriter and composer Stephen Day writes songs and compositions inspired by his many music tours around the world.

Born in California, and raised in Canada and France, Day began as a guitarist, then studied sarod in India with world-renowned award winning sarodist Amjad Ali Khan.

Day describes the 21-stringed fretless silver-necked sarod as being like the ‘granddaddy of all guitar like instruments’ and playing it as being ‘like taking a rocket ride for the inner soul’.

After India, Stephen spent time touring in Europe and America where he played premier venues including the Kodak Theater in L.A. and Town Hall in N.Y.  He then settled in Los Angeles and began to write music for TV and film. His body of work now contains music in 7 films, 4 music libraries, 4 albums and hundreds of television shows.

In 2007 Mr. Day organized and performed in a concert at the United Nations where his music was featured as a uniting force for ancient civilizations and modern countries in the East and in the West.

His latest album, Namaste, a collection of songs about adventure, mysticism and the road less traveled, is produced by two-time Gold Disc Award winner Matt Forger (Michael Jackson, Stephen Spielberg, Paul McCartney), and Shenkar (John Mcglaughlin, Peter Gabriel, voice of NBC’s smash hit “Heroes”).  It features musical appearances by Matt Malley (Counting Crows), Daryl Jones (Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones), Satnam Singh (Nikka Costa, Hans Zimmer), and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Ry Cooder) among others.

Stephen is the founder of “Ombience” a 501 c3 non-profit organization dedicated to self-reflection through the Arts.  In addition, he co-founded Arts & Entertainment Radio (AER), the most listened to station in the IBS network of over 45 mostly college radio stations, with well-known broadcaster and musician John Tesh. Stephen currently resides in Los Angeles where he is currently recording and performing his new show entitled ‘Stephen Day and Friends’.   The exciting new show format blends elements of world music and dance with meditation and yoga and features eclectic collaborations between Stephen’s Sarod playing and Steel Drums, Tablas, Vocals and Sufi Poetry to name a few.

STILL THE ONE:  A ROCK’N’ROLL JOURNEY TO

CONGRESS AND BACK

AN INTERVIEW WITH 'ORLEANS'

GUITARIST-SONGWRITER-SINGER

JOHN HALL

John Hall’s path is optimistic. As a professional performer/singer-songwriter/guitarist, he found himself wanting and needing to make changes to better the world around him. By advocacy through music, he segued into politics first on a local level, and then nationally as a member of the United States Congress. After making a difference for the environment, healthcare, and even more so for veterans, he returned to the music world.

John’s memoir STILL THE ONE:  A ROCK’N’ROLL JOURNEY TO CONGRESS AND BACK shares a variety of stories from his life in the musical and political worlds. 

Best known as a member of Orleans, a hit-making pop-rock group with multiple lead singers and hits “Still The One,” “Dance With Me,”(both co-written by John and still in heavy use on the radio, streamers, Broadway shows, and TV shows like Maya and Marty and Hallmark's Movie of the week). “Still” and “Dance” have been certified by BMI at over 12 million airplays in the US alone. Other Orleans hits include “Love Takes Time,” "Let There Be Music," and "Reach."

John Hall has written songs for music legends ranging from Janis Joplin (“Half Moon”) and Bonnie Raitt (Good Enough) and to Chet Atkins (Sails). Other folks that have covered John’s songs include: Bobby McFerrin (Dance with Me),the Doobie Brothers with James Taylor and Michael McDonald (Power), Bela Fleck with New Grass Revival (Reach), and Ricky Skaggs and James Taylor (New Star Shining). He wrote “Ms. Grace,” Number One in England by The Tymes in 1975, and listed in Rolling Stone's top five of all- time beach music hits.  

John played guitar on record and/or on tour with Seals and Crofts, Taj Mahal, Carly Simon, Little Feat, and Christopher Cross.  

His environmental concerns led him into community activism, as one of the movers of the antinuclear movement. John co-founded the activist group MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and Graham Nash in 1979. His song “Power” became the rallying song and a highlight at the five NO-NUKES concerts presented by MUSE in 1979. Among the artists that participated: Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Gil Scott-Heron, Crosby Still and Nash, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne…

Starting in 1990 John served in the Ulster County New York legislature and the Saugerties, New York Board of Education. In 2006 he ran for Congress against an entrenched incumbent in a historically Republican district. John’s musical colleagues performing at fundraisers made it possible to finance his winning campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, for whom he served until early 2011. 

In STILL THE ONE, John shares stories about moments that stand out from both his musical and political lives. 

John shares childhood memories of being raised to be an optimist, and finding himself at age 18 in the miles of the ‘60s’ Music Explosion. In STILL THE ONE shows the cresting of his passion for environmental issues and rolling up his sleeves to help build several environmental groups.  

From Janis Joplin's birthday party to conversations behind the closed-door caucus in the basement of the Capitol, from dialog with protesters to sharing elevator rides with fellow members of Congress, this captivating memoir offers viewpoints from an earnest and humorous voice.

John Hall’s life path is jam-packed with intriguing stories, fascinating people and optimism. 

Titled after John’s best-known song, STILL THE ONE: A ROCK’N’ROLL JOURNEY TO CONGRESS AND BACK is ultimately an ode to engagement in creating a better world. –available now at amazon.com

Purchase John Hall’s best-selling memoir entitled … Still The One: A Rock'n'Roll Journey to Congress and Back at amazon

Kaayla Vedder has spent more than two decades honing her skills as an intuitive energy healer so clients in Canada and around the world can live healthier lives free of density and full of joy. Able to see energy since childhood, Kaayla has developed a system for tapping in to the dance of divine energy, bridging the gap between humanity and our higher levels so people can release what no longer serves them.  The results are astounding.

To find out more about how Kaayla can help you move towards better health and live in the fluidity of divine grace, please visit her website.