Expertise
Dr. Raina Murnak is President of the Association for Popular Music Education (APME) and Associate Professor, Chair and Program Director of the MADE (Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship) Department, and Program Director of the MA in Popular Music Pedagogy at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. A multidisciplinary artist, educator, and organizational innovator, she is recognized for her creative systems thinking—designing programs, curricula, and collaborative ecosystems that prepare artists to thrive in an evolving creative landscape. Her work also centers on artist identity strategy, helping performers align technical excellence with authentic creative voice, entrepreneurial vision, and long-term artistic fulfillment.
As a vocalist, composer-songwriter, producer, performance coach, author, visual artist, choreographer, actress, and entrepreneur, Murnak believes the role of the artist extends far beyond creating content—it is about creating meaning. Her recent performance credits include contributing vocals to Pharrell Williams' Grammy-nominated film Piece by Piece and performing internationally with his VOICES OF FIRE ensemble, including appearances at the Vatican and the Toronto Blue Jays World Series celebration.
An internationally sought-after keynote speaker and clinician, Murnak presents on performance artistry, artist identity, creativity, positive psychology, entrepreneurship, and the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human creativity. She has served as a featured panelist at Indiana University's AlgoRhythms Summit on AI, Music, and Human-Centered Creativity, contributing to conversations on the creative, ethical, and educational implications of emerging technologies for artists. She is co-author of Positive Psychology for Music Professionals (Routledge), and her work at the intersection of music and AI has been recognized through the AI Song Contest, where she was a two-time global finalist, earning third place worldwide.
As a creator for the stage, Murnak is the composer of the original musical Belva, co-written with actress Janine Turner, which continues its development with upcoming performances in Texas. She holds degrees in vocal performance, composition, and vocal pedagogy from SUNY Stony Brook and the University of Miami, along with a certificate in Instructional Design from Oregon State University.