Mindy Moore is widely considered a deaf multi-talented lady. The passion of theater has always been in her blood. She departed from high school for Gallaudet University and became drawn into the TV/Media program. While at Gallaudet, she composed scripts and performed in the TV show, Deaf Moonlite Show, and also was involved in several sitcoms. This is when Mindy became spellbound with the film aspect of performing. Mindy passed the experience she had achieved to students at Texas School for the Deaf, where she also works as a Drama/Deaf Studies and Art instructor. She starred in the film “Forget Me Not” and the film “The Wrong Game”, both of which were avid successes.

Mindy has appeared at DeaFestival numerous times and we welcome her back in 2014 as she appears in the Children’s Program and serves as emcee for the Jam Tent.

www.justmindy.com

Beethoven’s Nightmare is the first and only Deaf rock band in the world consisting of Ed Chevy, Bob Hiltermann, and Steve Longo with a style all of their own. They provide music in collaboration with visual performing artists, which infuse American Sign Language, mime, and dance. This amazing gift of music and ability to perform is quite an accomplishment for a Deaf rock band who originally composed their own music and released their first CD titled "Turn It Up Louder".

Since then, Beethoven’s Nightmare has successfully been performing for all ages and has sold out many concerts across the United States and Europe. Thousands of cheering fans have witnessed this history-making band and enjoyed the evening of fun-filled entertainment. Come see them at the Jam Tent!

www.beethovensnightmare.com

Bass Guitar – Born deaf, in a deaf family, Ed Chevy (bass, composer) had to find music the hard way. Listening to old country stars on an old phonograph in his father’s workshop gave him an appreciation of music, however it wasn’t until he went to see The Who in concert that he fell in love with Rock and Roll. Watching the high-energy band, with all their excitement and destructiveness, made Ed decide to become a rock star. It wasn’t until he met Steve Longo (guitar) at California School for the Deaf, Berkeley that he first picked up the bass, when Steve suggested he play it for the group he wanted to put together. Ed learned to play cover songs and then began composing songs for the band. Now, along with Steve and Bob Hiltermann (drums), Ed’s music and inspiration has helped Beethoven’s Nightmare rock for many years, and brought “Deaf Rock” to international attention.

Drums – German born Bob Hiltermann (drums) is a true success story. Spinal meningitis left him deaf at the age of four, however it was not discovered until he was 10. Living with a large family of musicians, Bob gained a love for music, but it wasn’t until he invited to an Indian ceremony that he realized his passion for the drums. Using his neighbor’s drums, he played along with his favorite LP’s and 45’s, honing his talents. Then, while attending Gallaudet University, Bob met Ed Chevy (bass) and Steve Longo (guitar) and the rest, as they say, is history. Inspired by The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, his true inspiration came from Led Zeppelin. Along with acting on stage, in films and television, and creating his own line of sign language videos, he rocks to the music of his own band, internationally famous Beethoven’s Nightmare.

www.bobhiltermann.com

Lead Guitarist – The Beatles, Ed Sullivan and a flea market guitar all led to Steve Longo (Lead Guitarist) to still be rockin almost 50 years later. When Steve saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, he picked up an old folk guitar that his parents had purchased at the flea market and immediately began learning to play. While attending Gallaudet University, Steve helped create the first all deaf rock band with Ed Chevy (bass and vocals) and Bob Hiltermann (drums). Drawing upon influences from the Beatles, The Monkees and the Rolling Stones, he has created his own unique sound within the band. Since that time, the group has grown from a small club band to an international success. Forty-eight years after picking up that first guitar, Steve has parlayed his love of music into a successful career and he has no plans to stop!

Singer – The newest member of the band, Paul Raci (vocals), a Chicago born native, has been involved in music and entertainment nearly all his life. Taking inspiration from music greats, Mitch Ryder, Jerry Lee Lewis and Eric Burden, Paul started his first professional band, The Good Greefs, which toured the Midwest with the Turtles. During that time, they recorded their popular hit single, “Shy Girl.” The Vietnam War, however, got in the way of Paul’s musical career. After he did two tours for his country, he resurfaced in the music world with the band, Rocky. Drawing influences from Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Ted Nugent, the band soon became a favorite in the Chicago music scene and surrounding areas. For the next twenty years, Paul’s focus turned to theater and film work, where he earned many awards including an Emmy. Now, he is excited to be back in music, where he can combine his ASL knowledge with Beethoven’s Nightmare’s driving force of power rock and roll.

Sean is a musician on a mission. An accomplished and passionate drummer, rhythm pours out of him, when he breathes, walks, types at his keyboard or hits his drums. Music is in his blood, his cells; it’s just the way he is. He’s also deaf – and out to build a badly needed bridge between the music industry and deaf people everywhere.

Sean grew up in Detroit where his parents, both musicians, filled their home with the sounds of the Motor City: Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger, the Funk Brothers and more. Despite losing his hearing as a baby, Sean soaked up the beats and the vibrations, experiencing great music in his own way.

Inspired by what he calls “The Three B’s” (the Beastie Boys, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan), Sean started out making music videos in his basement and today is producing professional music videos with a focus on the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. He is a voice for not only his generation but deaf culture. He is co-founder of D-PAN, The Deaf Professional Arts Network, a non-profit organization that focuses on translating popular artists' songs into American Sign Language music videos for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

With his passion for music, Sean has opened the door to musical expression – a world historically considered off limits to people in the deaf community. His dream of music for all has helped to transform the way deaf people perceive music. Through his videos and his outreach to deaf people everywhere – particularly young people eager to feel included in popular culture – music is being presented to them as a beautiful symphony of thought and expression, available to all. The hearing community, too, is fascinated by his ASL translations of musical hits and is clamoring for more. Since 2008, Forbes has also performed in over 20 cities across the US and has appeared in front of over 15,000 people.

Sean Forbes is living proof that if you have enough passion and dedication, magic happens and dreams come true. “The world is run by those who show up,” he says, “And I’m showing up.”

www.deafandloud.com

Best known for her real life role as the ”not deaf enough” girl in the award winning documentary, “See What I’m Saying,” TL Forsberg is a Canadian-born singer/songwriter, actress and performer.

Honored with a Pearl award for her innovative work as an artist in the Deaf Community, TL intentionally embraces the word “Deaf” while using her art and her music as a platform for advocacy ∓ diversity.

TL’s dark “techno pop gothic” music combines “fashion, photography, and Sign Language choreography” in a show that is not only unique but breaks boundaries while it entertains.

Previous credits include: special appearance with rappers “CEE-LO” and “T-PAIN” on FUSE TV; stared as herself on VH1’s reality TV series “Supergroup”; performed at the Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos concert; Much Music, MTV, Ozzfest, 105.3 Rock Radio, and was voted one of “LA’s best kept secrets” by Music Connection Magazine.

Recent credits include: the lead role in the film “Deafening”; the adventurous “Olivia” on the ABC’s “Switched at Birth”, special performance with finalist Chris Mann on NBC’s “The Voice.”

TL is proud to present her debut album “Love Addict” at Kentucky's DeaFestival 2014 with support from director Jules Dameron, dancer Shaheem Sanchez and dancer/choreographer Joey Antonio. To God be the glory!

For more information please visit: www.TLForsberg.com.

WAWA... A RAPPER WHO HAPPENS TO BE DEAF.

When you go to "Wawa's House", you'll be taken to a whole new level of music through DEAF eyes! Yes, deaf as in can't hear - but wears hearing aids, speaks and signs - ALL VERY WELL! This multi-talented performer with a fan base across the nation and beyond, is originally from Philadelphia, now residing in the Washington, DC area. This consummate entertainer has been performing since childhood and has and does nearly everything in the entertainment world, plus traveled the globe for the past dozen years. Known affectionately as "WAWA", Warren Snipe has written powerful poems and songs and his passion for music grew to a point that he had to share with the world. So watch out Wawa's doing what he does best...breaking down barriers and taking on challenges. He's the type that like to break down barriers, every day in every way moving one step closer to his life's personal goal...to put Deaf recording artists on the mainstream music map! The world's gonna know a new music genre:DIP-HOP (Deaf hip-hop). DIP HOP is Hip-Hop thru deaf eyes. Nowadays people see and understand Hip-Hop through hearing culture but what about the deaf? Wawa's lyrics takes you in the Deaf World. Wawa's making sure that the Deaf community is getting HEARD! Sho Sum Luv!

www.reverbnation.com/slyki