ASPIRE MUSIC COMPANY ANNOUNCES ITS INAUGURAL MANAGING DIRECTOR

HOUSTON, TX - February 17th, 2026

Aspire Music Company, a career coaching and consulting firm for musicians, announces the appointment of Adam W. Sadberry as its Managing Director. Sadberry will immediately begin his position in partnership with Dawson White, Aspire Music CEO and Founder.

Sadberry brings many years of experience to Aspire Music as a flutist, educator, coach, and advocate. He is represented by the prestigious Concert Artists Guild, he is the former principal flutist of the Memphis Symphony and Cabrillo Festival Orchestras, and he has given residencies at schools including the Eastman School of Music and Vanderbilt University. His advocacy work is inspired by the legacy of his late grandfather L. Alex Wilson, a monumental journalist whose work shaped the Civil Rights Movement. 

As managing director, Sadberry will take the lead for current coaching programs and day-to-day activities of Aspire Music, adding to his own career as a performing artist and teacher. His own career is a testament to transformation, having gone from an orchestral flutist to a genre-bending artist who gives college residencies and performs with renowned artists like Ariana Grande, WILLOW, and more. Sadberry will bring his dynamic experiences to Aspire Music to help musicians expand their careers and capacities.

LEADERSHIP VOICES

Adam W. Sadberry, Incoming Managing Director: 

“I’m elated to return to Aspire Music Company as its Managing Director. As a former client, I greatly benefited from its innovative and practical programming, not to mention Dawson’s dedication which has led him to become a great friend. Due to our parallel experiences in the classical music world, we are naturally aligned. I look forward to leading Aspire with Dawson to help musicians go from "surviving" to “thriving”.

Dawson White, CEO and Founder:

“Adam and I have been close friends for years, and I’ve also had the privilege of coaching him through Aspire’s programs - so I’ve witnessed his growth, integrity, and leadership firsthand. As I began imagining Aspire’s first major coaching hire, Adam was the clear choice. He brings rare range as an accomplished artist and sought-after educator, and he understands our work from the inside out. I’m thrilled to build this next chapter together.”

ABOUT ASPIRE MUSIC COMPANY 

Aspire Music Company brings systems-level thinking to both individual musicians and arts institutions - creating sustainable pathways where artistry, financial success, and personal fulfillment align. We train in three areas, the artist, manager, and entrepreneur, through coaching programs, consulting projects, and lessons. 

Adam will lead two Aspire Music Company programs, COSM and LAUNCH.

COSM, Conscious-Self Management for Musicians, is career design training. Become resistant to burnout and receive systems training tailored for musicians in transition. Develop your personalized artist operating system to thrive creatively. Master sustainable scheduling, career clarity, and effective energy flow. To learn more about COSM, click here.

LAUNCH is entrepreneur training. Receive 1:1 coaching to grow your studio, ensemble, brand, or creative business. Clarify your niche, develop offers, and sharpen your marketing message. Launch your music career with structure and confidence. To learn more about LAUNCH, click here.

If you are interested in additional program details, please reach out to Adam directly at [email protected].

ABOUT ADAM W. SADBERRY

Named to The Washington Post’s “23 for ’23,” flutist Adam W. Sadberry uses his bright sense of being, justice, and interconnectivity to cultivate impact. By honoring his ancestry and respecting the dignity of all life, Adam’s artistry builds bridges between people and communities. 

A multifaceted artist - flutist, singer, educator, advocate, improviser, music director, and writer - Adam is best known for his work as a flutist and advocate. Winner of Concert Artists Guild’s 2021 Victor Elmaleh Competition and Ambassador Prize, he has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician across North America.

A dedicated educator, teaches music through DACAMERA, Houston Youth Symphony, and SGI-USA. Adam was Music for Autism’s 2024 Spotlight Artist and has performed for the organization four times since 2021, known for his heightened sense of accessibility, warm communication, sincere programming, and grounding presence. 

Adam draws deep inspiration from his late grandfather, Civil Rights journalist L. Alex Wilson, who courageously covered the lynching of Emmett Till, the Little Rock Nine, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He has commissioned works in Wilson’s honor from Cleveland Orchestra Composition Fellow Tyler Taylor and AACM Composer-in-Residence Dameun Strange. 

Adam began his professional music career as an orchestral musician, holding positions with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Beyond classical settings, he has performed with the Re-Collective Orchestra and Color of Noize Orchestra, collaborating with artists including Beyoncé, T-Pain, WILLOW, and more. His playing can be heard on the 2019 The Lion King soundtrack. 

Having shifted away from full-time orchestral work, Adam now speaks openly about transforming classical music culture. This work led him to presenting at the League of American Orchestras Conference in 2023 and 2024. Adam spoke to orchestra CEOs on institutional trauma in the classical music space. 

Adam earned his Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music and is a former Judith Leibowitz Scholar in the Alexander Technique. Represented by Concert Artists Guild, Adam resides in Montgomery, TX, where he grew up. Outside of music, he can be found rollerskating, reading, listening to podcasts, watching anime, eating joyfully, and practicing the art of not doomscrolling. He is deeply grateful to his many teachers and mentors.