SAIC Community Members Join Newcity’s Music 45 List

Several School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) alums and a faculty member are recognized in Newcity’s Music 45 2025: Producers list, underscoring the School’s impact on Chicago’s music ecosystem. Alums include Alejandro Zerah (BFA 2017), who as senior talent buyer for Smartbar helps bridge dance-music history and current programming; Olivia Junell (MA 2016) and Alex Inglizian (BFA 2007), co-directors at Experimental Sound Studio with leadership in Chicago’s experimental sound community; and Damon Locks (BFA 1991), whose artistic and musical practice spans collaborative, cross-disciplinary terrain. On the faculty side, Professor Kate Dumbleton is also honored for her curatorial and producer role with the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. Their inclusion reflects SAIC’s dual role as incubator of creative talent and cultural leadership.