THE CONSTITUTION SONG

has been teaching constitutional law since 1981. He has been a faculty member since 2003 at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where he holds the Jacob E. Davis and Jacob E. Davis II Chair in Law. The Constitution Song represents his first musical collaboration since college. Named a Distinguished University Scholar by Ohio State in 2011, he is the author of over sixty law review articles and book chapters, as well as author, co-author or editor of eight books, including Madison’s Nightmare: Executive Power and the Threat to American Democracy (U. of Chicago 2009). In 2008-09, Peter served as executive director to the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, and was the lead drafter of its report, Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age (Aspen Institute 2009). A frequent op-ed writer on public law issues, Peter has contributed essays to numerous outlets online and across the country including Slate, the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Washington Monthly, Bloomberg BNA, and Huffington Post, His next book, Democracy’s Chief Executive, will be published in 2022 by the University of California Press. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Constitution Society.

is a Grammy-award winning saxophonist, recording artist, arranger, composer, and technologist. Over the years, he has performed, written, and recorded with many of his musical heroes, including Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Tune-Yards, Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band), Wynton Marsalis, and The Levon Helm Band.

Originally born in Seattle, WA to a musical family, Johnny started working as a professional musician at 12 years old, playing around the Seattle scene, sneaking into bars and venues across the city, playing with rock bands, jazz groups, and hip-hop projects. During his time in high school, Johnny played with Wynton Marsalis, Michael Shrieve (Santana), Reggie Watts, Roy Hargrove, Skerik, and Cedar Walton, won numerous awards, and toured America, China, and Europe. After high school, Johnny went to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he met his mentor Gary Bartz and was selected to play in the nationally touring Oberlin Jazz Septet.

Johnny’s recent album HyperViolet is a sublime, expansive spiritual jazz-fusion masterpiece. Since its release by London-based Hi4Head Records, the album has garnered as much praise overseas as in the US. The Wire says, “Johnny Butler is the real deal - he arranged for Beyoncé, for God's sake – and HyperViolet is just about the freshest thing you'll hear all year.”

Apfel is a Brooklyn-based director and editor whose work aims to capture the quandaries of her generation infused with humor and grit. She edits much of her own work and the work of local activists, artists and musicians in Brooklyn. Arielle’s thesis film, A Chick Called Wanda, which she directed, wrote and produced won BEST COMEDY at NY SHORTS and won AUDIENCE FAVORITE at Iron Mule Comedy Festival in January 2017. Her films have played at Light House International Film Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival, Hollyshorts, Woodshole Film Festival and have been mentioned in The Wall Street Journal, Brooklyn Vegan and Atwood Magazine. She was awarded a 2018 Made In New York Fellowship for her first feature script, A Tiny Perfect World. Arielle holds a BA in Film Studies from the American University of Paris and an MFA from The London Film School.