Let's meet CPA by day and lead band singer and music lover and advocate on the side, Noelle Vocelka! In this convo, we also introduce you to the newest non-profit in town, The Power of Music Foundation, ready to help individuals, schools or organizations support their music travel dreams through financial backing and educational support. 

Find out more about Noelle's band, The Weekend Lovers: https://www.theweekendloversmusic.com/

Thanks to our podcast sponsor, Performer International, for making the show possible! https://perform-international.com/

Moombix is revolutionising music education: Traditional music education is outdated, rigid and often inaccessible. Margrét can discuss how Moombix is transforming the learning experience - making music education more flexible, interactive and tailored to the unique needs of adult learners. Beyond just lessons, Moombix embraces music as a lifestyle choice, empowering people to integrate creativity into their everyday lives. With a strong focus on accessibility, the platform also reaches learners even in the most remote areas, helping them connect, grow and prosper through music.
Check out this great interview too: : https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366617887/Covid-effect-opens-door-to-music-learning-through-Icelandic-innovation

Margrét Juliana Sigurdardottir is a Royal Academy of London Music grad and a successful serial tech entrepreneur.

Margrét has founded Moombix (moombix.com) - an all-in-one music education platform and marketplace that is revolutionising how people learn, teach and generate income through music. Described as the 'Uber for online music lessons,’ Moombix is making high-quality music education accessible worldwide.

Margrét’s background is as interesting as her mission. She’s an acclaimed singer, pianist and composer who has performed alongside Icelandic icons like Björk and Sigur Rós. Before launching Moombix, she founded Mussila, an award-winning app that teaches children the basics of music, earning her recognition from Forbes as one of Europe’s most promising entrepreneurs.


https://www.moombix.com
www.linkedin.com/in/margretjuliana?originalSubdomain=is

“In a world where division seems to be the norm, we stand united. We are musicians, singers, artists, and advocates, all bound by the belief that music can bridge the gaps and mend the divides. Our mission is simple yet profound: to bring people together, to celebrate our shared humanity, and to recommit to the promise of a "more perfect union."

Meet the co-founders Gary Aamodt and Celia Ellingson, Together In Hope Project, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, who serve as the driving force behind Sing Democracy 250 - and in this conversation you get to know them!

Learn more about Gary and Celia:  https://www.singdemocracy250.org/leadership-team

Explore and sign up for the Sing Democracy 250 Project - it’s free! -  www.singdemocracy250.org

This episode is brought o you by our friends at Perform International - ask ChatGPT why we should take our musicians on tour, what will it say? PI can help :) Perform-International.com

We love our podcast listeners!! In this episode, we chat with PhD candidate, Theresa Hoover, as she writes her dissertation on why music educators listen to podcasts. So, listen to this for interesting conversation and inspo, but also take a moment and help soon-to-be "Dr. Hoover" gather data for her dissertation.

Survey link: https://asu.questionpro.com/podcastlistening

Podcast link: https://pod.link/1592940741

Websites: https://offthebeatenpathinmusic.com/ and https://passthebatonbook.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheresa/ 

This episode is sponsored by Perform International - check out their incredible tours, but also stay tuned for some fun adventures on the road with them this summer! 

Y'all, this episode is motivational, vulnerable, and so fun! It features a little inspo from your host & some little snippets from choir members. It will also walk you through some tips for creating your own ensemble community. We hope it motivates and inspires you! Thanks for listening and enjoy!! (Happy Summer!) 

This episode is sponsored by Perform International - check them out at Perform_International.com -- and stay tuned for some fun episodes coming from choir tours around the globe this summer! 

Did you catch the January bonus episode? If not, go listen real quick, it tells the back story of how I was asked to start a choir at my university. And this episode, THIS ONE is epic!! I share the success and the future our University Choir along with tips and tools you can use to achieve your next goal or big idea. Thanks so much for listening to the story - we are SO excited and eternally thankful! Can't wait to see where UC goes from here :)

As promised, here is the link to the program.

Want to learn more about the business of choir? Alex Gartner and I wrote a book all about it, find out more here.

Thanks to Perform International for supporting this episode! https://perform-international.com/ 

Back in Episode 183, you learned all about "Sing Democracy 250" - where did the idea come from, who is behind it, and why should it matter to you and your singing communities? Today is our second installment of meet the composer, where you get to hear from the commissioned composers who are writing the two new works just for the project. Check out episode 186 for part 1. Today, we’re speaking with Dr. Brandon A. Boyd. 

In case you missed it, you can now apply to be one of the choirs participating in Sing Democracy 250! All you have to do is pop over to their website and submit an application. It is free and as long as you are a 501c3 and commit to perform the music between March 1 and December 31 of 2026, they will send you the music discussed in today’s episode, along with the rest of the program, for free! Learn more and apply today at https://www.singdemocracy250.org/.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R7c-W8sHxCs 

Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date in all things related to this project at https://www.singdemocracy250.org/.

Looking for more "Sing Democracy 250" details? Check these details:

Jonah Herzog (SD250 Program Associate) - [email protected]

Tina Sayers (SD250 - 50 States Program Director) - [email protected]

Listeners can also contact our team by emailing [email protected]

with regards from Gary Aamodt and Celia Ellingson (co-founders)

Website - singdemocracy250.org / Facebook / Instagram - @singdemocracy250

This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/.

Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

commissioned composers who are writing the two new works just for the project. Today we talk with composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (https://www.listenafresh.com/). 

Great news! You can now apply to be one of the choirs participating in Sing Democracy 250. All you have to do is pop over to their website and submit an application. It is free and as long as you are a 501c3 and commit to perform the music between March 1 and December 31 of 2026, they will send you the music discussed in today’s episode, along with the rest of the program, for free! Learn more and apply today at https://www.singdemocracy250.org/.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/ysL70GGGjhU 

Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date in all things related to this project at https://www.singdemocracy250.org/.

Looking for more "Sing Democracy 250" details? Check these details:

Jonah Herzog (SD250 Program Associate) - [email protected]

Tina Sayers (SD250 - 50 States Program Director) - [email protected]

with regards from Gary Aamodt and Celia Ellingson (co-founders)

Website - singdemocracy250.org / Facebook / Instagram - @singdemocracy250

This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/.

Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

Kicking-off the new year sharing one of the best real-life dream stories! Want to know what it takes to live out the NYC Acting Dream? In this episode, we talk to singing actor and educator, Hannah Thompson as she shares her journey from high school choir to "Phoebe" in the off-broadway Friends, the Parody Musical. A great listen for singing actors as well as educators preparing those singing actors :)

You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZGqQunWZ2uY

This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/.

Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

It's bonus episode time! In this episode, you'll hear all about the new choir I'm starting (at school) and some tips if you're looking to start one too. You'll get a little background on your host and then we go through the how, why, and what of this new ensemble. My goal is to share the "new choir" journey over the next 10-weeks (aka: winter quarter)  - this is going to be so fun! Thanks for listening!