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) - jonah@singdemocracy250.org

Tina Sayers (SD250 - 50 States Program Director) - tina@singdemocracy250.org

Listeners can also contact our team by emailing info@singdemocracy250.org

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) - jonah.herzog@gmail.com

Tina Sayers (SD250 - 50 States Program Director) - tina@mapleseedcc.com

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!

What does 90210, Friends, and the Office have in common? Today's guest, Assaf Gleizner, was part of the creative team that turned them into parody musicals! In this episode (a rebroadcast from The Illuminate Pod), Assaf shares the musical journey that lead to writing musicals - and a ton of fun stories along the way!

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

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.

What exactly is "Sing Democracy 250" - where did the idea come from, who is behind it, and why should it matter to you and your singing communities? We answer all that and more in this first installment with our friends Tina and Jonah from the "Sing Democracy 250" team. Can't wait to see how this unfolds!

You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7wuIr8vRREs

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) - jonah.herzog@gmail.com
Tina Sayers (SD250 - 50 States Program Director) - tina@mapleseedcc.com

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.