Leading Notes Podcast

For Graham Sattler, being a musical inclusion advocate means building a life's work around a single conviction: that music is the activity with the fewest impediments to participation. In this episode, Melissa talks with Graham about the journey that took him from the opera stage and the orchestral trombone section to the heart of community music pract...

Joel Carnegie—conductor, broadcaster, and storyteller—talks about Awkwardstra Geelong, a community orchestra that is quietly doing some of the most important social work in the business.

Joel shares how he came to Awkwardstra after a demanding period in his pro...

Dr Belinda Densley has spent more than 30 years facilitating community singing groups in Geelong, Victoria, and over that time she came to understand that the work was never really about the voice. It was about the mechanics of heart, soul, and mind. That realisation led her through a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy and ultimately to a recentl...

What happens when a researcher brings together music education and criminology to advocate for the rights of some of society's most marginalised young people? In this episode, I speak with Dr Alexis Kallio, an interdisciplinary researcher whose work sits at a unique and important intersection—one that is challenging how institutions think about m...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Carla Van Laar, a creative and experiential therapist, painter, and passionate advocate for the creative revolution in mental health and wellbeing. With over 30 years' experience using the arts for health and wellbeing, Carla is the founding director of the Creative Mental Health Forum and conv...

This episode features Liz Lecoanet, an international vocal specialist who's pioneering the integration of singing into healthcare and workplace wellbeing. As the first wellbeing choral conductor employed by New South Wales Health in Australia, Liz shares her passionate mission to make singing as prescribable as exercise, revealing how she co-founded "S...

In this episode, Melissa speaks with Dr Francis Yapp, Senior Lecturer and Academic Director of the School of Music at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. They explore the world of community music and its place in tertiary education. Francis shares his journey from classical training to community music leadership, discusses the innovative community music pathway at Cant...

In this episode, Melissa speaks with Phoene Cave, a registered music therapist, creative project manager, singer, trainer, and reflective practice supervisor who has spent two decades building social connections through music in some of the most challenging settings imaginable.

From working with female offenders in high-security prisons to pioneering ...

In this special solo episode, Melissa announces the publication of her new book, "Making Music That Matters: Positive Music Leadership for Social Health". She explores how musicians can address the crisis of social connection through community music-making, offering evidence-based frameworks for building meaningful careers whilst fostering social health and wellbeing.

"This book is my attempt to bridge two realities—to show t...

In this episode, Melissa speaks with choral conductor and soprano Joanna Brooke about her unique approach to music-making that sits at the intersection of musical excellence and trauma-informed care. Joanna shares how she creates spaces where people can reconnect with their birthright to sing, moving beyond Western cultural barriers of musical elitism ...

Jane York shares her insights on the importance of community music-making, creating safe and playful spaces for singers, and how language choices can either include or exclude participants. She discusses her approach to leading community singing groups, including her "show and tell" performance model that creates a more comfortable alternative to traditional concert performances.

- The importance of community in ou...

Both positive psychology and music leadership focus on human potential and growth. While traditional psychology often focuses on fixing what's wrong, positive psychology emphasizes developing what's strong - a principle that aligns perfectly with effective music leadership. Understanding our character strengths helps us lead authentically, create psycho...

In this powerful episode of Leading Notes, we speak with Melissa Gill, former program leader of the Absolutely Everybody Choir, about the transformative power of singing for mental health and wellbeing. Drawing from her unique background in both music and human resources, Melissa shares how she created safe spaces for people experiencing mental health challenges to rediscover their voices – literally and metaphorically.

With ...

In this episode of Leading Notes, we speak with James Sills, a vocal leader, energizer, and connector who's revolutionizing how we think about group singing. From football terraces to corporate boardrooms, James shares how he's bringing the transformative power of singing to unexpected places, including his groundbreaking new BBC project 'Bantam of the Opera.'

Drawing from his journey from high school music teacher to innovative co...

Chris Blain discusses his evolution from professional a cappella performer to community music facilitator, sharing insights about inclusive music making and the importance of creating spaces where everyone can participate. Learn how his work with Men in Suits and With One Voice is helping to rebuild singing traditions and foster positive masculinity through group singing.

• Creating inclu...

As universities face what Vicki Bos calls a "crisis of connection," with international students increasingly disconnected from campus life, group singing emerges as a powerful tool for building meaningful relationships and fostering genuine belonging. 

Vicki Bos shares insights from her work leading UQ Voices, a mental health research choir at the University of Queensland. Learn how her five key community-b...

Melissa is joined by Emma Dean, an accomplished Australian musician, performer, and community choir leader. They discuss Emma's journey from classical violinist to professional performer, and her eventual transition to leading community music projects. Emma shares candidly about experiencing "cruel optimism" in the music industry and how hitting "rock bottom" led her to start the Cheep Trill community choir from her friend's verand...

The musicians who make a real difference in our communities aren't household names – they're the leaders creating meaningful social connections through participatory music-making.

Join singer, researcher, and community music leader Dr Melissa Forbes as she explores how these remarkable but unsung musicians are revitalizing our social health....