The Crescendo Music Education Podcast

Finding Purpose in Music Education with Chris Munce (Part 1) | 188

Today on Crescendo Chat, I’m joined by Chris Munce — choral conductor, educator, and host of Choralosophy, one of the world’s top music education podcasts and a leading voice in global choral education. Chris has spent more than 20 years as a choral director at Lee's Summit High School. He also directs Kantorei KC, a professional choir based in Kansas City. Alongside that work, he’s built Choralosophy into a space where educators explore the philosophy, purpose, and humanity behind music education. In this first part of our conversation, we dive into Chris’s story. We talk about the experiences that shaped him as a conductor, teacher, and communicator. We also explore why he started Choralosophy and what he’s learned from speaking with some of the world’s leading thinkers in choral music and education. This episode goes beyond rehearsal strategies and warmups. It asks bigger questions. Why does choral music matter? What does singing together do for young people? And how do we hold onto purpose when teaching starts to feel overwhelming? Chris has a way of connecting philosophy with practical teaching in a deeply thoughtful and accessible way. So whether you teach choir, classroom music, or simply care about helping students grow through music, there is so much here to reflect on. Connect with Chris:  * Website [https://muncemusic.com/chris-munce-studio/] * Podcast [https://choralosophy.com/the-show/] Where to find me:  Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity] Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ [https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd [https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd] Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic [https://twitter.com/crescendomusic] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb [https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDebbie/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323277/support]

Why Story Matters in Music Education with Kate Albury (Part 2) | 187

Welcome back to Crescendo Chat. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Kate Albury. In Part 1, Kate shared her journey as a choral educator and unpacked the power of storytelling in helping students connect to music in authentic and lasting ways. In this episode, we turn toward the bigger picture of music education within school culture. Kate shares practical insights from her work at Brisbane Boys' College, where she bridges classroom learning with co-curricular music programs and broader creative opportunities across the school community. We talk about advocacy, collaboration, and why music should never sit on the edges of school life. Kate also shares thoughtful ideas around engaging reluctant singers, combining art forms, and helping students feel a genuine sense of belonging through music-making. There’s so much in this conversation for primary music teachers — especially if you’ve ever tried to build something meaningful with limited time, limited resources, and a big vision for what music can do in a child’s life. Let’s jump back in with Kate. Connect with Kate:  * Email -  Where to find me:  Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity] Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ [https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd [https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd] Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic [https://twitter.com/crescendomusic] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb [https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDebbie/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323277/support]

Why Story Matters in Music Education with Kate Albury (Part 1) | 186

Today on Crescendo Chat, I’m joined by Kate Albury — choral conductor, adjudicator, workshop presenter, and a passionate advocate for creating meaningful musical experiences for young people. Kate is currently the Head of Co-Curricular — Culture and Enrichment Programs at Brisbane Boys' College, where she works across music, culture, and student life to build communities where students feel connected, creative, and seen. Her work stretches far beyond one school setting. Kate has contributed to programs including the State Honours Ensemble Program and the National Gondwana Choral School, and in 2026 she’ll lead the Treble Strand at the Pemulwuy! National Male Voices Festival. In this first part of our conversation, we explore Kate’s journey into choral education, the moments that shaped her as a conductor, and the people who helped influence her philosophy around music, belonging, and student connection. We also dive into one of Kate’s great passions: storytelling in choral music. How do we help students connect emotionally to repertoire? How do we make singing feel alive, meaningful, and relevant for young people? Whether you lead a choir, teach classroom music, or simply want students to engage more deeply in your lessons, there is so much wisdom packed into this conversation. Connect with Kate:  * Email -  Where to find me:  Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity] Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ [https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd [https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd] Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic [https://twitter.com/crescendomusic] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb [https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDebbie/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323277/support]

Music That Heals: Sean Martin on Trauma, Resilience & Creative Courage (Part 2) | 185

Welcome back to Crescendo Chat. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Sean Martin from The Quarantined. In Part 1, Sean shared his journey—how his experiences as a musician and veteran shaped his voice, his purpose, and his connection to music as something far deeper than performance. In this episode, we go further. We dive into what music can offer young people who are struggling. We talk about creative courage—what it looks like to build something from nothing, even when the path feels uncertain. And we explore how honesty, authenticity, and storytelling can transform a music classroom into a space where students feel seen. Sean also shares what he wishes more adults would say to young people about hard things—and what music teachers can do, even in small ways, to make a lasting impact. There’s a lot in this conversation. It’s real, it’s thoughtful, and it speaks directly to the heart of why music matters. Let’s jump back in. Connect with Sean:  * Website - https://www.thequarantined.com/ [https://www.thequarantined.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheQuarantined] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thequarantined] Where to find me:  Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity] Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ [https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd [https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd] Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic [https://twitter.com/crescendomusic] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb [https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDebbie/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323277/support]

Music That Heals: Sean Martin on Trauma, Resilience & Creative Courage (Part 1) | 184

Today on Crescendo Chat, I’m joined by Sean Martin — singer, guitarist, and producer behind The Quarantined. Sean brings a perspective we don’t often hear on this podcast. He’s not a music educator. Instead, he’s a working musician, an Iraq War veteran, and a passionate advocate for mental health and creative authenticity. Through his work with The Quarantined, Sean creates music that doesn’t hold back. His songs dive into real-life experiences—trauma, resilience, identity, and what it means to navigate the world today. That honesty has connected with a global audience, with hundreds of thousands of streams and millions of views across platforms. But what makes this conversation especially powerful for us as educators is this: Sean understands, deeply, how music can carry people through the things they don’t yet have words for. In this first part of our conversation, we explore Sean’s story—his journey through music, military service, and the moments that shaped who he is today. We also begin unpacking how music becomes a tool for processing life, not just performing it. As you listen, think about your own students. The ones who walk into your classroom carrying more than they can say. This conversation might just shift how you see the role of music in their lives. Connect with Sean:  * Website - https://www.thequarantined.com/ [https://www.thequarantined.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheQuarantined] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thequarantined] Where to find me:  Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity] Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ [https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd [https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd] Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic [https://twitter.com/crescendomusic] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb [https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDebbie/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323277/support]