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 inclusive spaces for all abilities and backgrounds
• The importance of joy over perfection in music making
• Building community through men's singing
• Strategies for inclusive music facilitation
• The role of music in fostering connection and wellbeing

"Live music is about changing the way people feel. And you don't do that with excellence. You do that with heart and with soul, and with connecting with people."

"It's never about the song, it's about the moment you're creating. The song is just a vehicle."

"Just lean towards joy... I just started leaning towards the things that made me happier and away from the things that made me tired and grumpy and cynical."

• Men in Suits
• I've Got the House To Myself Today by Men in Suits
• Creativity Australia
• SUADE

Choir Operations Coordinator at Creativity Australia and conductor of With One Voice Whitehorse. Musical director of men's choir Men In Suits and director of Melbourne Singing Events. Former founding director of Vocal Australia and operations manager at MusoMagic. Chris brings decades of experience in both professional performance and community music facilitation.

• Men in Suits

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• Join the conversation about positive music leadership and community music making
• Share your thoughts about this episode using https://leadingnotespodcast.podbean.com/

  This project was made possible by The Winston Churchill Trust’s Impact Fund, supporting Churchill Fellows to achieve impact in Australia following their Fellowship travels. Read more about the Churchill Trust and other Fellowship stories via the website ChurchillFellowships.com.au

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-building strategies through choral singing create meaningful connections among international and domestic students, moving beyond surface-level interactions to foster belonging and connection.

• The crisis of connection in universities and its impact on student wellbeing, especially international students
• Five strategies for community building: rapport, interaction, personalization, ownership, and achievement
• The role of choir leaders in fostering mental health benefits
• Building inclusive spaces for international students
• The power of learning songs in multiple languages

• TEDx Talk
• Read Vicki's research in Australian Voice here.
• Raise Your Voice International Student Choir Festival

Education professional development specialist and director of UQ Voices, the University of Queensland School of Psychology mental health research choir. With experience across Australia, Japan, Macau, Brazil, and Chile, Vicki specializes in using choral singing to teach language, build community, and improve mental health outcomes.

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• LinkedIn
• Join the conversation about positive music leadership and community music making
• Share your thoughts about this episode using https://leadingnotespodcast.podbean.com/

  This project was made possible by The Winston Churchill Trust’s Impact Fund, supporting Churchill Fellows to achieve impact in Australia following their Fellowship travels. Read more about the Churchill Trust and other Fellowship stories at ChurchillFellowship.com.au

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 veranda in Brisbane - a decision that would transform not only her career but her sense of self and wellbeing.

The conversation explores how leading community music provides a different kind of fulfilment from professional performing. Emma shares practical insights about inclusive teaching methods and creating safe spaces for musical expression. Her story illustrates how musicians can find meaningful work beyond traditional performance careers, while still maintaining their creativity and musical excellence.

Other resources mentioned during the show:

Musgrave, G., Gross, S. A., & Klein, M. (2024). The dark side of optimism: Musical dreams, belief, and gambling. Musicae Scientiae, 28(4), 634–648. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241230673

Gross, S. A., & Musgrave, G. (2020). Can music make you sick? Measuring the price of musical ambition. University of Westminster Press.

Upbeat Arts Absolutely Everybody Choir

Too Fat For Ballet

This one time at bandcamp

Zen Zen Zo

Rainbow Bop

This project was made possible by The Winston Churchill Trust’s Impact Fund, supporting Churchill Fellows to achieve impact in Australia following their Fellowship travels. Read more about the Churchill Trust and other Fellowship stories at ChurchillFellowship.com.au