Sven-Erik Holgersen, Chair

Sven-Erik Holgersen, PhD in music pedagogy, M.A. in musicology and educational theory, associate professor at The Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Department of Curriculum Research / Music Education, Copenhagen. My research interests are musical learning and development in particular early childhood and music teacher education. A special interest is the development of qualitative research methods from the perspective of hermeneutic phenomenology. Currently, I am teaching MA courses in music pedagogy and music psychology as well as methodology of research in education. PhD courses in aesthetics and educational theory. 2002-8 I have served in the ECME Commission, 2006-8 as chair. 2006- board member and currently co-chair of the Nordic Network for Research in Music Education as well as co-editor of Nordic Research in Music Education Yearbook. 2003- co-founder and board member of the European network of Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children (MERYC). 

Beatriz Ilari

Beatriz Ilari is an Associate Professor of Music Education at the Federal University of Paraná, in Curitiba, Brazil, where she runs a music program for babies, toddlers and children. She earned degrees from the University of São Paulo (Arts Licentiate), Montclair State University (Master of Arts) and McGill University (Ph.D.). An early childhood specialist, she has been conducting research on infants’ and children’s music perception and cognition, as well as on musical parenting in early life. Dr. Ilari is also interested in multicultural and transnational issues in music teaching and learning. Her research has been published in many journals, including Early Child Development & Care, International Journal of Music Education – Research, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Revista de Educação Musical (Portugal), Revista da ABEM (Brazil), Tavira (Spain), Psicologia em Estudo (Brazil), and Canadian Music Educator.  She has been serving as a member in the Early Childhood Music Education Commission since 2004, and has been recently appointed as Co-Editor of the International Journal of Music Education – Research (2006-2012).

Jennifer C. Y. Leu

Jennifer Leu is Assistant Professor in music education at the National Kaohsiung Normal University of Taiwan. Dr. Leu received both M.A. and Ed. D. degree in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research focuses on early childhood music teacher education, music education for children and adolescents with special needs, and practicum supervision.  Dr. Leu has practical teaching and administrative experience in preschool and college levels.  She was a founder of Bon Voyage Kindergarten in Taiwan, and a former instructor at the Community Music Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Leu has published in Early Childhood Connections, Journal of Southeastern Music Education, and Journal of Taitung Teachers College, and has presented her research at various international conferences including MENC, ICMPC, and ISME. She serves as a commissioner for the Early Childhood Music Education Commission since 2005.

Dr. Louie Suthers

Louie Suthers is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University.  She is also the Academic Coordinator of the IEC Music Program for Children which provides music classes for children aged birth to eight. She teaches music classes for babies and toddlers in the program.  Louie has written for children's television and radio, authored numerous books, resources and academic journals.  She is also a repertoire consultant for a series of CDs introducing young children to orchestral music.  Louie's research focuses on the musical development of children from birth to five years. Her doctoral thesis is entitled Music experiences for toddlers in daycare:  An Australian study.  Louie’s current research interests are concerned with live performances for young children and nexus between music and literature for children.  She has presented her work throughout Australia, and in Asia, Europe and North America.

Claudia Gluschankof 

Claudia Gluschankof is Coordinator of Studies at the School of Music,  Head of Music & Movement Studies at the Early Childhood Department and researcher at the R & D Authority– Levinsky College of Education, Tel-Aviv. She  holds a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, an MA in Music Education from the University of London – Institute of Education, an Orff certificate (Orff Institute, Salzburg) and a Kodály certificate (Kodály Institute, Kecskemét). In addition to her teaching activity at kindergarten level and teacher pre-service and in-service training she serves as member of and as head researcher for the Music Curriculum Committee of Israel. Her research interests focus on the musical expressions of young children, particularly on the self-initiated play of young children in various cultural contexts. Dr. Claudia Gluschankof is also interested in teacher training and the professional identity of teachers. Her work has been presented at many international conferences and published in various journals. She serves at the ECME commission since 2006.

Dr. Diane Cummings Persellin

Dr. Diane Cummings Persellin is Professor of Music Education at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. During the summers she is the Director of Trinity University Orff Schulwerk Certification Course and teaches an early childhood music course at the Hong Kong Baptist University.  She has served as President of Texas Music Educators Conference and Co-chair of the Early Childhood MENC Special Research Interest Group (SRIG). Currently, she is Editor of General Music Today and is on editorial boards of Mountain Lake Reader and Texas Music Education Research.  Her research deals primarily with musical development and home environment and has been published in chapters of books and music education journals including Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council in Research in Music Education,  Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, American Music Teacher, General Music Today, Kodaly Envoy, Early Childhood Connections, Teaching Music, Perceptual and Motor Skills, and Texas Music Education Research.  She has been serving as a member of the ECME Commission since 2006.