Success stories
Hear from the people who’ve received Sempre Awards and see the impact they’ve made -whether in music education, research, or the wider community.
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©Haodan Zheng Singing Checked Tones: Production and Perception of Linguistic Cues in Music
Supported by SEMPRE, this pilot project investigated how the phonetic cues associated with checked tones are realised and perceived in Chaozhou, a Southern Chinese tone language, across speech and singing, laying the foundation for future research in music cognition, speech science, and ethnomusicology.
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©Tara Rajendran Strengthening Research Capacity to Develop Randomized Controlled Trials on Local Music-Based Interventions in Tanzania
This Sempre-supported project aims to strengthen research capacity for developing randomized controlled trials on local music-based interventions in Tanzania.
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John S. Baily
Prof. John S. Baily is an expert in the music of Afghanistan. A performer, filmmaker, and author, he has published widely and collaborated with Sempre on major projects, including documentaries and educational resources, contributing significantly to research and preservation of Afghanistan’s musical traditions.
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Nigel Osborne
Nigel Osborne is a composer, educator, health worker, and aid worker whose internationally performed work spans music, health, and technology. He is recognised for pioneering trauma-informed arts practices and innovative approaches supporting communities affected by conflict worldwide.
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© Rebecca Cresta for MMF EchoSing
Sempre supports the Merton Music Foundation in developing an online automated musical assessment tool for schools, music services, hubs, and practitioners, helping to improve baseline and impact assessment in music education.
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© Letitia Slabu Music4DisplacedDyads
This project conducted small-group music therapy sessions for Ukrainian refugee mother–toddler dyads and developed a protocol for a scalable intervention that can be adapted to other refugee populations facing similar developmental challenges.
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© Georgia Nicolaou Sempre’s Support for the ICDS7 Conference in Belval, Luxembourg
Sempre supported the 7th International Conference on Dalcroze Studies, held in Belval, Luxembourg, from 28 to 31 August.
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Harmony International Vocal Intensive 2025
The Harmony International Vocal Intensive 2025 brought together vocal educators and students for a week of research-informed training, global exchange, and inclusive music education, supported by SEMPRE-funded scholarships for underserved communities.
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© Tiija Rinta Online singing workshop connecting students in rural Nepal and Uganda
An online singing workshop connected school pupils from rural Uganda and Nepal, where access to international collaboration is limited, offering high-quality music education led by an American teacher.
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Sempre’s Grant to St. James Town Community Arts
Sempre recently made a grant of CAD 5,000 to St. James Town Community Arts (SJTCA) in Toronto, Canada, in honour of the lifetime contribution of Professor Sandra Trehub (May 21, 1938 – January 20, 2023).
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© Milca de Paula Loud Scream to Help Nature
This project used musical education with a community in Pernambuco, Brazil to help raise awareness of urgent local environmental issues.
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@ Emily Achieng’ Akuno Music for Literacy Development in Kenya
The Music for Literacy Development project was a 20-week programme aimed at improving literacy and language skills among 6–8-year-olds in seven primary schools in Kenya’s Kisumu and Siaya counties.
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© Sandra Oberoi Music education in collaboration with ISME
Sempre supports the International Society for Music Education’s growth in South Asia through knowledge exchange and funding.
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© Gertrude Bien Aime Inclusive Education in Haiti
This project focuses on empowering inclusive education in Haiti by supporting Notre Maison Orphanage and the Haitian Center for Inclusive Education.
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© Jyoshna La Trobe Pandemic Impact on Kiirtan Musicians of Rarh
This project investigated the impact of the pandemic on the Kiirtan musicians of Rarh, India.
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© Tiija Rinta Music Education Project in Uganda
The project built a network of eight schools in the Bududa region of rural Uganda, and the selected schools took part in a new music education programme.
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Online Music Course Offerings in Australia
This project assessed the rate of adoption, scope, and nature of online music courses in Australia from 2017 to 2020.
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Participation in AAIC
This award enabled participation in a major conference on Alzheimer’s, highlighting music as an intervention and gaining invaluable feedback from world-leading researchers.
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© Jaremdi Wati Longchar The Women’s Voices Project
This field project explores the role of gender in the conservation and transmission of folk musical styles amongst the Naga of Northeast India.
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The Intimate Lives of a Music Institution
This project explored how the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya offers an alternative model to the traditional music conservatoire.
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The STROKESTRA Community Programme
This research evaluated a stroke rehabilitation programme centred around workshops helping stroke survivors to engage in orchestral music-making.
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© Olcay Muslu Rebuilding Beyond Bricks in Hatay
This project involved music outreach and education in helping rebuild a sense of community in post-earthquake Hatay, Turkiye.
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© Twin Vision The Smile Project
This project developed a resource to help non-specialist teachers deliver high quality music provision for learning-disabled pupils.
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© Nicolas Magriel Developing the World’s Premier Sarangi Archive
Sempre supports archival work on sarangi.net, preserving the rich musical heritage of the Indian sarangi.
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Attending the IAMM & ISfAM Joint Congress
This award funded attendance at the joint congress of the International Association for Music and Medicine (IAMM) and the International Society for Arts and Medicine (ISfAM) in Berlin, Germany.
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© Boris Hei Yin Wong Fieldwork in Singapore
This project investigates the emergence of distinctive band musical and performing styles in postcolonial Asian settings, focusing on the case of Singapore.
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© Stuart Ironside Field Trip to Guinea
This field project is a practical investigation of music teaching and learning amongst the West African Mande in Guinea.
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© Heloísa Bortz Learning music in the margins
This study examines the lived experiences, identity work, and educational attainment of former students of sociomusical programs in Brazil.
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Dianna Kenny
Dianna built a distinguished career integrating research, teaching, music, consultancy, and clinical practice. She served for over 30 years at the University of Sydney as Professor of Psychology and Music and founded the Australian Centre for Applied Research in Music Performance.
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Gary E. McPherson
Gary E. McPherson is Ormond Professor of Music at the University of Melbourne and a leading international scholar in music education and music psychology. His research on musical development and motivation has shaped the field, alongside extensive publications, editorial leadership, and major professional service.
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Sandra Trehub
Sandra Trehub pioneered developmental research in music perception, demonstrating infants’ fundamental musical abilities and the universality of singing in early life. Her influential work shaped understanding of music, cognition, and development, leaving a lasting legacy in science and education.
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Speech-to-Song Illusion Project
This research explored the speech-to-song illusion, highlighting factors that motivate the transformation for repeated speech to song for listeners.
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Clifford K. Madsen
Clifford K. Madsen is Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor at Florida State University and a leading researcher in music education and music therapy. He has authored influential books on experimental research and published extensively on perception, learning, motivation, and teacher preparation.
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Susan Hallam MBE
Susan Hallam is Emerita Professor of Education and Music Psychology at UCL Institute of Education and an MBE recipient for services to music education. A former professional musician, she has published extensively on music learning, pedagogy, wellbeing, and educational psychology.
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Liora Bresler
Liora Bresler is Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois and holds appointments in Sweden and Norway. A leading scholar in arts education and qualitative inquiry, she has published extensively on aesthetic learning, curriculum, and research integrating intellectual, creative, and embodied perspectives.
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Jeanne Bamberger
Jeanne Bamberger is Professor emerita of Music and Urban Education at MIT and Adjunct Professor at UC Berkeley. A former concert pianist, she has written influential books on musical perception, cognition, and learning, integrating music theory, education, and computer-based research.
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Johan Sundberg
Johan Sundberg is a pioneering scholar in music acoustics and vocal science, formerly Professor at KTH Stockholm. His research on singing voice function and performance has shaped the field internationally, supported by extensive publications, doctoral supervision, and global initiatives such as World Voice Day.
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John Sloboda
John Sloboda is Research Professor at the Guildhall School and Emeritus Professor at Keele University. An internationally influential psychologist of music, he has led major research on musical skill, audiences, and emotion, and has served prominently in scholarly societies and editorial roles.
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David Hargreaves
David Hargreaves is a leading scholar in music psychology and education and Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Roehampton. His research on musical development and identity has been widely influential, alongside international academic leadership and continuing activity as a performer.
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Alf Gabrielsson
Alf Gabrielsson was Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Uppsala University whose research shaped understanding of musical rhythm, performance, and listening experience. A leading figure in music psychology, he published widely, served ESCOM as President, and authored the influential book Strong Experiences with Music.