Melissa Spraggs is a music educator, choral conductor, researcher, and singer pursuing her DMA in Choral Conducting at Western University in London, Ontario. Here she has fulfilled the role of Assistant Director of Les Choristes and designed a Kodály-inspired sight-reading program for two university choirs. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Canadian Mennonite University and Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, where she specialized in high school choral education. In 2020, she obtained her Master of Music (Education) Degree from Brandon University, with her research exploring strategies for engaging grade 3 boys in singing. Her research has been published in the Canadian Music Educator (63.3) and she has presented at Manitoba and Ontario Music Education Conferences. She has enjoyed opportunities as Faculty Advisor and Sessional Instructor at the Brandon University School of Music, most recently directing the Brandon University Concert Choir. In addition to her university work, Melissa has taught K-12 music and choir in Manitoba schools for over 10 years, as well as directing community and church choirs. She has volunteered on local festival committees and competed in festivals as a singer and choir director throughout her life.