Mary Ellen Junda

Mary Ellen Junda is a Professor of Music at the University of Connecticut's Adams School of Music and the Arts, where she serves as Choral Lab Ensemble and Choral Conducting Instructor. She is nationally recognized as a conductor, educator, scholar, and recording artist, with a focus on choral music, cultural diversity, and vocal development in children.

Her educational background includes:

• B.M. from The Hartt School, University of Hartford
• M.M.Ed. from Holy Names University
• Ed.M. and Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University

Dr. Junda's research and artistic work emphasize the power of singing to build community and foster cultural understanding. She specializes in choral conducting, American folk music, musical literacy, and innovative pedagogy. Her projects include the NEH-funded Gullah Voices: Traditions and Transformations, exploring the music and culture of the Gullah people, and the development of Earthtones, a world music vocal ensemble. She also created Sing and Shout!, a general education course integrating history with communal singing and songwriting.

Although no publications are listed, her recorded works with Treblemakers have set national standards in children's choral artistry and are used as pedagogical models.

Her scientific and professional honors include:

• Howard Foundation Fellowship in Music Performance (2002)
• Multiple Parents’ Choice Awards, including the 2008 Classic Award
• NEH Summer Scholar (2011)
• Service Learning Fellow (2012)

Dr. Junda has been instrumental in advancing music education through grants and leadership. She co-directed the $180,000 NEH Landmark Grant Gullah Voices and received supplemental funding to document and disseminate its outcomes. She founded The Main Street Singers, a community children’s choir active from 2004 to 2011, and has presented her pedagogical innovations at national and international conferences, including the College Music Society and the International Cultural Diversity in Music Education Conference.

She leads the UConn Women’s Choir and has developed innovative concert formats and curricula that integrate service learning. Her work continues to influence music education, community engagement, and cultural preservation.