Mary Stakelum

Dr. Mary Stakelum is the Area Leader in Music Education and Doctoral Supervisor at the Royal College of Music (RCM). She previously held roles such as Director of Research at Bath Spa University, Associate Director of the Graduate School at the University of Reading, and Lecturer in Music at the University of Limerick. Her research focuses on partnership pedagogy, interdisciplinary sound exploration, and children’s musical worlds. She actively contributes to global music education through leadership roles in organizations like the European Association for Music in Schools and the Society for Education and Music Psychology Research. Dr. Stakelum is Editor-in-Chief of Music Education Research and directs the International Conference on Research in Music Education.

Her research includes pioneering work on 'rewilding music education' in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams in Turkey, emphasizing cultural sustainability. She has examined doctoral students and reviewed programs internationally. Professional memberships include MusicHE and the Steering Advisory Board of the Teacher Education Academy for Music.

Advising and grants: Supervises doctoral candidates including Florence Brady and Nurezlin Mohd Azib. Engaged in funded projects exploring music education’s role in cultural contexts. Collaborates with Magic Acorns and other organizations to advance music education initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary projects in Hatay Province, Turkey, integrating arts and cultural studies to rewild music education practices.