Speaking & Appearances
National/State Presentations
National/State Presentations
National/State Presentations
Texas Music Educators Association | San Antonio, TX | February 2027
“A Symphony of Symptoms: ADHD in the Music Ensemble”
(w/ Dr. Cameron Elliot)
NAfME | Long Beach, CA | October 2026 (upcoming)
“Resetting the Dialogue on ‘Inclusive’ Practices: Supporting and Sustaining LGBTQ+ Music Educators in an Era of Hostile Legislation"
(w/ Dr. Austin Norrid, Dr. Justin Caithaml, & Tatyana Louis-Jacques)
National ACDA | Dallas, TX | March 2025
“Navigating DEI Executive Orders and Divisive Concept Laws”
(w/ ACDA Diversity Initiatives Committee)
Illinois Music Educators Conference | Peoria, IL | January 2025
"Blurring the Binary: Teaching Transgender Students in the Music Classroom”
Illinois Music Educators Conference | Peoria, IL | January 2025
“Infusing Responsible Social Change into the Secondary Choral Curriculum”
Texas Music Educators Association | San Antonio, TX | February 2024
“Infusing Responsible Social Change into the Choral Classroom”
Texas Choral Directors Association | San Antonio, TX | July 2021
“Teaching Transgender and Non-Binary Students in the Secondary Choral Environment”
National ACDA | Virtual | March 2021
“Blurring the Binary: Transgender Students in the Choral Ensemble”
Texas Music Educators Association | Virtual | February 2021
“Blurring the Binary: Teaching the Transgender Singer”
Arizona Music Educators Association | Virtual | January 2021
“Blurring the Binary: Teaching Transgender Students in the Music Classroom”
Louisiana Academic Queer Conference | Baton Rouge, LA | March 2013
“Defining Transgender: Understanding the Complex Umbrella Term”
Research Presentations
National/State Presentations
National/State Presentations
Big Ten Academic Alliance | Chicago, IL | October 2026 (upcoming)
"Teaching in a Trans Genocide: Self Perceptions of the 2025–2026 School Climates of TGE Music Educators (Paper)
NAfME | Long Beach, CA | October 2026 (upcoming)
“‘It’s a bunch of spinning plates’”: A Narrative Inquiry of a Choral Music Educator Navigating Anti-Trans Legislation’ (Poster)
Symposium for Research in Choral Singing | Rosemont, IL | May 2026
“Constructivist ‘Cracks’ in Essentialist Vocal Pedagogy: Reframing Vocal Gender Perception” (Paper)
National ACDA | Dallas, TX | March 2025
“‘Sí, vale la pena:’ A Narrative Study of Mari Esabel Valverde, a Transgender, Latina composer” (Poster)
(w/ Mari E. Valverde)
2nd International Trans Studies Conference | Evanston, IL | Sept 2024
“‘Sí, vale la pena:’ A Narrative Study of Mari Esabel Valverde, a Transgender, Latina Composer” (Paper)
(w/ Mari E. Valverde)
QMUE 5 | Chicago, IL | June 2024
“‘Sí, vale la pena:’ A Narrative Study of Mari Esabel Valverde, a Transgender, Latina Composer” (Paper)
(w/ Mari E. Valverde)
QMUE 4 | Virtual | June 2021
“Policy & Perceptions: Workplace Climate for LGBTQ+ Music Educators in Texas” (Paper)
(w/ Dr. Jamey Kelley & Dr. Kelsey Nussbaum)
National ACDA | Kansas City, MO | February 2019
“Think About How Gendered the Music Room Can Be…”: Exploring Choral Music Educators’ Social Media Interactions Regarding Trans-Identified Music Students
(Poster) (w/ Dr. Sarah Bartolome)
Guest Lectures (Higher Ed)
Speeches, Workshops, Panels
Speeches, Workshops, Panels
Virginia Tech University | Blacksburg, VI | December 1, 2026
Baldwin Wallace University | Barea, OH | November 10, 2026
University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | June 16, 2026
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | May 8, 2026
Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | March 30, 2026
University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | November 13, 2025
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | May 2, 2025
Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | April 11, 2025
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | March 31, 2025
Augustana College | Rock Island, IL | February 28, 2025
Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | February 24, 2025
Marshall University | Huntington, WV | January 29, 2025
University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | November 19, 2024
University of Houston | Houston, TX | October 7, 2024
Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | May 6, 2024
Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | April 15, 2024
Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | April 2, 2024
Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | February 20, 2024
University of Tennessee Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | October 19, 2023
Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI | September 25, 2023
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | May 5, 2023
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | April 27, 2023
Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | April 11, 2023
University of North Texas | Denton, TX | November 7, 2022
Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI | September 12, 2022
Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | August 30, 2022
University of Missouri – Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | June 28, 2022
Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA | March 15, 2022
Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | January 27, 2022
California State University, Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | November 1, 2021
Wartburg College | Waverly, IA | October 2, 2021
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | May 21, 2021
Belmont University | Nashville, TN | April 9, 2021
Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA | March 31, 2021
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | March 17, 2021
Millikin University | Decatur, IL | October 29, 2020
Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | May 28, 2020
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | May 20, 2020
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | June 7, 2019
Speeches, Workshops, Panels
Speeches, Workshops, Panels
Speeches, Workshops, Panels
Madison-Oneida County School Districts | Verona, NY | October 6, 2023
“Blurring the Binary: Working with Transgender and Non-Binary Students in the Choral Classroom”
Fort Worth Independent School District | Fort Worth, TX | March 27, 2023
“Blurring the Binary: Transgender Students in the K-12 Music Classroom
Modern Conducting Academy | Virtual | February 21, 2023
“Transgender and Non-Binary Students in the Secondary Music Environment”
ShowChoir Camps of America | Tiffin, OH | July 13, 2022
“Teaching Transgender and Non-Binary Students in the World of Show Choir”
ShowChoir Camps of America | Decatur, IL | June 21, 2022
“Teaching Transgender and Non-Binary Students in the World of Show Choir”
Houston Independent School District | Houston, TX | July 21, 2021
“Teaching Transgender Students in the Fine Arts Classroom”
ShowChoir Camps of America | Virtual | July 15, 2021
“Blurring the Binary: Transgender Students in the Choral Ensemble”
Houston Independent School District | Houston, TX | November 3, 2020
“Teaching Transgender Students in the Fine Arts Classroom”
International Music Education Summit | Virtual | June 13, 2019
“Working with Transgender Musicians”
Baton Rouge Pride | State Capitol | Baton Rouge, LA | June 28, 2014
“‘Please Don’t Write Down My Name': Perils of Visibility as a Trans Professional”
LSU Lavender Graduation | Baton Rouge, LA | May 14, 2014
Keynote Speaker: “Entering the World While LGBTQ+”
LSU College of Engineering Cultural Awareness Training | March 5, 2014
"Working with LGBTQ+ Individuals"
LSU Manship School of Mass Communication | February 18, 2014
Transgender Day of Remembrance | Baton Rouge, LA | November 20, 2013
“27 Pills, Purpose, Remembrance, and Survival”
Louisiana State University - Spectrum LGBTQ+ Panels
Moderator: Multicultural Leadership Conference | October 27, 2012
Moderator: SOCL 2001 | October 8, 2012
Moderator: WGS 2500 | September 20, 2012
Moderator: PSYC 2076 | March 29, 2012
Panelist: ELRC 7600 | March 21, 2012
Panelist: Social Work Master’s Student Association | February 24, 2012
Panelist: Department of Communications Studies | March 6, 2011
Panelist: WGS 2500 | February 23, 2011
Panelist: HIST 4079 | December 1, 2010
Panelist: WGS 2500 | November 4, 2010
Choral Compositions & Residencies
Residencies:
Black Tulip Chorale | St. Louis, Missouri | April 13-14, 2025
"You Are Enough"
Compositions
This is Me (optional 3 part)
Premiere: Lincoln Center | New York, NY | March 2023
You Are Enough (SATB)
Premiere: Jacksonville University | April 2022
The Riddle (SACB) by Julian David Bryson
text by Melanie E. Stapleton
Premiere: Lavilla School of the Arts | April 2023
Podcast Appearances
Music Education, Genderally Speaking
Music Education, Genderally Speaking
Hosted by Dr. Stephanie Gregoire
TeacherTalk
Music Education, Genderally Speaking
Hosted by Dr. Christopher T.F. Hanson
The Mainely Music Ed
The Mainely Music Ed
Hosted by Joshua Lund
“This was an amazing session. Thank you for being so open and candid. I learned so much!”
Holly T.
Copyright © 2026 Melanie E. Stapleton | Blurring the Binary
Recommended Citations:
When citing generally:
Stapleton, M. E. (2026). Blurring the Binary. www.blurringthebinary.com
When citing collection of resources (Resource Hub):
Stapleton, M. E. (2026). Trans & LGBTQ+ resources for music education and communities. Blurring the Binary. https://blurringthebinary.com/resource-hub
When citing an individual page:
Stapleton, M. E. (2026). [Title of page] Blurring the Binary. [Direct URL]
- The Story Behind the Site
- About the Founder
- Research & Publications
- Speaking & Appearances
- Curriculum Vitae
- Our Services
- Workshops & Speaking
- Writing & Content
- Choral Consulting
- Organizational Consulting
- Pricing
- Resource Hub
- Names and Pronouns
- First Steps
- Hostile School Climates
- Privacy, Policy, Legality
- Rooming During Trips
- Acceptance in Ensembles
- Music Educator Resources
- Handouts from Sessions
- Educators & Families
- Trans/LGBTQ+ Support
- TGE & LGBTQ+ Media
- Advocacy & Policy
- Trans Misinformation
- U.S. Trans Genocide
- Disclaimer/Privacy Policy
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.