Melissa Forbes

Dr Melissa Forbes is Associate Professor of Contemporary Singing at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, and a leading advocate for music's transformative power in building social health. With a career spanning performance, higher music education, research, and community engagement, she bridges the gap between academic rigour and practical application in community music leadership.

Drawing on research and interviews with music leaders across four continents, Melissa brings together cutting-edge insights from positive psychology, leadership studies, and interpersonal neurobiology to illuminate how musicians can create meaningful careers whilst fostering community wellbeing.

Making Music That Matters offers musicians, educators, and health professionals a groundbreaking framework for harnessing music's connective power. This book represents the culmination of years of research, practice, and collaboration with music leaders worldwide, providing evidence-based strategies for creating transformative musical experiences that benefit both practitioners and communities.