Marcia Neel

Marcia Neel had a long and successful career as a choral director in a public high school, inspiring generations of students through vocal music. Early in her career, she performed professionally, including appearing on a children’s television program as “Melody Songbird” and singing backup in Las Vegas for artists such as Paul Anka. Following her years in the classroom, Marcia turned her focus to advancing music education within the American educational system. She became president of Music Education Consultants, Inc., based in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she works with educators, administrators, and advocates to increase public funding and awareness of the benefits of music in students’ lives. After her retirement from teaching, Marcia was asked by Rick Young of Yamaha Corporation to serve as their Senior Director of Education, a role she continues to enjoy. She collaborates regularly with organizations including the Music Achievement Council, Music for All, and the NAMM Foundation to strengthen music education nationwide. In this endeavor, she has also brought school principals and counselors to The NAMM Show, giving them firsthand exposure to the wide range of career opportunities available throughout the music products industry.