Spotlight on Julianne Jordan & Julia Michels, Shining Star Artists

Education Through Music-Los Angeles is pleased to announce Julianne Jordan & Julia Michels (GRAMMY-Award Winning Music Supervisors) as our Shining Star Artist Honorees, to be recognized at our 21st Year Benefit Gala. Understanding music education as a necessity, Julianne and Julia are proud to support ETM-LA’s mission and programming. “Music is a way to express yourself, to be joyful, connect with other people…The kids who don’t have the opportunity to express that are missing out and they don’t even know what they’re missing,” Julia shares. “Thank goodness ETM-LA provides that experience for them. It’s so important. It’s educating the whole child, and it should be part of the core curriculum.”

This October, Julianne and Julia had the opportunity to visit an ETM-LA Partner School’s music classroom, and were overwhelmed by the students’ enthusiasm and joy. “It was like a ray of sunshine watching these adorable kids go into their music class, and then watching the great teacher they have take them through the class. I see the excitement on their faces coming into music class, and it’s really amazing to see,” Julianne shares. Julia adds, “It was just great to see the joy they have. You don’t know where they may struggle in other classes, but when they’re in [music] they’re joyful, they’re happy.”

Serving as an ETM-LA Board Member in addition to her music supervising career, Julianne sees how music can transform communities: “In a huge county like LA, I think a lot of things can fall through the cracks, and single-handedly ETM-LA has really changed the landscape in music education. I am so proud to be a part of an organization that brings in the very best [teachers] and can really make these kids’ day.”

Julia reflects on the fostering of collaboration in music class, resonating deeply when it comes to her own career. “What I love about music education is giving kids an opportunity to express themselves in ways they never have, and that leads to them being more confident, and that leads to collaboration.” She continues, “My collaboration with Julianne is so important; it’s why we’re successful, and I think that [collaboration] really starts in the classroom.”

Julianne & Julia’s unwavering support for music education is deeply valued by ETM-LA and all of the communities who have felt the positive impact of music in their schools. We are proud to honor their generous contributions to our mission, and to work together to keep encouraging joyful, empowered, and well-rounded students. Thank you, Julianne & Julia, for supporting our mission for comprehensive, sequential music education in under-resourced Los Angeles schools.

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JULIANNE JORDAN BIO:

Julianne Jordan is a Grammy-winning Music Supervisor and Executive Music Producer. One of the most respected figures in the industry, she is known for her ability to reimagine sonic concepts and execute complex on-screen performances. She has brought her expertise to global hits for the past three decades like Swingers, Pitch Perfect 1, 2, and 3, Trolls, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and the Oscar and Grammy-winning A Star Is Born. Her recent credits include Doug Liman’s The Instigators, Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth for the Sphere in Las Vegas and serving as Executive Music Producer for the box office phenomenon The Wizard of Oz at Sphere – a landmark re-recording of the Academy Award winning Herbert Stothart score with an 80-piece orchestra at the original MGM Scoring Stage. Her work extends beyond film into live concerts and special productions, including Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast at the Hollywood Bowl, and the viral Pitch Perfect “Love on Top” reunion benefitting UNICEF.

Julianne has earned six Guild of Music Supervisors “Music Supervisor of the Year” awards, a Billboard Music Award, an American Music Award, an Academy of Country Music Award, and multiple Grammy nominations, alongside her Grammy win for A Star Is Born. She serves on the Board of Directors for Education Through Music-Los Angeles, is a three-term Governor of the Recording Academy’s Los Angeles Chapter, and is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

JULIA MICHELS BIO:

Julia Michels is a Grammy-winning Music Supervisor who has helped shape the sound of modern pop-culture cinema, guiding music for films that have become global cultural touchstones. Having executed and delivered soundtracks for films that have generated over $2 billion in worldwide box office revenue, Julia’s work extends beyond selecting and licensing music. She partners directly with talent to develop original songs and bring on-screen performances to life. Her notable credits include A Star Is Born, the Pitch Perfect trilogy, The Greatest Showman, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Sex and the City 1 & 2, Trolls, The Blind Side, and August Rush. Most recently, she reprised her role as Music Supervisor for The Devil Wears Prada 2, continuing her work from the original iconic film. Upcoming projects include The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Children of Blood and Bone.

A five-time Guild of Music Supervisors Award winner, and a two-time Hollywood Music in Media Award winner, Julia has built long-standing creative partnerships with top directors, actors, and artists alike. In 2016, she earned her first Grammy nomination for Pitch Perfect 2, followed by her first Grammy win in 2020 for A Star Is Born. Julia began her career in executive music roles at numerous studios and record labels before transitioning into independent music supervision. Beyond her film work, Julia is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has served in long-standing leadership roles with the Recording Academy, including over 12 years on its national and local boards as well as President of the Los Angeles Chapter. She also contributes her leadership to the advisory boards for We Are Moving the Needle and Girls Make Beats, reflecting her deep commitment to empowering women creators and mentoring the next generation in music and entertainment.