OUR TEAM

Each year, people around the world work together on World Singing Day, from volunteer hosts in cities everywhere to our team at the World Singing Day headquarters in Boulder, Colorado (USA). Here are some of the people who make it happen.

Scott Johnson

Founder / Director
Boulder, USA

Scott founded World Singing Day in 2012 with the belief that nothing bonds people faster than singing together. He has written and produced music for over 40 years, including 7 albums of his own songs, ranging from children’s music to adult contemporary pop/rock. In 2003, Scott co-founded the Positive Music Association to promote artists and music with universal, life-affirming messages.

Shareen Yong Yong

WSD Malaysia Ambassador / Youth Leader
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Shareen is passionate about making a difference especially in the lives of youths where she dedicates her work in coaching, Girl Guiding, and youth projects. She lectures full time in a polytechnic and is also the founding captain of the Girl Guiding movement for polytechnic tertiary education.

John Rosser

Choir Director
Auckland, New Zealand

John is the founder and musical director of the choir Viva Voce. He was also New Zealand Opera Chorus Master for 23 years and is Immediate Past Chair of the New Zealand Choral Federation, of which he was made a life member in 2018. National Director of both The Big Sing and Sing Aotearoa, John led the NZCF Anthems Project for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He was Artistic Director of the World Symposium on Choral Music 2020 and will head up New Zealand’s hosting of the 2024 World Choir Games in Auckland.

Gaia Leone

Composer / Multi-instrumentalist
Los Angeles, USA

Gaia is a music composer/multi instrumentalist hailing from Reggio Calabria (Italy). Currently based in Los Angeles, she collaborates with many prominent music houses as well as established Film/TV composers (Michael A. Levine, Geoff Zanelli). She’s the co-founder of the award-winning audio production company Bertinelli Sound.

Tim Lane

Broomfield, USA

Tim has been involved with vocal music the majority of his life both personally and professionally. He worked for over 35 years directing and managing performing arts programs in the U.S. and around the world and has developed lasting international friendships and connections to help grow World Singing Day.

Myriam Keyser Johnson

Boulder, USA

Born and raised in Antwerp, Belgium, Myriam has traveled and worked all over North America and Europe in a variety of roles, from scheduling tours in Europe to managing large groups of international students. She ran a Montessori school for a number of years before working as a realtor for 18 years in Boulder, Colorado.

Sridhar Ranganathan

Bangalore, India

Sridhar is the founder and CEO of the Shankar Mahadevan Academy, an online music school of Indian music, with over 13,000 students in 72 countries. He is a founding trustee of Meghshala, a program in India that empowers teachers with an imaginative curriculum. Sridhar is a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in software and wireless technology.

Suzanne Barton

Melbourne, Australia

Suzanne is passionate about connecting creatives, emerging artists and communities to create projects that remind us to take delight in the world around us and help us make it a better place. Her background includes a range of creative and corporate communications roles and love of singing in all its forms – especially in harmony. She has worked for Creativity Australia’s With One Voice choir program and was the founding producer of OperaBox WA.

John Kagaruki

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

From Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, John brings a wide variety of creative talents to our Advisory Board, including sound engineering, web and mobile app development, graphic design, stage production, and marketing. John is also a musician, singer, and speaks Swahili.

Marty Elcan

Los Angeles, USA

Marty has been a director in the Directors Guild with over 27 years production experience in film. She has been Assistant Director on many films including Steel Magnolias, Driving Miss Daisy, Mystic Pizza, and Rush. Marty directed the Indie feature film Next of Kin, featuring Octavia Spencer and Ed Begley Jr. She directed and produced the sign language educational series “Shut Up and Sign.”

Stan Lankowitz

Phoenix, USA

Stan, M.Ed., L.P.C., has dedicated his career to helping leaders in nonprofit organizations and businesses resolve problems, explore new possibilities, design and implement strategic plans, and achieve success. The coaching he has provided for over 40 years help people improve the quality of their lives in both personal and professional domains. He has written a number of books on coaching, career planning, and health and happiness.

Diane Goldsmith

Denver, USA

With a bachelor’s degree in Music Education in Voice, Diane brings to extensive experience in singing and teaching music, from singing in the Houston Children’s Chorus, high school choirs and musicals, to being a vocal instructor and show manager. Diane is currently teaching music and drama at a Denver high school during the day and singing with a Beatles and Rolling Stones tribute band and directing local Denver choirs called Voices Rock! at night.

Zuza Bohley

Boulder, USA

Born and raised in East Germany, Zuza was traded at the age of 14 as a political prisoner to West Germany. A Fulbright scholar, she earned a master’s degree at UT–Austin in the 1980s. She has been an educator for over 20 years at private and bilingual schools, and has been an active volunteer at numerous Boulder County non-profits. Zuza is the Rocky Mountain Region’s representative for the United Nations Association.

Thomas Reed

Los Angeles, USA

A graduate of the University of Southern California Law School, Tom specializes in nonprofit, estate, tax and employee benefits law. Tom is a partner with the law firm of Hill, Farrer & Burrill, which was established in 1923.

Be a part of something big by donating to World Singing Day. This event is completely free to all. Now in its 12th year, many people worldwide give months of their time and expertise to prepare and coordinate this global event. Help us reach more people in more cities and countries by donating here.