Julieann Hartley Feature, February 2023
Have you ever watched the GRAMMY Awards and wondered how the winners are determined? Meet Julieann Hartley: regionally renowned children’s recording artist and music therapist, and one of the newest members of the Recording Academy, the international body of music professionals that votes for the GRAMMY Awards. Thanks to her debut album “Therapeutic Songs for Kids,” and recommendations from Academy members, “Miss Julieann” joined the invitation-only group with a mind to help bring diversity to the children’s music scene. “I noticed a lack of diversity in children’s music nominees year after year and it didn’t seem reflective of the field overall,” she notes.
While voting for GRAMMY award winners is a perk of being a Recording Academy member, it is only a part of what membership entails. The larger piece is being a part of a peer network and improving the field of recording. As a member, Miss Julieann aims to improve the field by strengthening diversity and improving access to all, including those with disabilities. “When you are part of the Recording Academy, you are part of an international music community,” says Hartley. “Yes, I’m one of Concord, New Hampshire’s local music therapists, but through this organization, my name is known internationally as well.”
Even more remarkable is that Miss Julieann was selected to the prestigious Academy while enduring a tremendous medical hardship, battling a rare primary immune disease resulting in hypogammaglobulinemia brought on by a neurological lyme infection. As someone who hiked the Appalachian Trail and spent her days working with children, enduring this condition and being on two years of bedrest was truly “a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.” Aside from applying and being accepted to the Recording Academy, Miss Julieann used this time of great uncertainty to develop her next album entitled “The Resilient Child,” which focuses on building coping skills and resilience in children, especially those that have faced trauma and abuse. “What got me through the hardest days of this neurological infection was thinking about this Resilient Child project. That became my ‘why’ to get through the darkest moments, hoping to move this industry in a way that will be more impactful for kids.”
Not only did Miss Julieann cast her vote for this year’s GRAMMY winners, but she will also be attending the event in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 5. Upon returning from Los Angeles, Hartley will be the featured speaker at the February Bach’s Lunch lecture on February 16, sharing her insight on how music can be used to develop emotional and physical resilience using basic music therapy principals.