Julie Talbot creates piano and vocal arrangements of public domain hymns and other meaningful works, reinterpreting them as spaces for reflection, prayer, gratitude, and emotional clarity. Her arrangements are created through a slow and intentional process—often building music one measure at a time by ear—guiding the music to reflect the meaning and message of the text. Many of these arrangements began with words that remained meaningful through different seasons of life. Arranging them became a way of staying with those messages a little longer and giving musical expression to the meaning they carried.
Julie is currently pursuing a research-focused master's degree in Special Education at Utah State University, where she serves as a research assistant and studies questions related to collaboration, implementation, and the development of meaningful systems of support for students, families, educators, and organizations.
Before returning to graduate school, she taught elementary special education and developed a deep appreciation for the challenges educators face as they work to support diverse learners within complex systems.
Earlier chapters of her life included collegiate gymnastics at Southern Utah University, where she remains the only two-time GTE Academic All-American in program history and was later inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in 2017.
Julie is especially grateful for the mentorship, guidance, and learning opportunities she has received through her graduate studies at Utah State University. Through collaboration with faculty, researchers, and fellow graduate students, she continues to deepen her understanding of how learners, educators, leaders, and teams grow, collaborate, and create meaningful change together.
Outside of her academic work, many of Julie's most meaningful life experiences have found expression through music. Over time, moments of gratitude and reflection have become the foundation for many of the arrangements she creates.
The Fourth of July has long been Julie's favorite holiday, and during her 18 years in Texas, including 15 years in Allen, the annual Allen USA celebration—watching the fireworks from her backyard overlooking Celebration Park while enjoying homemade root beer—became one of her favorite family traditions.
Experiences like these continue to shape the themes of faith, gratitude, hope, and reflection that run throughout her music. While research and music may appear to be different pursuits, both are rooted in a common interest: understanding how people learn, grow, connect, and find meaning.
Outside of research and music, Julie enjoys gardening, movement, and exploring practical approaches to health and well-being. She is drawn to ideas and practices that are both meaningful and sustainable, believing that lasting growth often comes from thoughtful, coordinated efforts applied consistently over time.
Whether through research, education, music, or everyday life, she is interested in helping create conditions where growth, connection, and meaningful change can occur.
The music shared here will remain intentionally limited and will rotate gradually over time, allowing space for new arrangements, returning pieces, and continued reflection.
If this music has been meaningful to you, you are welcome to leave a brief reflection. If you would like to support the continued sharing of this music, you are welcome to contribute whatever feels right to you.
The Star-Spangled Banner
An Original Arrangement by Julie Anne Talbot