Vivo Chorus Director Gemma Arguelles celebrates over thirty years of service as music educator and choir director in Bay Area institutions and in the Philippines. She is a music lecturer at Holy Names University in Oakland and faculty member of its Kodály Summer Institute since 1997. Recognized for her long career of excellence in teaching and service to music education, Gemma was honored with the 2017 OAKE Outstanding Educator award. She is frequent  presenter at OAKE (Organization of American Kodály Educators) National Conferences and CMEA (California Music Educators Association) State Conferences and has led workshops for many music organizations locally and abroad.

Gemma earned her Master’s degree in Music Education with Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names University and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Choral Conducting from the University of the Philippines. She is a candidate for PhD in Music Education at the University of Oklahoma.