In this heartfelt and powerful episode of SoundBits, host Kim Groshek sits down with Melissa Gregory Simon—a musician, innovator, and fierce advocate for accessible music education. Melissa shares her current challenge: securing funding for her music education app, while navigating a world of venture capitalists who often overlook the real-world impact of creative, inclusive tools. Kim and Melissa explore the tension between purpose-driven projects and ROI-driven investors, the dream of performing a solo viola concerto, and Melissa’s incredible resilience as the “Bionic Violist”—a title earned through multiple surgeries and the life-altering experience of raising two autistic children. This candid conversation dives into what drives us, what we long for, and how we persist in making art, meaning, and impact.
Melissa’s music education app and venture capital challenges
The disconnect between ROI-focused investors and mission-driven creators
The importance of identifying and understanding your “avatar” (target audience)
Melissa’s dream of playing solo viola with an orchestra
Her journey as a musician living with major physical reconstructions
Parenting two autistic children and putting career on pause for their care
Balancing ambition, advocacy, and artistry
Kim’s Revitalize Global Summit and sponsorship journey
Shared love of music, theater, and creative expression