Huntsville vocal teacher wins $10,000 prize, role in $300,000 music education grant
A Huntsville vocal teacher has won a $10,000 prize in a national music education competition and will help award a grant of up to $300,000 to a school in need of a music program.
Breona Brogan, a vocal teacher at Mason Music, was named the individual winner of the 2026 Music Matters Challenge on May 22. The competition is run by Let Music Fill My World, a Chicago-based nonprofit co-founded by GRAMMY-nominated singer songwriter John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting and Cayley Tull of the Tullman Family Office.
The challenge asked entrants to record an original version of the song “Let Music Fill My World” and share a personal story about how music has shaped their lives. Winners were selected through a public vote and a panel of judges that included Ondrasik, Tull, former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, and indie pop artist Tiger La Flor. Brogan said she discovered the competition on Instagram just five days before the deadline and almost passed on it.
“I think I want to do it,” she recalled telling her mother. “I feel like this is something that I could do.” She wrote original verses and adjusted the chorus from “let music fill my world” to “let music in my world,” a change she said felt personal. She recorded the final version at Mason Music’s Nashville studio with producer Skylar Schultz, then filmed her submission video at Big Spring Park the following day.
The $10,000 prize will go primarily toward tuition. Brogan is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at the University of West Alabama, with graduation expected in summer 2027. She also plans to use a portion of the winnings to upgrade studio equipment she has owned since she was 13.
Beyond the cash prize, Brogan will assist Let Music Fill My World in selecting a school to receive a grant of up to $300,000, enough to fund the salary of a full-time music teacher for three years. A recipient has not yet been named.
Brogan said the emotional weight of the competition grew as the announcement date approached.
“The closer it got to announcing the winner, the more I realized that it was bigger than just a competition for me,” she said. “It was a step into my future.” As a vocal teacher, she said watching her students engage with the competition gave the experience added meaning. They voted, asked questions, and followed her progress through the contest.
“Me following my dream became an aspiration for my students,” Brogan said. “I realized that created such a positive cycle for why music is so important and for why we should advocate for music education.”
Cayley Tull, co-founder of Let Music Fill My World, said in a statement that the competition is built around that kind of impact. “Together, we’re building a movement that celebrates creativity and ensures the next generation has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive through music,” Tull said.
Brogan said she is still processing the win. “I still can’t believe it really,” she said. “I’m still in shock.”
