Mary Lou Spinner Lydecker is the president and founder of Sounds of Hope Project.  She earned a Bachelor of Music degree (with honors) in Piano Performance at Oberlin College and a master’s in the art of teaching (MAT) from Kent State University.

Since graduation, Mary Lou has taught private piano lessons, and “Class Piano” at both the Huron Ohio Campus of Bowling Green State University and at the Parma Ohio City Schools, was an accompanist for soloists, ensembles, churches, community choirs, and many middle and high schools, held organist positions at numerous churches in Ohio, and taught elementary music in the Strongsville, Ohio School System.

Mary Lou served as an Associate Oberlin Conservatory Class Agent from 2010 until 2015 for the cluster classes of 1973-1976.  She is a member of Music Educators National Conference, Ohio Music Education Association, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Ohio Chapter of American Orff-Schulwerk Association, National Music Teachers Association, Ohio Music Teachers Association, past member of National Guild of Organists, and a founding member of the Sandusky Ohio Piano Teachers Guild.

Mary Lou has served as artistic director for the production of SOHP CDs.  She has performed on “Keys to Peace” and is the accompanist for “Sounds of Hope,” “Hope for the Holidays,” “Growing in Hope,” and “The Spirit of America” CDs.   As part of the Oberlin alumni’s “Musicians Who Care” series, she performs on the Sounds of Serenity and Sounds of Solace CDs.

Mary Lou has been happily married to Marty Lydecker (MME ’75) since 1974.   They have two married sons and four grandchildren.