Biography:

Matt Glickstein is a songwriter and musician born and raised in Kaneohe, Hawaii. His commitment to helping the environment, his community, and those in need has led him to writing Songs for a Better World.

Songs For a Better World was inspired by the tragic events that took place in Japan’s earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. Glickstein was moved to create a music video tribute to bring comfort to all those affected, and composed Steppingstone: A Benefit Ballad for Japan.

In January 2012, Glickstein collaborated with students from Lanai High and Elementary School to write and record several songs and music videos. Working together with their classroom teacher, Glickstein and Lanai’s fourth grade class (Class of 2020) wrote songs of peace (Singing to the World), the environment (Everyday is Earth Day and Being Green), and more. The children’s passion inspired ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro to accompany them in their first music video. In April 2012, Singing to the World, was played at two public events in Honolulu featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The work of Glickstein and his students has generated local, national, and international recognition. Every Day is Earth Day won a national Project Earth 2012 Earth Day Contest and Dream What Could Be Done, a song and music video about Hawaii’s homeless, was featured in the Huffington Post. In honor of their accomplishments, Glickstein and his students were formally recognized by the Maui County Council, and received a Proclamation from Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa.

Glickstein currently lives in Lanai City, Hawaii with his wife, Kerri and works as an Educational Assistant at Lanai High and Elementary School. For more information on Glickstein and Songs for a Better World, please visit his Blog.