By Line Nyrup Odgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Maja Lykke Photography. Illustration: Alberte Spork 

"Julie is talented and skilled with extensive knowledge in the areas of voice and song and is a source of inspiration for us students."

Such was the praise from the students who nominated part-time lecturer Julie Ørnholt Bøtker for Teacher of the Year in the Humanities at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH).

Julie teaches music therapy at Aalborg University where the students highlight her clear passion for the subject and her ability to create a safe learning environment where students can flourish.

"Julie is curious about her own learning and development, but she is also very curious about us students and our learning," they emphasize.

With her special approach to the voice as an instrument, she creates a space where it is safe to challenge yourself and where all students experience development, whether large or small.

A safe learning environment

Julie is surprised by the accolade after a year marked by significant changes in the field. She is thus extra touched by the recognition from the students.

"Once I got over the surprise, I was extremely happy and very proud," she says. "You know what you’re teaching, but not necessarily what the students take away from the instruction."

She puts a lot of emphasis on creating a safe learning space, recognizing that singing and the use of voice can often make students feel vulnerable and push their personal boundaries.

"The most important thing for me is to create a safe space. I approach this playfully, helping to ease some of the performance anxiety that many people bring with them into music, and by taking the lead in the exercises, so that together we can fool around, play, make mistakes and laugh. Laughter is enormously disarming, and when people drop their guard, they are much less anxious about experiencing the music together."

She works intentionally to create a learning space where students, regardless of their prior experience with voice, feel that they each have something valuable to contribute. Her greatest

motivation comes from witnessing the moments when they discover new aspects of their voice and skills.

"I always get a lot of energy when the students discover something new. Their eyes are opened to something they didn't know they could do," says Julie.

She finds it very motivating to see them give each other qualified feedback, reflect together and understand the theoretical material in new ways.

Julie Ørnholt Bøtker is now a candidate for the title of Teacher of the Year at AAU, to be announced at AAU's annual celebration on 17 April 2026.