Margré van Gestel is an avid music educator since 1976 with a specialisation in young children. After receiving a degree as a primary school teacher she obtained a certificate Orff Schulwerke (1978) and a higher degree in Music in Education (Conservatory Utrecht 1993). She is the co-founder of music education courses for parents and children 0-4 in the Netherlands and made substantial contributions to its accredited teacher training course. She was founder and chair (2008-2014) of the foundation for pre-school music education (Stichting Muziek op Schoot) in The Netherlands. As a Specialist Infant Mental Health she adds music and songs to health care interventions with young childen and parents.

She was secretary and later the chair of the Dutch Foundation Toddlers and Music (1989-2001) and is the secretary of the board of Gehrels Music Education (Dutch National Society for Music Education) since 2002 (INA member since 2006).

Being an ISME member since 1992 she was the chair of the Early Childhood Music Education Commission (2010-2014), board member of ISME (2014-2018), published in national and international journals and presented at many conferences and symposia since 1992.