Artist | Composer | Vocal Architect

I am an artist, composer and Vocal Architect creating original vocal work and participatory performance across the contemporary music industry and cultural sector.

At the heart of my work is a simple belief: when people find their voice, they find their confidence. And when they do that collectively, something extraordinary happens.

Collective singing has the power to connect people across cultures, generations and communities. It reveals identity, strengthens belonging, and shows us very quickly that we are far more similar than we are different.

For more than 30 years I have worked with voice as both an artistic medium and a human connector, creating projects that bring people together through shared sound, from international stages to grassroots movements.

Human voices, artistic integrity and a belief that anything is possible with the right intention sit at the centre of my vocational practice.

My work spans composition, improvisation, teaching, vocal architecture, performance, collaboration and artistic development with individuals, bands and ensembles operating at a high professional level within the contemporary music industry.

Artistic Practice

My artistic practice is rooted in the belief that the human voice has the power to transform individuals, communities and creative environments.

I am the musical director and manager of Sense of Sound, the renowned vocal ensemble I co-founded in 1992. Originally established as a vocal company and later evolving into a choir, Sense of Sound helped redefine contemporary community singing by placing multicultural repertoire and artistic excellence at its centre.

Over the past three decades the ensemble has collaborated with internationally recognised artists including Damon Albarn, David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde, Paloma Faith, Rebecca Ferguson, Jamie Webster, Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Imogen Heap, Take That, Seal, Lulu and Jon Bon Jovi, performing across major stages, broadcast productions and large-scale cultural events.

In recognition of my contribution to community singing and cultural life, I received the Pioneer for the Nation Award from Her Majesty The Queen in 2003.

Industry, Education and Vocal Development

Alongside my artistic work, I develop vocal confidence and artistic expression in performers at every stage of their creative development. My reputation for unlocking vocal potential and supporting artists in discovering their authentic voice has become a defining aspect of my approach.

As a performer myself, I understand the realities of being on stage and the vulnerability that comes with using the voice as an instrument of expression. That lived experience shapes how I work with artists, creating environments where people feel both supported and challenged to reach their full potential.

As a former vocal coach for The Voice UK and The Voice Kids, and as a vocal coach and mentor within the contemporary music industry, I work with emerging and established artists, record labels and management teams who value a holistic approach to voice, stage presence and artistry.

My work also spans teaching, lecturing and artistic development within leading music institutions, where I support emerging artists in developing vocal technique, artistic identity and performance confidence.

I have worked with organisations including the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music, ICMP (Institute of Contemporary Music Performance), BIMM Manchester (British and Irish Modern Music Institute), and LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts), as well as universities, cultural organisations and creative programmes across the UK.

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Artistic Direction

I am currently in a year of my own artistic development supported by Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice programme.

This period is allowing me to reflect on more than three decades of vocational work with collective singing and shape it into a new body of creative initiatives exploring collective voice as a powerful tool for connection, cultural storytelling and participation.

It is a curatorial phase that is bringing greater clarity to the projects I now lead as an artist, composer and Vocal Architect, allowing me to refine ideas, develop new work and move forward with renewed focus and ambition.

My artistic direction currently takes shape through a number of vocal-led initiatives exploring collective singing as culture, participation and storytelling.

These include:

Enormous Vocal Ensemble (EVE)
Folk2Folk
Love Sings

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Creative Leadership and Governance

Alongside my artistic practice I contribute to cultural leadership and governance across the arts sector.

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall — former trustee
Liverpool City Region Music Board — former trustee
Black Music Action Group — former chair
20 Stories High — current vice chair

Creativity for social change, equity and cultural integrity sit at the heart of my vocational practice.

"The story that we're telling is old as all of time
that music is a healer that can open hearts and minds.
By standing close together and singing out for peace,
we're celebrating joyfully and living out our dreams."

— Excerpt from Love Sings, written by Jennifer John