"Singing was... so natural, it was invisible. Then it rocked my world."
Yup, this is me a few years back - just a pea-shoot!
I've always sung, but this is when it got serious. Singing was as normal as breathing, so it just wasn't on my radar as a career choice. It was so natural, it was invisible. Then it rocked my world...
This is the moment it all changed. I was launched into the public eye as a teenager when I won the BBC Radio 2 Choirgirl of the Year competition. I soon found myself in a variety of professional environments, including television and radio, live broadcast and, of course, concert appearances.
While I quickly realised my love for performing, I also discovered that not having a solid vocal technique was taking a heavy toll. After painfully having to cancel multiple television, radio and concert engagements and ‘rest’ from singing for over a month to recover from the effects of vocal fatigue, I set my compass firmly on mastering vocal technique to become ‘bombproof’!
"While I quickly realised my love for performing... not having a solid vocal technique was taking a heavy toll."
I went to study at Music Conservatoire in London at the tender age of 18.
Having sung a lot of music theatre, folk and popular music, I went on to study at the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music, acquiring a BMus and PGDip, respectively in Classical singing and opera. After a few years freelancing as a soloist and choral singer I took on a further year to study opera, at Masters level, at the Welsh International Academy of Voice with Dennis O’Neill. All in all, I spent a total of 7 years at internationally acclaimed music conservatoires, as well as decades of ongoing private training with top industry professionals in London and Europe. I was cooking on gas, but something wasn't quite working...
(These pictures were from a big concert celebrating the legendary choral conductor and composer Sir David Wilcocks, where I was lucky enough to bag the solo!)
"I was cooking on gas but something wasn't quite working..."
After freelancing as an international soloist for some years, I was still searching for something...
After all those years of study and professional engagements, auditions and touring, I realised there was something missing. I was carving a profession for myself as an international soloist, yet I no longer experienced the same passion for singing and performing that had launched me into the world of music in the first place. Music was now ‘work’ and there was little joy in singing anymore.
"Music was now 'work' and there was little joy in singing anymore."
After some serious re-evaluating and soul-searching, I rekindled my original passion, plus more!
Though technique and discipline are clearly important, passion is not something to be taken for granted, and should be treasured and cultivated! Finding the balance between these essential elements is now a core value - both in my performing and teaching practice.
What can I show you?
Elements of vocal technique:
- Alignment, breath and body-awareness
- Natural voice production and projection
- Understanding of vowels and how they are the vessel of your sound
Interpretation and delivery:
- Connection with and understanding of the text (in multiple languages)
- Find your personal connection to the music and text
- Expression through phrasing and vocal colour
The psychology of your singing:
- Non-judgemental learning environment - top level coaching does not need to break you!
- Help you make friends with your own sound and play with your voice
- Accept and work with the very real fears that almost everybody experiences. You’re not alone.
Feel free to explore any of these links to come on a journey with your voice:
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