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Our new Learning and Participation Music Fellows

Mon 17 June 2019

Trinity Laban has launched a new, flexible, nationwide professional development programme for music leaders.

Trinity Laban’s Learning and Participation Music Fellowships are an exciting investment in the talents of UK-based music leaders who specialise in participatory arts, creative and collaborative learning practices.

Each fellowship includes a bespoke package of individually tailored mentoring with internationally experienced educationalist and music leaders Dr Robert Wells and Dr Dave Camlin and paid placement time.

The combination of opportunities delivered across six months is specifically designed to support and develop music leaders’ practice and enterprise, connect to industry, and engage across the wider sector.

Open to all individuals working in any participatory music setting, the programme is supported through by the Higher Education Innovation Fund.

This year, Trinity Laban is delighted to support eight fellows:

  • Sonia Allori, a composer and community music therapist who is currently researching D/deaf performance and performing in Sound Symphony, a sensory theatre show for young people with autism
  • Amy Bowles, a musician working in healthcare settings who is currently developing a project running singing groups for people living with dementia and mental health issues
  • David McFarlane, a Boltonian composer, artist and participatory music leader who works for a range of music organisations in and around Greater Manchester including pioneering music charity Brighter Sound
  • Annalise Morley, a Lewisham-based guitarist, tutor and music leader
  • Grace Smith, a Derbyshire-based music tutor who leads workshops for young people and adults at Folkworks Summer Schools, Lancashire Music Hub and North East Fiddle School
  • Nicola Wydenbach, a vocal coach and workshop practitioner who runs mental health choirs D’Vine Singers and Mind and Soul Choir, and is a specialist working with people with Parkinson’s
  • Lucia Vernon-Long, a vocalist and music leader who works closely with opera companies across Ireland and UK and is the creator and of Royal Opera House’s under-fives programme Opera Dots
  • Sarah-Nell Moullier, a vocal coach and Programme Director for South London-based music charity School Ground Sounds working to empower young musicians and adults through music

For full biographies, visit our 2019 Fellows page.

On the fellowship, Amy Bowles comments –

“This fellowship has come at exactly the right time for me. With the guidance I’ll receive from my mentor and the practical opportunities I’ll be able to create will enable me to develop a lot further than I would on my own.”

Folk music workshop leader Grace Smith shares –

“I applied to the programme as it sounded like a great opportunity to improve and reflect on my music teaching practice and leadership skills. I was so pleased to be accepted and am really enjoying it so far – my mentoring sessions have been very helpful and inspiring and I’m looking forward to getting involved in training and workshops as the year continues. I’m hoping the programme will lead to new ideas for my work in learning and participation settings, and support my professional development for future projects.”

Kate Atkinson, Head of Community & Professional Development comments –  

‘Trinity Laban recognises the unique role it has to play in supporting the diverse range of practitioners in the learning and participation workforce and we’re delighted to be supporting the next generation of musicians through this tailored professional development scheme.’

To find out more about our Learning and Participation programmes, visit our Take Part pages or subscribe to our mailing list.