Inspiring Voices Music Education Podcast: New episodes out now

This brand new music education podcast explores the benefits of singing on mental health and wellbeing, with new episodes out every fortnight.

Inspiring Voices is a new music education podcast from the Sing Up Foundation where we consider the unique role of singing, songwriting, voice exploration and creative music-making in improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Join Joint Head of Foundation Baz Chapman and his guests - singers, leaders, researchers and other specialists - in inspiring conversations about their own work and experiences, sharing advice, support and inspiration. Our research conversations will also explore the benefits of singing.

A great listen for teachers, school leaders, teaching students, community workers, music leaders, singing leaders, choir leaders, charity and mental health workers.

Follow, subscribe and leave us a review. Inspiring Voices is available on:

Spotify: https://bit.ly/IVPodSpotify

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/45ZCVTx

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3raZXrF

Audible: https://adbl.co/3MrTjVF

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/IVPodGoogle

Each episode can also be viewed on YouTube: https://bit.ly/IVPodPlaylist

Leave us a comment or get in touch to let us know any topics that you'd like us to cover or who you would like us to interview in future episodes of our podcast.

The first season, funded through support received by Sing Up and the Sing Up Foundation from Round 3 of Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund, features interviews with:

1. Sophie Garner - Sophie Garner is a singer described by the Times as 'one of the most stylish British vocalists', as well as being a music specialist, educator, speaker, and author of two books: The Creative Songwriting Journal and If You Can't Say It, Sing It! Sophie seeks to change lives through singing and songwriting.

2. Aga Serugo-Lugo - Aga Serugo-Lugo is a vocalist, clarinettist, composer and workshop leader whose interests lie particularly in narrative-based community music-making, focussing on accessibility and inclusivity. He has worked with, amongst many others, Music in Detention, Trinity Laban, MENCAP, Wigmore Hall, Sing Up and numerous opera companies around the UK. He also co-runs Camberwell Community Choir and is Ambassador for Britten Pears Arts' 'Group A' in Lowestoft and Ipswich.

3. Chris Morris - Chris Morris is a community musician working in and around Sheffield. He has helped to set up recording studios for community use, organises music events and Festivals and is a guide and mentor to many young musicians in the city. He is lead practitioner with Yorkshire Youth & Music working with young people in Youth Justice Settings and secure children’s homes, whom they describe as one of their exceptional music leaders, working as he does with some of the nation’s most vulnerable young people, so that they can discover, explore and develop their musical and creative potential.

4. Jane Wheeler - Jane Wheeler is a freelance music education consultant and Director of Living Song, who works with a passion for raising the quality of music-making, developing young leaders and fostering community cohesion. Her many roles have included Music Advisor for the London Borough of Newham, Director of the music programme for ARK Schools, and Director of several choirs including Solid Harmony Youth Community Choir, Forest Voices adult community choir and New Young Voice Collective. Since 2014, Jane has been a leader for British Council’s World Voice programme.

5. Mark Bick - Mark is a renowned and highly experienced community musician and trainer. Most of his working life based in Gloucestershire, particularly starting up what has now become The Music Works. He also worked in the West Midlands developing and leading training courses, including the Quench Arts New Horizons course, which has been running for nearly 20 years. The core of Mark’s work has been with young people who struggle with various barriers, including those excluded from school, who are looked after, or have disabilities. Mark is Vice Chair of Sound Sense, the UK professional association for community musicians.

6. Professor Graham Welch - Professor Graham Welch is Chair of Music Education at University College London, Chair of the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research and is heavily involved in the International Society for Music Education. He is a former member of the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council Review College for Music and has published numerous research papers into music and particularly singing, not least ‘Researching the Impact of the National Singing Programme ‘Sing Up' in England’ in 2011.

7. SK Shlomo - SK Shlomo is an international non-binary beatbox star, former world looping champion, 3-times TEDx speaker and disability & mental health ambassador. They are also founder of the Beatbox Academy and long-time friend of Sing Up, being as they are, particularly gifted at, and committed to, working with children and young people.

8. Ben Turner – Ben Turner is a Creative Manager, Community Leader, Award-winning Educator and Youth Arts Leader with experience in education, youth activism and creative arts/entertainment. Founding Director of Rap Club Productions C.I.C (home of The Spit Game, SpokenLDN, KingdomLDN), working against serious youth violence and promoting positive youth communities and cultures. He supports schools to embrace young Black cultures and creativity within the curriculum. He is a regular conference speaker and endorsed by the Home Office, TeachFirst, BBC and others for approach to youth work/education.

9. David Lawrence - David Lawrence is one of the UK’s most versatile conductors, who works with symphony orchestras and bands, and with choirs and choruses of all types. But David may be best known as Principal Conductor of the Young Voices arena concerts with thousands of school children.