PRESS RELEASE: New appointments to Sing Up's Boards

Sing Up has recently added new members to both the Board of Sing Up Ltd and the Trustees of the Sing Up Foundation. Sing Up Foundation is the organisation's charitable arm.

New Appointments:

Natasha Hendry - joins the main Board as a new non-executive Director

Natasha is a music psychologist, researcher, educator, singer, speaker and social justice activist. She's an expert on diversity and de-colonisation of the music curriculum and a Research Psychologist specialising in music, wellbeing and social justice.

Additionally, the following people are joining the Board of Trustees for the Sing Up Foundation:

Vernon Fuller

Vernon is a musician, songwriter, community singing facilitator, voice over artist and mental health and wellbeing tutor based in the North West. Alongside his work teaching guitar and vocals and leading various singing groups, he is a Mental Health First Aider and delivers self-esteem and self-confidence courses to groups. 

Sarah-Jane Gibson

Sarah-Jane is an ethnomusicologist who focuses on intercultural understanding through music-making. She’s a Music Lecturer at York St John University and the Music Director of the Stamford Bridge Singers. She also has a background in music education having taught in Primary and Secondary schools in South Africa, the United States and England.

Beth Ismay

Beth is the Learning Programmes Manager at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra developing their Under-18s programme. She’s an experienced youth music programme manager, with a track record in developing projects that reach young people who may otherwise experience barriers to accessing the arts.

Becky Kingsnorth

Becky is the Assistant Director, Primary Care Strategy and Change with the NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board. She has experience of successful programme management, change leadership, strategic development, healthcare commissioning, and service transformation in the private, voluntary and public sector. 

Rhona Miller

Rhona is the Associate Assistant Head Teacher at Addington School and has worked in music and special education with children and young people with learning disabilities as a music teacher and leader since 2005 with children from the ages of 2 to 18. She has also led the Berkshire Association of Special Schools creative arts group.

Zeny Zerfu

Zeny is a Teacher and Trainer in Education and Music for British Council Ethiopia. She was also a World Voice Master Trainer. As a facilitator, she encourages learning through stories and art and supports international partnerships.

Michelle James, CEO of Sing Up said of the appointments

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome these new appointments to Sing Up's Boards. Our new Board members bring with them a wealth of expertise, knowledge and passion for the role of music in society, particularly in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion and to the mental wellbeing of children and young people. We look forward to working with these talented individuals at a governance level where they can guide us forward alongside our other Directors and Trustees."

Jeremy Sleith, Chair of Sing Up Foundation said

"I am so pleased to welcome our new trustees to the foundation, as they all bring something unique and individual to our expanding group.  Collectively I feel sure that they will greatly enhance the work supporting young people's mental health through singing and creative music making and look forward to developing our reach and scope of activities with them all over the coming years."

Interviews and photos available by contacting press@singup.org.

Notes to Editors:

1. Sing Up (www.singup.org) is an award-winning organisation that provides resources, training and guidance to support singing and music in schools. Sing Up believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With 17 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support continue to put singing and music at the heart of learning.     

2. The Sing Up Foundation (www.singupfoundation.org) produces, promotes and creates opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. Through partnerships, resource development and innovation the Sing Up Foundation – explores and highlight effective practice, connects practice with research, creates research-based pilot projects to build and share knowledge and understanding and increase impact, and supports and develops the workforce and settings surrounding children and young people.

3. The Sing Up Foundation is Sing Up’s charitable arm focused on producing charitable activities through fundraising, partnerships and innovation. The Foundation shares in Sing Up’s goal to ensure that children and young people have opportunities to sing and make music regularly and well for all the benefits that research shows that brings, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing. Foundation staff work for Sing Up and sit on Sing Up’s Senior Management Team. Likewise, two members of Sing Up’s staff, including CEO Michelle James, sit on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.