Biography

I have been teaching singing for the past 20 years and have been a vocal


coach at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama since 1999. I do my


utmost to keep abreast of new theories and techniques in teaching. With new technology has come a clearer knowledge on how to gain a robust singing technique and the


various ways in which to teach it. When I started, my teaching was


mainly influenced by my own teacher John Hauxwell who was himself taught


by Gigli’s teacher Herbert Caesari. My teaching method today has many


influences. I have studied various techniques including theatre movement


skills with Monica Pagneaux to free the body, the Accent Method


(breathing) with Dinah Harris and the Estill Method (movements of the


larynx) with Gillyanne Kayes. I have also visited the distinguished voice coach Janice Chapman to discuss her latest book. I assisted Dr Alan Watson, Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University, recording breathing patterns while singing for his recently published book The Biology of Musical Performance.





I teach all ages and all genres, for preparation for exams,


competitions, performances or just for fun. I believe that the safest


way to teach singing is to have as much knowledge of the workings of the


voice and body as possible and to inspire the imagination.





In 2010 I joined the RWCMD Young Actor’s Studio as a coach on


interpretation of song, and started teaching a module on voice and


interpretation at Cardiff and Trinity Saint David Universities.





Recent student successes include the Urdd Eisteddfod – Bryn Terfel Finalist, Llais Llwyfan Llambed (Winner and Finalist), Stuart Burrows International Voice Competition Finalist, National Opera Studio Entrant 2010, Richard Burton Actor’s Award National Eisteddfod Finalist and Jette Parker Young Artist Programme Royal Opera House Entrant 2011.





I have again assisted Dr Alan Watson in the study of activity patterns in latissimus dorsi and sternocleidomastoid in classical singers.