I am a composer with a PhD in Collaborative Contemporary Music Theatre composition from the University of York, where I was supervised by Professor Roger Marsh. I also hold an MMus in Composition from Goldsmiths, where I studied with Roger Redgate and Sadie Harrison. I am a performer, specialising in embodied practice and use improvisation as a tool in teaching and performing, both as a soloist and in groups. I work across disciplines and have collaborated with a wide range of practitioners and professionals across performance media. I am also engaged with collaborations with the Psychology Department, across music, flow and neurodivergence.
In 2024 I wrote the York St. John Graduation Anthem - Go Find Your Place - which is performed by the University Choir in all the graduation ceremonies in York Minster.
My music is published by the University of York Music Press.
I specialise in composition, improvisation and experimentation, and company practice. I am a string player (viola) and run the Free Improvisation ensemble.
I teach on all the composition modules across the BA and MA degrees and supervise PhD Composition students. I am module leader for Musical Exploration (Level 5, Music) and Collaborative Project (Level 6, Music) and for Cabaret (Level 4, Musical Theatre) and Making Musical Theatre (Level 5, Musical Theatre). I have played a key role in the development of the new Sustainable Practice modules across the Performance Department and will be teaching on this in the new academic year.
I am currently looking to co-supervise a cross-departmental PhD candidate alongside a Psychology supervisor, in flow and intersubjectivity.
I am a published composer with work available via the University of York Music Press.
My research interests stretch across many areas of multidisciplinary practice. I am a member of the Interdisciplinary Witches Research Group, focussing on the role of the witch in musical theatre and on stage. I have collaborated on an embodied dance and music project – Mus(e)Dance – with Senior Lecturer Nicola Forshaw and our open access chapter in Talking Bodies IV, published by Bloomsbury, will be out in May. I am working with members of the Psychology Department exploring the interrelated areas of music, flow and neurodivergence. As a performer I am concerned with compositions focussing on embodied autoethnographic feminist experience and have performed at numerous conferences in the last few years with work exploring lived experience of endometriosis and neurodivergence. This work engages with the interrelationship of autobiography, psychotherapy, and narrative medicine using both the body and viola as medium, material and voice.
Recent publications
I am a performer and director of Butterfly Brain, alongside co-director Sarah Dacey. This work is in development, and we are working towards securing funding to tour this opera for children written by Laura Dockrill and Kerry Andrew.
I recently performed with the pop/electronica group A Man Called Adam in the opening event for Middlesborough Art Week, 2025.
I am employed regularly by COMA Leeds to run improvisation workshops with their members.
I collaborate regularly with Dr Helen Madden on community projects focussing on synaesthesia and community wellbeing. This work is based in Barnsley.
I am a member of the International Society for the Study of Musicals.
I am a Board Member for the University of York Music Press and help lead their work with the Northern Composers Network.
