Music Works

Ben Parry, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and director of London Voices, on why classical music has to create a sense of belonging for under-represented groups. You can find information about Ben and NYCGB here at www.benparry.net and   https://www.nycgb.org.uk/  If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episod...

Katie looks at effective responses to stress and burn out. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.com/mailing-list for updates and news about Music Works and Polyphony Arts. Music Works is generously supported by Allianz M...

Co-founder, Anil Sebastian, and soprano, Ella Taylor, discuss how Trans Voices, the UK’s first professional Trans+ choir, is reclaiming the spaces which have hitherto excluded the musical experience of transgender voices. You can find information about Trans Voices at: https://www.transvoices.co.uk  If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even bett...

Digital marketing strategist, Ryan Greaves, shares some simple, but effective tips to help your online content achieve the best possible impact for your professional profile. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.com/mail...

Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey and Margaret Pinder interrogate how ensembles negotiate and collaborate in the immediate process of performance; how hierarchies we take for granted within the performing unit can influence the other hierarchies we adopt as musicians, and how these can and should be challenged. You can find information about Cayenna and her work at http://www.cayennaponchione.com If you en...

Practical advice on ways to limit the pain of rejection, and how to move forward positively and practically from what may feel like the worst moment of our lives. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.com/mailing-list for...

Katie and Kieran Szifris founded Mixtape Music Makers in 2021 to bring a new cross-genre way of learning and experiencing music to the North East. Here they talk about ‘musical gateway drugs’, gate keepers, being brought up in folk and opera, and how the formal ways children learn music can hold them back from stepping into their full musical selves. You can find out more about their programme at...

As part of our ongoing series on strategies to address the personal and professional challenges we face, Katie looks at one of the many apps out there that claim to help you successfully tackle your issues: the intriguingly named “WOOP My Life." If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social...

Polyphony Arts's own Maria Cecilia Ayalde Angel explores the current visa requirements for British and non-British musicians looking to work and study both within and outside the UK. For more advice on visas for musicians you can contact us at https://polyphonyarts.com/contact/ If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review....

As we watch the events unfolding in Ukraine, we send our thoughts to the artists both there and around the world who are singing their resistance and striving to keep the light of culture, hope and beauty alive. Katie Beardsworth and the team at Music Works  

Naomi Pohl shares her vision for a stronger, more inclusive Musicians’ Union as she stands for election to become its first female General Secretary. You can find out more about Naomi’s campaign at https://www.naomiforgs.com If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to...

Stephen Maddock, OBE, Chief Executive of the CBSO, on his experience working at the helm of one of the country’s leading arts organisations plus their exciting project to open a new school in Sandwell – one of the most deprived local authority areas in England - offering an academic secondary education with a strong musical focus. More information about Stephen and the CBSO can be found here: http...

Katie looks at the importance of perception in tackling the problems we may face in our day to day professional (and personal lives), and offers some advice on how to step back and take a fresh look at the things that are causing us stress. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media...

Stephen Maddock OBE, Chief Executive of the CBSO, shares his views and advice on the recruitment process and how to build your career in the arts in a post-Covid world. More information about Stephen and the CBSO can be found here: https://cbso.co.uk/ If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on s...

Freelance media composer, Helen Lyon, shares her advice for anyone starting out in a career as a music creative. You can find out more about Helen at https://www.helentlyon.co.uk/  If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.co...

A decision to enter the specialist field of freelance media composing helped music educator Helen Lyon transform her personal and professional life. You can find information about Helen at https://www.helentlyon.co.uk/ If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our ma...

Katie tackles one of the biggest stumbling blocks to reaching our goals and looks at how to get started and keep going. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and, even better, leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.com/mailing-list for updates and news about Music Works and P...

Magdalene Minnaar, the new Artistic Director of Cape Town Opera, has declared her mission to reinvent classical music in South Africa. Here she shares her vision for one of Africa’s major opera houses. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at htt...

Katie Beardsworth explores how we can frame our goals to ourselves to help us stay motivated and secure the optimum chance of achieving what we want. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.com/mailing-list for updates and...

Gabriella di Laccio tells Music Works how she began the Donne project to celebrate, advance, and amplify women in music so they can leave a legacy of inspiration for future generations. You can find information about Gabriella and Donne at http://www.gabrielladilaccio.com and https://donne-uk.org  If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better...

Katie starts 2022 looking at why we make resolutions and why we shouldn’t overstress ourselves in striving to attain our goals. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at https://polyphonyarts.com/mailing-list for updates and news about Music Works...

Samir Savant, the new Chief Executive at St George’s, Bristol, on why a portfolio career in music is increasingly the model today, his work promoting diversity in classical music, and why he is optimistic about the future of the industry. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media a...

We start Season 5 ( and 2022) in conversation with three ground breaking women from the music industry on why everyone benefits from diversity in leadership: Naomi Pohl, Deputy General Secretary of the Musicians Union, now campaigning to become its first female General Secretary; Olga FitzRoy, Executive Director of the Music Producers Guild and founder of Parental Pay Equality; and Nadia Khan: Fou...

Recorded live at the 2021 Ivor Novello Awards for Composers on Wednesday 8 December, our last episode for 2021 brings you a wonderful selection of interviews with some of this year’s inspirational winners. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at...

Katie reflects on the experience of taking her 5 year-old son to his first "grown-up" concert and shares her tips on how to make a musical outing with your child as positive and stress-free as possible. If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, check out our other great episodes, and even better leave us a review. You can also follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list at ww...