A performing
musician for the past fifteen years, I am currently studying
for an MA in Jazz Performance at the Royal
Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. My varied engagements,
chiefly in the fields of folk, blues and jazz, have included solo
performances for Women in Jazz and its successor, Jazz Heritage Wales,
for whom I have delivered various workshops and one-to-one tuition
sessions in singing.
In 2011, I recorded – as singer with the Jen
Wilson Ensemble – Twelve Poems, a critically acclaimed suite of poems by
Dylan Thomas set to jazz arrangements. These arrangements show that
although I have investigated early women jazz vocalists, and still enjoy
performing music from the early twentieth century, I also have a keen
interest in pushing jazz bounds and exploring the experimental voice-scapes
of contemporary innovators.
In the meantime, I enjoy performing folk and fusion music as both
soloist and backing vocalist with the latest of several poetry and
performance ensembles with which I have been involved, namely The
Idrisiaid, who will be entertaining 500 diners at the June 2012 Western
Mail Inspire Wales Awards in Cardiff City Hall.
As a member of the Natural Voice Practitioners’
Network, with whom I have trained, I am a recognized and practising
singing teacher. As a consequence of this training and my participation
in the Welsh National Opera’s Community Chorus I decided in 2010 to
launch a community choir in my neighbourhood. The choir is flourishing:
having given our first major performance, to a full house, we are
working on plans to present about three concerts
a year.
Although music is my main focus, I have also been
engaged as an actor – at, for example, the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea
in various professional productions, and with companies such as the
Fluellen Theatre Company and the Neath Players. I have also in recent
years been developing as a writer – of poetry, journalism and songs,
some of which have been published and performed.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2007 to present
Self-employed freelance singing teacher,
singer-songwriter, workshop leader, English tutor, journalist, and
consultant.
1995−2007 Swansea College, Swansea
As lecturer and pastoral tutor, a varied
teaching career delivering a range of courses across the Humanities and
Outdoor Pursuits, to students at all levels , from basic skills and
disenfranchised students to intermediate, advanced and Higher National
Diploma students.
1998 to present
Solo vocalist and compere with Women in
Jazz/Jazz Heritage Wales and other performance work.
1980−1995
Parenting, and undertaking a degree and
teaching qualifications, and part -time work in the catering industry,
including some management experience.
