I grew up learning piano – being taught only classical music, so I first taught myself other genres using my mom’s sheet music from the 40s and 50s – all the songs of the musicals. Eventually, I went off to do a teaching degree specialising in Music and Special Educational Needs where I studied piano, classical guitar and percussion.

In my first job, at a Steiner special school, I was lucky enough to study music therapy with Clive Robbins (from the Nordoff-Robbins organisation). At around this time, at age 22, I became profoundly deaf in one ear and started learning a little sign language as well as wearing a hearing aid.

I went on to become a mainstream school music coordinator and a SENCO before becoming a Head Teacher of 2 schools. Eventually, I became the director of an Education Action Zone and a CIC which supported children with barriers in life, in achieving their potential and accessing opportunities they would never otherwise have. One of my greatest joys was organising an annual Arts Fest where the children performed on all of the major theatre stages in Birmingham. I continue to volunteer as a trustee for a youth charity and also with a community film organisation.

In later life, I took up BSL again and continued studying and becoming further qualified. I remain active in the local deaf scene and in national signing groups.

Sign song, for me, combines my love of music and sign perfectly. Not only that, it enables me to communicate the meaning of a song with those who may be deaf or with those who have non-conventional means of communicating – there are so many people in life who use a form of sign language as their preferred language- it’s the UK’s 4th language! Being able to share the joy of music and making it accessible to everyone is a real privilege and music has given me so many great opportunities in life.

I’ve spent the last few years signing with choirs and am very excited to be working with Pop Voices and meeting and performing with their members.

In my spare time, I enjoy any creative activity, love quizzes and writing themed Zoom quizzes which I do for another organisation.