What brought me here

Before going on stage for my first recital in high school I remember thinking “If I can get up in front of all these people and sing - I can do anything”.

After that I truly believed anything was possible so I decided to go on to study music, thinking it would be cool to one day sing in a bar, maybe even provide a jazzy atmosphere at events or perform in Fitzroy bars to local punters who shared an appreciation of original music.

Miraculously, it seemed, all of these things conspired and I found myself travelling around Australia with other musicians, entertaining audiences and enjoying being a part of Melbourne’s thriving music scene.

After about 10yrs of performing I became a mother and began shifting my focus from self to other. I had already been leading community choirs in Brunswick and St Kilda, which I found to be an incredibly joyful role, but I also felt a pull to work more deeply with individuals. I had a curiosity about the courage it takes to get on stage and sing, the vulnerability of allowing our voice to be heard and the highs and lows that accompany these experiences. So I went on to study Creative Arts Therapy.

This study strengthened my ability to walk alongside not only people preparing to get on stage, but also those facing challenges ranging from anxiety and depression, PTSD, major life transitions and mental health diagnoses.

Since then I have been working with individuals in private practice and running workshops for groups to reflect upon their relationship with their voice and others. I also started Vox Chops, a jazz choir that provides aspiring soloists a chance to get on stage, literally backed up by their fellow choristers. I truly love this work, seeing people evolve and meet their goals is incredibly satisfying.

In essence, my motivation is to provide a space that nurtures creative expression and invites collaborative inquiry into our relationship to ourselves, others and the world around us. And for aspiring performers - to walk alongside you as you learn to embody vocal technique and discover your own unique artistry so that you might too experience a sense of being able to take on the world having exceeded your own expectations.