ABOUT EMERGING VOICES
Music, Inclusion, Empowerment and Potential
WHO WE ARE
Emerging Voices music charity enables adults with lived experience of mental ill health to reach their potential as musicians, in a collaborative and friendly environment.
OUR VISION
Is to promote social inclusion and empower people who experience mental ill health, through music
OUR MISSION
Is to provide quality music-making opportunities. Through such musical participation, we will support individuals to improve their general wellbeing, integrate into society and realise their musical aspirations.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Participation in music groups, such as our Harrogate Wellbeing Choir
- Performance opportunities, including open mic-nights and acoustic concerts
- Individual song-writing, instrumental & vocal tuition, with experienced musicians
- Opportunities to record with our own record label, Emerging Voices Records
- One-off projects, for example in group song-writing
MUSICIANS

Lucy Coleman (Harrogate Wellbeing Choir Conductor)

Aaron Soon (Selby Wellbeing Choir Conductor)
Aaron Soon is a music educator and community musician based in York. He holds an MA in Music Education: Instrumental and Vocal Teaching from the University of York, where he explored teaching strategies for andragogy, music performance anxiety, and working with individuals experiencing mental health challenges and neurodivergence. He also holds a BA (Hons) in Music: Education and Community from York St John University, along with NQF music diplomas and certificates in piano, voice, music theory, and composition. Additionally, Aaron is an accredited sound therapy practitioner.
He has extensive experience working both one-on-one and in group settings across music studios, educational institutions, and various local music organizations. He supports learners of different ages, levels, abilities, and needs across diverse learning environments. He is now a researcher at the International Centre for Community Music (ICCM).

Esther Clare (Songwriting Tutor)
Esther Clare is an accomplished musician and has been a professional singer songwriter for 20 years. After working as a television producer, she dusted off her clarinet and followed her dream of playing music, gaining an Advanced Diploma in Popular Music. Since then she has recorded several albums and her songs have been played on BBC introducing. Esther loves co-leading Communitas Choir with Chris Bartram and YSJ music students, and is very proud to be part of such a lively and supportive choir. Esther is the songwriting tutor for Converge and Emerging Voices. She has brought her students’ and her own original songs to Communitas Choir, and produced a series of five Converge Songwriter CDs. Earlier this year, Esther co-wrote a song that the choir recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Esther is glad to be continuing choir online every week during lockdown, as part of Zoomitas. Her dog has even been able to join in!

Natalie Walton (Emerging Voices Records Music Producer)
EV TEAM

Sophia Broadhead (Fundraiser)
Sophia is a final-year undergraduate BA Music student at the University of York. She is passionate about the positive impact of music and is an active member of the University’s Music Education Group, where she currently serves as the secretary and delivers music workshops in primary schools, care homes, and nurseries. Sophia also enjoys participating in group music-making, including playing the clarinet in the University of York Symphony Orchestra and conducting the University of York’s concert band. Recently, Sophia has volunteered for Orchestras for All contributing to their Modulo programme across the country.

Mike Hughes (Project Manager)
Mike is a recently retired IT professional who spent many years as a civil servant and for the last 9 years, working in higher education at various universities as an IT Project Manager. Latterly, Mike was the as the Head of Customer Operations in a small software house which provided educational related software for universities and colleges.
Mike’s interests include attending live music events, playing the guitar, riding his motorbike and lots of travel. He has 3 adult children and ever increasing number of grandchildren.

Laura Jones (Administrator)
Laura Jones has worked as a freelance musician in the York area since 2004. She tutors privately and in schools, and accompanies for various choirs – including Sounds Fun and Haxby Singers – and events, from church services to accredited music exams to pupils’ concerts… and everything in between! Laura’s playing career has taken her to venues such as Castle Howard and Betty’s Tea Rooms and on a national theatre tour with the James Chadwick Swing Sextet, while her Dickens-themed CD with piano duo Two for Tea has sold internationally. She has worked for Music in Hospitals and Silver Song Box, providing music sessions for those with dementia and mental ill-health. Having formerly been a trustee for Emerging Voices, she has now taken on an administrative position, previous admin roles including work for Song Box and University of York Music Press. She has a doctorate in musicology from York University and has taught on the undergraduate programme and for the WEA.
TRUSTEES

Simon Thomson (Chair)
Simon is an educationalist and doctor with broad experience as a charitable trustee. He is interested in how music can be used to promote inclusivity and has previously acted as a trustee for the Tewit Youth Band as well as several other charities. As a clinician he led research, chaired training committees and authored a textbook but he has now left the medical world and is exploring alternative vocations.

Simon Taylor
Simon has a background in preventative wellbeing and coaching, as well as programme and project management. Simon also has experience as a department head and has worked for several charities previously. He has a particular interest in how we can promote positive mental health and wellbeing in workplaces and the community. Simon is also a keen musician, having played guitar and drums for many years, and over the years has enjoyed attending open mic nights and being a member of several bands.

John Ashton
John is now retired after working for 40 years in the field of social work and mental health with children and families. Music has always been an important part of John’s life whether that be singing in choirs, going to gigs or even trying to learn to play the guitar! He has seen the many benefits of people coming together to make music and is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible to people of all backgrounds. John firmly believes that participating in music can support our mental health and wellbeing and sees Emerging Voices as having a lot to offer to the people of York and surrounding areas.