Where we share our stories and build our communities.
The Community Musician Podcast
Episode 6 onwards: The Community Musician in Conversation - On 1st & 2nd March 2025, the Community Music Now conference took place at Leeds Beckett University in collaboration between Sound Sense and AMP. The two-day event for both emerging and experienced practitioners and researchers promised enriching experiences with opportunities to connect, share, celebrate and learn from each other. Delegates came from across the UK and I had the privilige to chat to a few. What follows in this podcast series are those conversations.
Episodes 1 - 5: How Has COVID-19 Impacted The Community Musician? The welcome, hidden costs, adaptability and recovery in practice - This four episode series of this podcast is part of my research project for my Masters Degree in Community Music, at York St John University. I had conversations with six amazing community musicians across the North East of England to find out how they coped during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are four episodes in this series, the first one is Welcome, the second is Adaptability, the third is Recovery and the fourth is Hidden Costs.
Spotlight - You can find short biographies of the musicians who appear in The Community Musician Podcast as well as links to their websites/social media/contacts information.
Spotlight
Meet the Musicians
I want to thank the following musicians for the generosity of their time and sharing their stories for the podcast.
Ashleigh Lowes
Ashleigh Lowes is a singer, songwriter and community musician working with early years, families and young people.
Bridie Jackson
Bridie Jackson is a performer, creative practitioner, composer and sound artist. She works with early years, families and is a choir director.
David Pisaro
David Pisaro is a choir director and workshop leader as well as an oratorio soloist who works with young people and vulnerable adults.
David Roberts
David Roberts is the founder of Sound Waves in West Cumbria. They deliver music recording, casual jamming sessions, and various opportunities for young people in the area to make music. They also offer traineeships and apprenticeships in community music.
Gary Bowden
Gary Bowden my husband and sounding board during my MA. He specialises in Autism, Learning Disabilities, Parkinson's and Dementia, working with people of all ages and abilities to create and record original music, songs, soundscapes, and spoken word pieces.
Jessica Pitt
Jessica Pitt is an academic programmes professor at The Royal College of Music and Director of Magic Acorns, a community space for research-creation with people under three, caregivers and artists.
Jim Montague
Jim Montague is a community musician and percussionist who works with early years, young people and adults, as well as a trainer and local councillor.
Joanna Carthorpe
Based in Leeds, Joanna is a community musician and franchisee for Musical Moments, providing music for care homes. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Community Music.
Katie Doherty
Lee Higgins
Lee Higgins is the Director of the International Centre for Community Music at York St John University. He is an author and co-author of various publications for community music research.
Laura Reavley
Laura Reavley is a woodwind and piano teacher, working with early years, SEND and is a choir director and orchestra conductor.
Victoria Jacquiss
Victoria Jacquiss is the founder of Foxwood Lanyard. Based in Leeds, she is an educator, conductor and musician.