The BVA Council

Current Council Members

Nikolaos Spantideas (President), Sarah Wright-Owens (Company Secretary), Rebecca Moseley-Morgan (Treasurer), Jonathan Fishman, Louise Gibbs, Geraldine McElearney, Rosario Mawby (co-opted), Jane Oakshott, Samuel Queen, Rebecca Schwarz.

 

Jonathan Fishman BM BCh (Oxon), MA (Cantab), PhD, FRCS (ORL-HNS)

Jonathan is an ENT Consultant and Laryngologist at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at University College London. He is passionate about treating conditions of the larynx. He was awarded a PhD in 2013 for his research. He has received numerous awards, grants, prizes and research fellowships and has published widely in the field of laryngology. He has lectured both nationally and internationally and has organised and chaired sessions at National, European and International meetings pertaining to laryngology. He is Senior Editor for the Journal of Laryngology & Otology.

 

Louise Gibbs LTCL, MA, MEd, FHEA

Louise Gibbs is a jazz singer, composer and educator, and graduate of Columbia University, New York. She has taught and given workshops on jazz performance, improvisation and voice at major conservatoires and universities in the UK. She currently teaches jazz and popular singing for the Universities of Leeds, Chester, and Sheffield, and is a specialist examiner for the RNCM. She previously held course-leading roles at Leeds College of Music (Postgraduate and Jazz Programmes), Goldsmiths, University of London, GSMD, and RCM. She has active research interests in voice, pedagogy, improvisation and musical aesthetics. Louise has recorded five acclaimed albums, including Seven Deadly Sings for voice and septet (2014). Her past Board membership includes Warden (Education) for the ISM, Jazz Services, Jazz Yorkshire, and Jazz North. She is Past President of the BVA (2021-22).

 

Geraldine McElearney MA

After a 20-plus year career elsewhere, Gerry returned to the world of voice in 2013 to work as a singing teacher. She had reluctantly abandoned singing after college (GSMD) where her voice had become beset with problems. With its holistic, multi-disciplinary ethos, the BVA has been invaluable in her retraining, supporting her interest in the 'whole' singer and her commitment to ongoing learning and professional development as both teacher and performer. She is now building a new career working with singers of all ages privately and as a school peripatetic. The years following graduation (MA in Design & Brand Strategy) were spent in theatre front-of-house, arts publishing and advertising, marketing communications, and design, including 10 years in central government. She has an interest in alliances between commercial and arts organisations, and is currently Editor of the BVA (now online) Magazine Communicating Voice. 

Rosario Mawby BA Hons, MA, MPhil, PGCert, SFHEA

Rosario is a performer, vocal coach, musical director, entrepreneur, and lecturer. In addition to her degrees, respectively in music, performance and education, she holds a PGCert in Professional Academic Practice and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  Rosario has worked across the HE sector: Leeds Conservatoire, Hereford College of Arts, Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, and most recently as Undergraduate Course Leader at London College of Music, University of West London. She is currently lecturing for Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts at University of Wales Trinity St. David specialising in performance, musicology, and live event management. In her industry practice Rosario has worked alongside and supported artists and musicians, including Ian Matthews (Kasabian), Charlie Dore (‘Ain’t No Doubt’), Neil Fairclough (Queen), Ella Shaw (Britain’s Got Talent). She co-runs BMusical, a company designed to support and nurture early-career musicians and provide safe environments for graduates to work alongside professional musicians. Rosario chairs the BVA’s Communications Working Party.

 

Rebecca Moseley-Morgan PhD

Royal College of Music alumna Rebecca Moseley-Morgan has worked nationally and internationally as a professional opera singer. Rebecca is currently chair of the Education Working Party. She has a PhD in voice science from University College London on the mature singer. As a singer and voice scientist, Rebecca has always placed music at the heart of her research. She works primarily as a specialist teacher of the mature voice and gives workshops and seminars. Rebecca’s work has been presented at major conferences throughout Europe and the UK. She is currently devising a new vocal pedagogy training course for teachers of the older voice based on findings from her research and writing a book due for publication 2025.

Jane Oakshott MBE, BA, MA LAMDA (Gold)

Works for the three Universities in Leeds and in private practice with a wide range of professional voice users. Her first academic job was setting up and running the Drama Department at Otago University, New Zealand, where she also involved town and gown communities in performances and instituted the country’s first Radio Drama course. She was appointed MBE in 2008 for services to drama, as a deviser and director of large scale, historically informed performances. Jane set up her Voice Coaching business in 1992, Trio Literati (performance company) in 2003, and – with a Speech Therapist colleague – Leeds Voice Days in 2008. All ongoing. What fires up Jane about voice coaching is how it can transform everyday lives. She is the BVA President-elect.

Samuel Queen MA(Cantab), MA(London), AdvDip (RAM)

Sam trained on the opera course at the Royal Academy of Music after reading English at Cambridge. He enjoyed several years as a baritone soloist on operatic stages and concert platforms in the UK and abroad and toured and recorded extensively. He furthered his studies privately with Professor Janice Chapman, as well as continuing his teaching development in a variety of pedagogical approaches. Sam runs London Singers Studio, which he formed with his partner, John Lattimore. Clients of the studio include international opera singers, West End principals and recording artists. Sam and John co-teach and have a particular interest in meeting the varied demands of performers in a range of genres. Sam also teaches at ArtsEd and has been a member of the BVA since 2009. More information at www.londonsingersstudio.com.

Rebecca Schwarz BA(Hons) LLCM, ALCM(TD)

Rebecca has been teaching singing for almost twenty years and running choirs for almost as long. In that time, she has studied almost every approach out there but what stuck with her most was her initial training through the BVA. In 2017 she joined the BVA Education Working Party and has led or been involved with teams organising events about dancers, extreme voice, neurology and spoken voice, and contemporary singing. Rebecca has a special interest in how mindset and emotional blocks can inhibit singing and expression. She has studied and qualified in a variety of therapeutic approaches including NLP, Hypnotherapy and Timeline Therapy ™. Rebecca loves bringing people and activities together and making things happen.

Nikolaos Spantideas, MSc, PhD, MRCS(ENT)

Nikos is an ENT specialty surgical registrar and a Speech and Language Therapist. He holds an MSc in Voice Pathology from University College London, and a PhD from the Medical School of Ioannina. Currently, he is a registrar for East of England Deanery. He has served as elected vice president of the Association of Scientists of Speech Therapy of Greece for six consecutive years (2008-2013). His main clinical, research and academic interest is voice and voice pathology, and he has published several papers on the topic. He is President of the British Voice Association for 2023-2024.

Sarah Wright-Owens BSc (Hons), SLT, GBSM

Sarah works as a Vocal Rehabilitation Coach and Singing Teacher in private practice. She is registered with the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine and is the Vocal Consultant at the Professional Voice Users Clinic for the University Hospital, Birmingham. She is a visiting lecturer at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and University of Birmingham. Sarah is currently researching vocal rehabilitation and vocal pedagogy with a particular focus on singers and singing teachers speaking voice, the science of vocal exercise and tension release. She runs a Singing for Lung Health group supported by the British Lung Foundation.

 

 

 

 

BVA Patrons

Ron Baken PhD

Currently the Vocal Tract Physiologist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Ron Baken is also Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, and Adjunct Professor of Otolaryngology at New York Medical College. Dr. Baken is internationally recognized for his research in voice physiology, and is the author of more than 50 scientific articles and book chapters. He is the co-author of several books, including the text that is generally acknowledged as the standard reference work on methods of acoustic and physiologic measurement of vocal tract function.

Dame Shirley Bassey DBE, Légion d'honneur

Britain's most-successful ever female pop-music artist, estimated to have sold over 135 million records worldwide in an international career of unrivalled scope and longevity. Her live performances have taken her to most major concert halls throughout the world.

Dame Sarah Connolly DBE

Born in County Durham, Sarah Connolly studied piano and singing at the Royal College of Music, of which she is now a Fellow. She was made a DBE in the 2017 Birthday Honours, having previously been made a CBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours. In 2011 she was honoured by the Incorporated Society of Musicians and presented with the Distinguished Musician Award. She is the recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2012 Singer Award. Photo: Clive Barda.

Sir Derek Jacobi CBE

Screen and stage actor, film director and founding member of the National Theatre, Sir Derek Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, playing such notable characters as Edward II, Richard III, Octavius Caesar and Cyrano de Bergerac. He has also won several prestigious awards such as a Tony Award for his performance in “Much Ado About Nothing” and a BAFTA for “I, Claudius”.

 

Dame Felicity Lott DBE, Légion d'honneur, FRCM

Internationally renowned soprano whose opera career includes major roles at all the world's greatest opera houses, and whose concert and recording career includes collaborations with many of the world's finest conductors and pianists. In 2010, she was presented with 'The Wigmore Hall Medal' by HRH The Duke of Kent. This medal is awarded to internationally important artistic figures in recognition of their significant contribution to Wigmore Hall. Photo: Trevor Leighton.

Mark Mardell

Mark has worked in broadcasting all his life, starting as a junior reporter at Radio Tees to currently being one of the six presenters of the ‘Movers and Shakers’ podcast about living with Parkinson's. Most of his distinguished 35-year career has been spent at the BBC where he was Newsnight’s political editor, North American, and Europe editor. As chief political correspondent for the BBC’s main TV and radio programmes, he has covered some of the world's most important political events. In 2020 Mark won the Association of International Broadcasters award for news reporting, for a series of pieces on race and US politics. He left the BBC the same year and is now semi-retired.

 

 

Association awards & prizes

Fellowship of the British Voice Association

The BVA Council awards honorary lifetime membership to worthy recipients and the ceremonial presentation of this fellowship is made at the Association's Annual General Meeting. Here is the list of recipients of this prestigious award:

John Rubin (2022)

Kristine Carroll-Porczynski (2022)

Sara Harris (2018)

Tom Harris (2015)

Neil Weir (2014)

Janice Chapman (2012)

Prof. Adrian Fourcin (2011)

Ingrid Rugheimer(2010)

The Van Lawrence Prize 

Van L Lawrence (1928-1990) was an outstanding American otolaryngologist who was known and admired by all those specialising in voice. He was one of a number of generous professionals who supported the early Voice Research Society conferences, often at his own expense. He also allowed us to market his 1987 video "Suggested Criteria for Fibreoptic Diagnosis of Laryngeal Hyperfunction" to help raise money to support the new Society.

To honour his contribution to the voice world in the UK, the BVA has instituted an award in his name to be offered biennially, provided there are sufficient applicants of a suitable standard.

Van Lawrence Prizewinners

2023
Luke Aldridge-Waddon

“Clinical Psychology and Voice Disorders: A meta-analytic review of studies assessing psychological characteristics across individuals with and without voice-disorders”

Aldridge-Waddon-Clinical Psychology and Voice Disorders

2021
Natalie Watson
"Comparing Aerosol Concentrations and Particle Size Distributions Generated by Singing, Speaking and Breathing at Rest"
Read abstract

2018

Anna White
“Factors influencing pre- and post-operative voice therapy”
Read abstract

2016
Miss Abigail Walker, Dr Rachael Craig, Mr Nicholas Gibbins, Mr Tony Aymat, Dr Rehab Awad and Mrs Sara Harris
"Scaling up: revisiting singers’ pathologies"
Presented by: Miss Abigail Walker
Read abstract

2014
Cecilia Pemberston
"Efficiently and cost effectively managing teacher’s voice problems"
Read abstract

2012
Christian T Herbst
"Analyzing the female "middle register" with EGG wavegrams"
Read abstract

2010
Dr Jenevora Williams
"The implications of intensive singing training on the vocal health and development of boy choristers in an English cathedral choir"
Read abstract

2008
Jude Brereton
"The effect of different acoustic environments on singing voice performance"
Read abstract

2004
Sue Anderson
"The interaction of sensory modalities in the learning and memorisation procedures of professional and student singers"
Read submission

2003
Pauline Meek
"Voice Quality Following Thyroid Surgery"

2002
Jane Ginsborg
"Off by heart: expert singers' memorisation strategies and recall for the words and music of songs"

 

The Gunnar Rugheimer Award

Gunnar Rugheimer (1923-2003) was the individual behind the idea of a British Association dedicated to the subject of Voice. His original proposal resulted in the foundation of the Voice Research Society, which later amalgamated with "Care of the Professional Voice UK" to become The British Voice Association. Gunnar's drive, advice, skills, patience and generosity allowed the British Voice Association to flourish, becoming first a charity and then a charitable limited company. Gunnar was a strong and inspiring personality, full of ideas and with the energy to realise them, a consummate negotiator. He brought all of these extraordinary qualities to bear in his work for the BVA. He was also a major driving force behind the first Pan European Voice Conference (PEVoC) becoming its first Secretary-General.

Gunnar had a lifetime's commitment to communication, working first as a journalist and later in broadcasting where he helped shape the course of broadcasting history in Canada, Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia. To honour his name and his unique contribution to the British Voice Association the Association has established the Gunnar Rugheimer Lecture. The lectures take place bi-annually and are given by invited speakers eminent in the world of voice. We hope they will continue to reflect Gunnar's spirit, his enthusiasm and passion for voice and communication.

The Gunnar Rugheimer lectures

2019
Jean Abitbol (ENT Surgeon, Paris)
“The Female Voice and the Effects of Hormones”

2017
Mel Churcher (Freelance Director/Actor/Writer. Acting & Voice coach for film and theatre)
"Voice: The Cinderella of the Film Industry"

2015
Professor Graham Welch (Chair of Music Education, UCL Institute of Education)
"The Emergence of Singer Identity in Childhood"

2013
Professor David Howard (Head of Dept of Electronics, University of York)
"The singing voice in performance – the shape of the vocal tract and its acoustics"

2011
Professor Paul Carding (Professor of Speech & Voice Pathology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne)
"More Questions Than Answers - Current Controversies in the Management of Voice Disorders"

2009 
Dr Evelyn Abberton (Phonetician and Speech Language Therapist, London University)
"Don't Look at Me with That Tone of Voice!"

2007
Professor Bill Hardcastle (Director of the Speech Science, Queen Margaret's University, Edinburgh)
"Imaging the Tongue and other Articulators in Normal and Disordered Speech"

 

History

 

The British Voice Association has its roots in a study group, formed in the nineteen-eighties under the name of the Voice Research Society, for individuals who were interested in learning more about the inter-workings of the voice. It quickly became apparent that there was an enormous need for such an organisation and membership increased rapidly. The Voice Research Society became The British Voice Association in 1991.

The Association's rooms were initially at Abbey Road and subsequently at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn Fields in central London. The British Voice Association's office address is currently in Nottingham.

Past Presidents

(since the BVA formally became a Limited Company in 1999)

2022-2023

Geraldine McElearney, MA

(Singing Teacher)

2021-2022

Louise Gibbs, LTCL, MA, MEd, FHEA

(Singer, Singing Teacher, Educator)

2019-2021
Craig Lees, BA (Hons)

(Vocal Coach, Choral Director)

2018-2019
John Rubin, MD, FACS, FRCS

(Consultant ENT Surgeon)

2017-2018
Nimesh Patel, MB ChB, FRCS, FRCS (ORL-HNS)

(Consultant ENT Surgeon)

2016–2017
Ruth Epstein PhD, MRCSLT

(Consultant Speech & Language Therapist)

2015–2016
Dane Chalfin
(Vocal Coach/Voice Rehabilitation Coach)

2014–2015
Katharine Lewis BA, ARCM
(Specialist Speech & Language Therapist)

2013–2014
Kate Young BAppSci MRCSLT
(Specialist Speech & Language Therapist)

2012–2013
Kim Chandler MMus BMus AMusA
(Session Singer/Vocal Coach)

2011–2012
Tom Harris MA MB FRCS
(Consultant ENT Surgeon)

2010–011
John Rubin MD FACS FRCS
(Consultant ENT Surgeon)

2009–2010
Stuart Barr MPhil MA(Cantab) PGAdvDip(RCM) HonARAM
(Musical Director & Singing Coach)

2008–2009
Sara Harris FRCSLT
(Voice-Specialist Speech & Language Therapist)

2007–2008
Linda Hutchison AGSM
(Vocal Consultant, Singing Teacher)

2006–2007
Janice Chapman OAM AUA FGSMD
(Singing Teacher, Pedagogue)

2005–2006
Stephanie Martin PhD FRCSLT MA BA
(Speech & Language Therapist, Lecturer)

2004–2005
Ruth Epstein PhD MRCSLT
(Consultant Speech & Language Therapist)

2003–2004
John Rubin MD FACS FRCS
(Consultant ENT Surgeon)

2002–2003
Lesley Mathieson FRCSLT
(Speech & Language Therapist, Visiting Lecturer in Voice Pathology, Honorary Research Adviser)

2001–2002
Anne-Marie Speed Hon ARAM MA ADVS CSSD BA PG Dip(DSL)
(Professor, Voice & Singing Teacher, Accent & Dialect Coach)

2000–2001
Rosemarie Morgan-Watson MRCSLT ASC (Voice) Dip. Psych. Couns.
(Specialist Speech & Language Therapist)