The Voice School Portal

The academic year’s event structure.

Singing on your own and working on technique online is invaluable, but something particular happens when singers come together in the room, listening, thinking, and working alongside others who share curiosity and commitment. That in-person work is most effective when it sits within a wider framework of ongoing study and reflection.

Across the year, The Voice School offers a small number of in-person events with different emphases, some joy-led and invitational, others more study-focused, with time and space to work more deeply with repertoire, technique, and musical thinking, either as a singer or an engaged observer.

Each event has a clear purpose, so choosing the right one matters. Details unfold as the year progresses, and events are designed to connect naturally with the wider work of the studio, so do keep an eye on dates and application information as they are announced.

What Singers Say...

“To have resumed singing and connecting with that source of joy/ flow/ energy is already a massive gift.”

“From one attempt to the next, Gillian led each one of us to the joys of singing more freely.”

“I learned as much watching other people sing and receive feedback as I did when working on my own pieces. Listening and observing were an essential part of the learning.”

“The weekend was so supportive that I now feel much more comfortable about singing in German.”

“Her feedback and interventions in my practice felt not only to the point and very effective in the moment, but also very relevant to our discussions during the workshop.”

All wonderful stuff! 

A place to think about singing

My 'Take Note' blog gathers a wide range of thoughts on singing, from vocal technique and repertoire to musicianship and the lived experience of working with the voice over time. You can browse or search for something specific that you're curious about or perhaps speaks to wherever you are in your learning curve ...

Image from the latest Take Note post

Virtually Vocalise Mentoring

This is the long-term online space at the heart of The Voice School, for singers who want to stay connected to their voice in a steady and meaningful way, wherever they are.

It supports the time between lessons, workshops, and performances, through a regular, week-by-week rhythm of mentoring, shared work, and reflection. I work closely with each singer to help them notice what is happening in their voice and build a way of working that holds over time.

This is where your singing becomes part of an ongoing pathway, rather than something that depends on bursts of activity. If you’re looking for a way to continue, this is where it happens. → Click the image to find out more about Virtually Vocalise

New! Studio 5: August Intermezzo

 A short interval or pause between larger events. Click the image for the details.

Running from 3–28 August, this is a new kind of Studio 5 space for the holiday weeks between terms - an online Intermezzo where you can stay connected to your singing in a simple, practical, and flexible way, even if life is busy or if you’re away.

Alongside weekly material, I’ll set aside time each week for an open, informal Intermezzo chat — you can drop in to ask questions, share ideas. If you can’t make a live chat, you’ll still be able to send thoughts and questions into the group space for me to respond to during the week.

This August Intermezzo is the first of a new Studio 5 idea that will continue to appear during the spaces between terms across the academic year.

Events, Dates and Deadlines: choices to grab your attention right now ...

I plan Voice School events well in advance, and when booking first opens, there’s usually an early bird payment option available for a short period. This allows singers who like to think ahead to spread the cost and plan their singing activity year-round. Once that early-bird window closes, standard payment applies.

Voice-works series: 8 German Greats 

And - that's a WRAP!! We had a wonderful time.

“Along with the precious discussions we had about our learning processes, this session is going to change the way I practise in full voice going forward. Although this was a workshop with a narrow focus on German Lied by eight chosen composers, the impact on our repertoire learning and freeing our voices will be deep and broad.”

Why not join us as an observer for the next workshop in July? We would love to welcome you!

Voice-works series: 8 Vocal Greats

Join us in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire (UK) on 11–12 July 2026 for a Voice-works Study Weekend exploring Eight Vocal Greats. Across two focused and enjoyable days, we’ll trace a vocal lineage from Purcell to Britten, with each singer curating up to six pieces from this rich musical field.

Why not join us as an observer? 

Singer applications are now closed, but it’s still an opportunity to share the work with a small group of like-minded singers who care deeply about music and enjoy the process of discovering more. 

Your Desert Island Songs

26–27 September 2026 · Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire

Your Desert Island Songs begins the new Voice-works Study Weekend year by exploring the repertoire that gradually inhabits who we are as singers.

Join me for two days of shared singing, listening, study, reflection, and the beginning of a repertoire journey that may continue unfolding throughout the coming year.

A special Early Bird Reward payment plan is available until 13 June 2026 for singers who step aboard early and begin shaping their repertoire over the summer months.

Final application deadline: 15 August 2026.

Voice-works Study Weekends — a note on preparation

Voice-works Study Weekends are designed for singers who are ready to work in depth. Repertoire does not need to be performance-polished, but it does need to be known securely enough to explore in detail. These weekends assume that you have already spent time preparing your music, engaging with the text and style, and thinking about the artistic questions your repertoire raises. Our time together is then used for discovery, shared listening, and focused development, rather than learning notes or catching up on basics.

Love Your Voice & Sing Joyfully 2027

“This Love Your Voice weekend gave me more insight and practice than any of the week-long summer music schools I attended in my younger days.”

Love Your Voice 2026 took place in Winsham, Somerset (UK), on 14–16 March, and a wonderful time was had by all.

Next year, we celebrate 10 years of LYV & Sing Joyfully. Special plans are in the making.

Dates for your diary: 12th-16th March. 

The Learning Curve: Ways to begin your learning

Below are a few ways to begin orienting yourself within The Voice School, lighter resources you can explore at your own pace.

This Month’s Vocal Focus:

Choir singer or solo singer?

Singers often begin their musical life in a choir, enjoying the sound, companionship and shared experience of singing with others. Yet for some, there comes a point where curiosity begins to grow. What happens when your own voice becomes more audible? What might you discover if you learned more about how your voice actually works?

Singing in a choir and developing your own voice are not quite the same experience. Understanding the difference can open up new possibilities.

Explore further ... Tap the image to learn more.

Finding your singing voice

Every singer starts somewhere. Learning to sing is about more than producing a pleasant sound. It is about becoming familiar with the instrument you carry with you every day and learning how to use it with increasing confidence and understanding.

Many adult singers spend years enjoying music without ever being shown how the voice itself works. Yet the more you understand about breathing, posture, resonance and coordination, the more choices become available to you. Singing can feel easier, more reliable, and ultimately more rewarding.

Whether you sing in a choir, a small ensemble, or on your own, greater awareness of how your voice works can transform your singing experience.

Explore further ... Tap the image to read more.

Ready to take part?

There comes a point when watching and reading isn’t quite enough, and you begin to want to bring your repertoire into the room and see what happens to it in real time. That’s where the live work begins to feel different. We sit at the piano, we try things, we listen carefully, we adjust, and gradually the music reveals more than it did before.

I’ve always believed that singing isn’t about arriving somewhere finished. As Anaïs Nin wrote, “Perfection is static, and I am in full flow.” That feels much closer to the truth of how voices grow — steadily, thoughtfully, over time.

If you feel ready to step into that process, the next Voice-works Study Weekend might be for you!  There are always observer places too. Sometimes simply being in the room is the first step on your path.

Inspiration in Progress

I also write on The Classical Singer’s Path, my Substack. A quieter, more personal corner, where I share my voice as a singer rather than as a teacher. It’s where I reflect on my own journey, share recordings or stories, and sometimes open conversations that you’re welcome to join in the comments. Subscription is free right now. If you’d like to come and share your own experiences, I'd love that too.

Latest read:  The greatest escape route. Just click here to hop over and have a browse.