Opening words – ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts
Keynote speeches – Dr Anita Collins & Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Lockdown music 1 – A view from the performers
Lockdown music 2 – A view from the venues
COVID-19 and its impact on gender, race and disability
In conversation with David Lammy MP
In conversation with Roderick Williams OBE
Welcome to The Empowered Musician resource hub. Here, you will find interviews, panel discussions, advice and resources, featured in and inspired by The Empowered Musician 2020, the ISM’s digital conference for music professionals.
“As a sector I think it is absolutely imperative that we come together and that we advocate strongly for the contributions that music and musicians make.”
Deborah Annetts
“As a sector I think it is absolutely imperative that we come together and that we advocate strongly for the contributions that music and musicians make.”
Deborah Annetts
Opening words from Deborah Annetts, ISM Chief Executive
ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts introduces day one of The Empowered Musician 2020. At a time when the Government has seemingly turned its back on musicians, talking about the viability of music careers and the need to retrain, our two day conference sought to show musicians that they are valuable, viable and supported.
Keynote speeches
We were fortunate to have two inspiring keynote speakers at the conference. Dr Anita Collins talks about the benefits of music to our health and wellbeing and how the global pandemic has allowed us to reconnect with our creativity. Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason talks about the importance of music education and the need for it to be open to all, and how music brought her famous family together during lockdown.
This period in time will go down in history as one of the most creative periods the world has ever seen. The gift of time, as stressful as it might be, has allowed people like yourselves to re-evaluate what we do, but also to have that time to allow our minds to become more creative.
Dr Anita Collins
Dr Anita Collins
Dr Anita Collins is an award-winning educator, author and researcher in music education and brain development. She has interviewed over 100 neuromusical researchers in Canada, USA, Scandinavia and Europe, she is a TEDx speaker and TED-Ed writer and is known for her role as onscreen expert in the ABC’s successful documentary Don’t Stop the Music and author of The Music Advantage.
Music is an academic subject. It does demand intellectual vigor. Learning to read music or play or sing -these are incredibly developed skills. But music is also part of what makes us human.
Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason is a former lecturer at Birmingham University and the mother of seven musical children. Sheku Kanneh-Mason was the first black musician to win BBC Young Musician in 2016 and performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Two of his siblings are also former BBC Young Musician category finalists. During the first lockdown, the Kanneh-Masons garnered huge audiences for their livestreamed performances. Her first book, House of Music, Raising the Kanneh-Masons, was published in September 2020.
Responses to COVID-19 lockdowns
COVID-19 has had an impact on the entire music industry, and continues to affect performers and venues alike. Discover how professionals from both of these worlds have been coping in the midst of national lockdowns.
A panel of artists discuss the highs and lows of making and performing music during lockdown. You’ll hear how music has lifted the nation’s spirits and how musicians have responded creatively to the challenges of COVID-19, coming up with innovative solutions and connecting with new audiences.
Lockdown Music 1 – The view from the performers
A panel of artists discuss the highs and lows of making and performing music during lockdown. You’ll hear how music has lifted the nation’s spirits and how musicians have responded creatively to the challenges of COVID-19, coming up with innovative solutions and connecting with new audiences.
The panel
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Nicky is an opera singer who made his Metropolitan Opera debut before the age of 30, and is now inhabiting the repertoire of Strauss, Janáček and Wagner. Nicky appears in concert regularly at leading opera houses both at home and abroad, gives recitals prolifically, has recorded over 20 recital discs, and won several industry awards. He is also a keen charity worker, working with Blackheath Halls, Scottish Opera Young Company, Songpath and the ISM.
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Jas is a 24-year-old British drummer, composer and band leader. She has featured in bands with leading British lights Nubya Garcia, Ashley Henry and Jorja Smith as well as American drummer Ralph Peterson’s Big Band and had a starring role on drums alongside Lenny Kravitz in the official video for his song ‘Low’. Her Debut EP Unforced Rhythm of Grace has been supported by Jamie Cullum, BBC 3, Jazz FM and Jazzwise.
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Lisa is an actor, singer, writer and songwriter from North Wales. She is the main songwriter and composer for her band 9Bach, signed to Peter Gabriel ’s Real World Records. Their second album Tincian won Best Album at The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2015. Lisa has been a long-time vocal collaborator with Gruff Rhys and duets on Public Service Broadcasting’s Every valley album.
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Rakhi Singh is a violinist, curator and producer. She is Music Director and co-founder of Manchester Collective with which she curates and directs over 70 concerts annually, nationally and internationally. Described in the Guardian’s Classical picks as ‘the golden tone of violinist Rakhi Singh’ and ‘**** Expert soloist/director Rakhi Singh’. She regularly plays and curates on BBC Radio 3 and recently started up a record label, Paplu, with electronic musician/producer Vessel.
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Christopher is a London-based conductor and co-founder of the award-winning Multi-Story Orchestra. He has conducted all the Orchestra’s car park performances since their inception, including celebrated performances at the BBC Proms. He also works in opera, for organisations including Glyndebourne, Oper Köln, Garsington, ETO and OAE. Committed to community music, he is Principal Conductor of Ernest Read and Blackheath Halls Symphony Orchestras. He has recorded for NMC and broadcast with both Multi-Story and Aurora.
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Gabriella has emerged as one of the most versatile and exciting cellists of her generation. She was awarded the coveted Tagore Gold Medal at the RCM, made her Wigmore Hall debut with soprano Ruby Hughes in 2013, and in 2016 made her BBC Proms debut with Guy Johnston and his 12 Cello Ensemble. She is passionate about new music and has given many world premieres including a double concerto with Guy Johnston by Colin Riley.
Nicky Spence (Chair)
Opera singer
Nicky is an opera singer who made his Metropolitan Opera debut before the age of 30, and is now inhabiting the repertoire of Strauss, Janáček and Wagner. Nicky appears in concert regularly at leading opera houses both at home and abroad, gives recitals prolifically, has recorded over 20 recital discs, and won several industry awards. He is also a keen charity worker, working with Blackheath Halls, Scottish Opera Young Company, Songpath and the ISM.
Jas Kayser
Drummer, composer and band leader
Jas is a 24-year-old British drummer, composer and band leader. She has featured in bands with leading British lights Nubya Garcia, Ashley Henry and Jorja Smith as well as American drummer Ralph Peterson’s Big Band and had a starring role on drums alongside Lenny Kravitz in the official video for his song ‘Low’. Her Debut EP Unforced Rhythm of Grace has been supported by Jamie Cullum, BBC 3, Jazz FM and Jazzwise.
Lisa Jên Brown
Actor, singer, writer and songwriter
Lisa is an actor, singer, writer and songwriter from North Wales. She is the main songwriter and composer for her band 9Bach, signed to Peter Gabriel ’s Real World Records. Their second album Tincian won Best Album at The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2015. Lisa has been a long-time vocal collaborator with Gruff Rhys and duets on Public Service Broadcasting’s Every valley album.
Rakhi Singh
Violinist, curator and producer
Rakhi Singh is a violinist, curator and producer. She is Music Director and co-founder of Manchester Collective with which she curates and directs over 70 concerts annually, nationally and internationally. Described in the Guardian’s Classical picks as ‘the golden tone of violinist Rakhi Singh’ and ‘**** Expert soloist/director Rakhi Singh’. She regularly plays and curates on BBC Radio 3 and recently started up a record label, Paplu, with electronic musician/producer Vessel.
Christopher Stark
Conductor
Christopher is a London-based conductor and co-founder of the award-winning Multi-Story Orchestra. He has conducted all the Orchestra’s car park performances since their inception, including celebrated performances at the BBC Proms. He also works in opera, for organisations including Glyndebourne, Oper Köln, Garsington, ETO and OAE. Committed to community music, he is Principal Conductor of Ernest Read and Blackheath Halls Symphony Orchestras. He has recorded for NMC and broadcast with both Multi-Story and Aurora.
Gabriella Swallow
Cellist
Gabriella has emerged as one of the most versatile and exciting cellists of her generation. She was awarded the coveted Tagore Gold Medal at the RCM, made her Wigmore Hall debut with soprano Ruby Hughes in 2013, and in 2016 made her BBC Proms debut with Guy Johnston and his 12 Cello Ensemble. She is passionate about new music and has given many world premieres including a double concerto with Guy Johnston by Colin Riley.
Lockdown music 2: The view from the venues
This panel discussion explores the ways COVID-19 has affected UK music venues and hit income streams. Venue owners and promoters from across the UK talk about staying afloat during the pandemic and how they are facing the challenges ahead.
We were all sitting around the bar waiting for Boris to give the announcement. It didn’t come out of the blue, if anything it came four weeks too late.
Paul Mandry, Grand Elektra
Speakers
Deborah Annetts (Chair)
CEO, Incorporated Society of Musicians
Deborah is Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) where she has led a major change programme and grown its membership to over 10,500. She has also set up the ISM Trust which delivers award-winning professional development for the music sector. Deborah was named on BBC Woman’s Hour Power List: Top 40 in 2018 and is an established public speaker, having addressed Parliament several times.
Fielding Hope
Music curator and producer
Fielding is a Scottish live music curator and producer currently based in London. He works to support, develop, and platform marginalised artists on a local and international scale. Fielding is currently working as the Senior Producer at Cafe OTO in London, curating a week-round programme of experimental and underground music and co-curating Counterflows, an annual festival of international radical music held in Glasgow.
Tom McKinney
Broadcaster, performer and music administrator
Tom McKinney is a broadcaster, performer and music administrator. A familiar voice on BBC Radio 3, he presents Afternoon Concert and hosts live performances throughout the country. Tom organises the concert series and Sheffield Chamber Music Festival for Music in the Round, based at the Crucible Theatre. He teaches guitar at the Royal Northern College of Music, curates the new music series at Kettle’s Yard Art Gallery in Cambridge and writes programme notes and articles for many festivals and journals.
Kit Fraser
Owner, Hootananny
Kit Fraser is a Publican and Entrepreneur, and has owned Hootananny music venue in Inverness, the heart of the Scottish Highlands, for just shy of 20 years. He is also a self help spiritual writer and the co-founder of the Moniack Mhor writers club which is currently celebrating their silver anniversary.
Paul Mandry
Director, Grand Elektra
Paul Mandry is Director and Venue Owner of the underground live music venue and nightclub, Grand Elektra, and has been involved in the industry for over 25 years. The venue, previously known as The Crypt, has been at the heart of Hastings town centre for over 40 years with Paul taking ownership in 2015.
David Francis
Director, TRACS
David Francis is Director of Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland (TRACS), and has been involved in the Traditional Music Forum since it started as an ad hoc advisory group for the old Scottish Arts Council. He works with Simon Thoumire on the Distil project, plays a bit of guitar, writes songs, calls dances and recently began dabbling in storytelling as well.
The musician’s toolkit
“As musicians we tend to forget that we have all this incredible expertise, and the potential to share it is huge“
David Taylor
We know it’s tough out there for freelancers at the moment, with COVID-19 ongoing and Brexit imminent. Our panel of legal, business and marketing experts help you navigate the ever-changing industry landscape and equip you with the skills and tools you need to succeed, covering contracts, copyright, royalties, publishing, touring, funding, promotion, marketing and more.
Speakers
Sarah Osborn (Chair)
Head of Business Development, ISM
Sarah is the ISM’s Head of Business Development, and is responsible for developing services, resources and programmes that will inspire and support musicians. She is also taking forward the work of the ISM Trust and ISM Members Fund. Sarah was previously Chief Executive of the Music Publishers Association (MPA) and worked at Schott Music for eight years.
Kathryn Williams
Performer, composer, researcher
Kathryn is a freelance flutist, composer and researcher. Her solo project, Coming Up for Air, commissions pieces limited to a single breath, and contains over 100 works. She has been a featured soloist at many festivals and venues, and on the Live Music Now! scheme for six years. She is currently a researcher for the ISM, focusing on Brexit, and has co-authored the ISM’s Global Literature Review (Music Performance, Education and COVID-19).
David Taylor
Arts entrepreneur
David is one of the leading entrepreneurs in the world of classical music. He has built his career on bringing innovation to the arts, and was named on Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2018 list. Since creating Yorkshire Young Sinfonia, it reached an audience of over 7.5 million people in just four years. As a presenter, David has interviewed Louis Theroux and Romesh Ranganathan. He is passionate about enabling the next generation of music sector entrepreneurs.
John Robinson
Head of Compliance & Legal, ISM
John leads the ISM’s in-house legal team, who are dedicated to helping and advising music professionals, looking after their interests in numerous ways. The team assist members with contracts, copyright and employment advice, navigating government guidance and grievance and disciplinary support. John also provides guidance on data protection including GDPR.
Ruth McPherson
Senior Partnerships & Marketing Manager, ISM
Ruth manages the ISM’s corporate membership and partnerships, marketing campaigns, sponsorship and events marketing, advertising sales, and discount scheme. Before joining the ISM, she worked at Rhinegold Publishing (now Mark Allen Group), managing sales for titles including Classical Music, Choir & Organ and Opera Now.
Staying resilient
At a time of turmoil, change and hardship, it is more important than ever to ensure you are looking after yourself. Our panel of experts provide practical guidance on staying physically, mentally and financially resilient, and fellow musicians share their personal experiences of coping during the pandemic.
Speakers
Dr Aoife Monks (Chair)
Dr Aoife Monks is a Reader in Theatre and Performance Studies at Queen Mary University of London. She does research on working cultures and conditions in the arts, and is Arts and Culture academic lead for QMUL. She is the curator of the Costume at the National Theatre exhibition at the NT and the author of three books on costume.
James Ainscough
Chief Executive, Help Musicians
James has been Chief Executive at Help Musicians for over 2 years, having worked previously at the Royal Albert Hall and Warner Music. The 99-year-old charity, founded by Elgar, supports musicians from all genres across creative development, health & wellbeing, and business skills. So far the team have distributed over £13m of financial hardship funding to over 20,000 musicians throughout the UK.
Lucy Heyman
Vocal and performance coach
Lucy is a vocal and performance coach and one of the UK’s leading specialists in the health and wellbeing support of commercial recording artists. Her book Sound Advice – The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy and Successful Career in Music, co-written with journalist Rhian Jones, will be published in January 2021. Lucy is also a musician, researcher, the founder of industry health and wellbeing consultancy, Elevate, and host and creator of the Elevate Music Podcast.
Kellie Dorrington
Operations and Development Manager
Kellie has worked at Citizens Advice Haringey for four years, and brought with her a wealth of advice experience. Joining from Uttlesford Citizens Advice Bureau, she started as a volunteer trainee adviser at Uttlesdford Citizens Advice Bureau, before progressing to an ASM role.
Dr Jeremy Huw Williams
Baritone
Jeremy is a Welsh baritone who made his debut with Welsh National Opera and has since appeared in over seventy operatic roles, giving performances at major venues worldwide and appearing with leading orchestras. Jeremy has made many recordings for BBC Radio 3, and more than thirty commercial recordings, including over ten solo discs.
Catriona Price
Performer, composer
Catriona is a violinist and composer from Orkney. She is one half of fiddle and harp duo Twelfth Day, whose latest album was nominated in the Scottish Awards for New Music 2020, and a member of folk band Fara. Her first major composition commission ‘Hert’ was premiered at Celtic Connections 2020, she has won awards for her string quartet piece ‘May Alone’, and composed the soundtrack for feature-length motion picture ‘The Right Bus’.
COVID-19 and its impact on gender, race and disability
Being someone who is quite a rarity in the classical industry, being a young black female, it suddenly became apparent that I was the only one. My life’s dedication is to ensure that this changes, and for me this lies in access to high quality music education.
Mahaliah Edwards
An expert panel discusses whether existing inequalities in the music sector have been exacerbated or brought to light by COVID-19. How can we widen access to creative careers and work together to create a more diverse and inclusive industry?
Speakers
Vick Bain (Chair)
Music industry consultant
Vick is a music industry consultant and campaigner for diversity and inclusion in the music industry. She was CEO of BASCA (the Ivors Academy) and is currently the interim Director of Strategy at Attitude is Everything. Vick is the author of ‘Counting the Music Industry’, a report on gender in the music industry, the curator of The F-List directory of female musicians, and a PhD researcher at Queen Mary University.
Mary-Alice Stack
CEO Creative United
Mary-Alice is Chief Executive of Creative United, and has led on the development and launch of the Take it away scheme, an initiative designed to enable more people to get involved in learning and playing a musical instrument. Her work in the music sector has focused primarily on addressing the barriers faced by disabled people of all ages in accessing music education and professional development opportunities.
Keith Harris OBE
Keith has been in the music industry for more than 45 years. He has worked both in the UK, where he was Head of Promotions and then General Manager of Motown Records at EMI, and the US where he was Operations Manager for Stevie Wonder. He was Chairman of the Music Managers Forum, and also Chaired the Equality and Diversity Taskforce for UK Music.
Mahaliah Edwards
Performer, educator
Mahaliah is a violinist, educator and workshop facilitator based in Nottingham. She has a versatile performing portfolio as well as a successful career as an educator, community music facilitator and advocate for music for social change. She is passionate about working with young people and developing essential skills through engaging with music and the arts.
Mark Taylor
Senior Lecturer
Mark is Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Methods (Sociology) at the Sheffield Methods Institute, University of Sheffield, and is AHRC Leadership Fellow (Creative Economy) until 2021. His research interests are in inequalities in culture, in both audiences and work. He’s also interested in quantitative methods, particularly data visualisation. He is the co-author of Culture Is Bad For You: Inequality in the cultural and creative industries.
Tech – is it the answer?
‘Music brings people together, it makes people happier, it’s about mental and physical health. If we think about the workforce of the future, music can be extremely valuable.’
Danny Keir
In this session, we look at what the future looks like for the music sector and whether music remains a viable career. The panellists explore why musicians will be vital to the jobs market of the future, and the positive impact of the arts on our cities, our economy and our health.
Additional resources
Stéphan Vincent-Lacrin: Creativity and Critical Thinking (YouTube video)
Speakers
Sammy Andrews (Chair)
CEO, Deviate Digital
Sammy has a long history at the forefront of the new music landscape and is considered as one of the music industry’s leading digital advisors and futurologists. She gained a 360 degree view of the music industry through her background as a concert promoter, artist manager and independent record label founder. She went on to head up digital departments at XIX and Cooking Vinyl Records before joining the board at Entertainment Intelligence but she is now CEO of Deviate Digital, based at Tileyard London.
Danny Keir
Artist manager and international music consultant
Danny is an artist manager and international music consultant. He is also the co-founder of Enki Collective, a music export and artist services company specialised in managing release campaigns and building value for artists in new markets. Enki operate as creative advisors and industry gatekeepers, providing network development and market knowledge to build value and consistency for each campaign.
Gerard Lyons
Author and Economist
Dr Gerard Lyons is one of the UK’s leading economists. Currently he has a portfolio of roles, including Board Member of Bank of China (UK) and, since its inception, being on the advisory board of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. During Boris Johnson’s second term as London Mayor, Gerard was his economic advisor and championed the London Living Wage and London’s global position. Originally from Kilburn he now lives in Kent.
Carol Main MBE
Director of Live Music Now Scotland and Live Music Now International Development (UK)
Carol is Director of Live Music Now Scotland and Live Music Now International Development (UK) as well as a freelance music journalist, Governor of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Vice-Chair of the Traditional Music Forum. She has been on the boards of the ABO and Hebrides Ensemble, and was the founding Director of the National Association of Youth Orchestras.
Barbara Osborne
Chief Executive, Music in Hospitals & Care
Barbara is Chief Executive of Music in Hospitals & Care – a charity that improves the health and wellbeing of children and adults through the healing power of live music. With over 20 years of working and volunteering in the third sector, Barbara has extensive experience within fundraising, marketing and health. Barbara is also a Trustee for Health in Mind, a charity which promotes positive mental health and wellbeing in Scotland.
Stéphan Vincent-Lancrin
Senior Analyst and Deputy Head of IMEP Division, OECD
Stéphan Vincent-Lancrin is a Senior Analyst and Deputy Head of IMEP Division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Directorate for Education and Skills). His interests cover the nature of education and skills that matter in innovation and knowledge societies. He is working on a project on digitalisation in education and wrote the OECD’s reports Fostering Students’ Creativity and Critical Thinking: What it Means in School and Art for Art’s Sake? The Impact of Arts Education.
In conversation with David Lammy MP
ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts interviews David Lammy, Member of Parliament for Tottenham, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, and a former Culture Minister and Higher Education Minister. They discuss issues around music education, COVID-19 response and recovery, Brexit, future economies and diversity.
‘We are global leaders in music. The music sector is a major contributor to GDP. We need the sector to come back when this is all over.’
David Lammy MP
David Lammy is the Labour Member of Parliament for Tottenham. He is currently Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, and has served as both Culture Minister and Higher Education Minister. He chaired a landmark review of the criminal justice system, and is renowned for his role in securing justice for victims of the Windrush Scandal and London’s Grenfell Tower fire, as well as spearheading the fight against Brexit, pushing for equal access to university and demanding the decolonisation of education curriculums and international aid. His book Tribes explores the benign and malign effects of our very human need to belong.
In conversation with Roderick Williams OBE
“I see how other countries consider the arts. A society that puts the arts right in the centre, knows it feeds into everything you do.”
Roderick Williams
Roderick Williams OBE
Roderick Williams is one of the most sought-after baritones of his generation, who performs a wide repertoire from baroque to contemporary. He enjoys relationships with all the major UK opera houses, performs regularly with orchestras and ensembles both in the UK and worldwide, is an accomplished recital artist and appears regularly on Radio 3 both as a performer and presenter. Roderick is also a composer, with works premiered in leading concert halls and live on national radio.
Ashutosh Khandekar
Ashutosh Khandekar is Editor-in-Chief of Opera Now magazine and an Editorial Director at the Mark Allen Group working with titles including International Piano and Choir & Organ and the industry website classical-music.uk. He is a trustee of the George Solti Academy and Second Movement Opera and has served on the boards of the Academy of Ancient Music and Iford Opera. Ash was born in Mumbai, India, and raised in Hong Kong, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
SK Shlomo performance and music tech masterclass
SK Shlomo has collaborated and performed with legendary artists including Björk, Damon Albarn, Lily Allen, Jarvis Cocker and Rudimental, played the main stages at Glastonbury multiple times, and won rave reviews for his autobiographical one-man shows. His debut album Surrender was released in March 2019 to critical acclaim.
“The one thing you have that no-one else has is your story, and it’s important to share it.”
SK Shlomo
Closing words from ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts and President Chris Collins
“We need to be ready to bounce back and once again make it clear that our work is not just viable but actually incredibly economically important. And when we do bounce back, the ISM will be here for us as it has been since 1882.“
Professor Chris Collins, ISM President
Professor Chris Collins, ISM President
Chris Collins is Professor of Music and Head of the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture at the University of Aberdeen. He is a musicologist, specialising in twentieth-century music from Debussy to Kate Bush, and has published widely on the music of Manuel de Falla. He is also an experienced orchestral and choral conductor, and for over 20 years was Director of University Music at Bangor University.Above all, Chris is an educator, communicator, and advocate for music. He teaches on a wide range of topics from medieval music history to conducting skills, and has given public lectures on many topics, both in the UK and abroad. He is currently a consultant on expressive arts education for the Welsh Government. He has been an expert adviser to awarding bodies, and is one of the authors of the QAA’s Benchmark Statements for Music in Higher Education.
Chris is an active campaigner for music education at all levels, and before joining the Council worked closely with the ISM on our responses to government consultations on GCSE and A Level reform. He is also a Council Member of the Royal Musical Association, a former Vice-Chair of the National Association for Music in Higher Education, and a trustee of the thriving Codi’r To sistema programme in north-west Wales.
