AOTOS council

Edwin Pitt Mansfield

Chair

Originally from West Sussex, Edwin studied at Junior Guildhall and Trinity College of Music. After living and teaching in South East London for nearly a decade, he now resides in Watford where he runs a busy teaching practice.

Pamela Hay

Chair Elect

Polish-American soprano Pamela has been a teacher alongside her performing career for over 15 years. She has been concert soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and Hallé Orchestra. She has given solo recitals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Salzburg, Belgium, Costa Rica, Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Nicola-Jane Kemp

Past Chair

A professional soprano soloist, Nicola-Jane teaches choral scholars at Clare College, Cambridge University, and in 2015 was made Head of Singing at Eton College with responsibility for individual lessons and choir coaching.

Jan Spooner Swabey

Secretary

Settled in Worthing for more than thirty years, Jan has a large private practice of mainly young singers as well as working in her local college at degree level in the Music Theatre department.

Carrie Birmingham

Conference Director

Carrie has been an active performer in ballet and musical theatre from a young age, initially performing in amateur drama and dance showcases across Lancashire.

Janet Shell

Communications Director

Mezzo-soprano Janet is a qualified teacher and was a Head of Music in Buckinghamshire for five years before retraining as a professional singer at Guildhall School of Music Drama, studying with William McAlpine and Laura Sarti.

Joy Naylor

Teacher Development Director

Joy was born in Birmingham and studied at the Royal College of Music, London where she was awarded a number of prizes including an Austrian Government Scholarship to study Lieder at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

Louisa Morgan

Editor

Louisa is a singing, voice, and audition coach based in the South West. She is a Vocal Process accredited teacher, and joined the AOTOS Council as Editor in 2023.

Julie Thompson

North Area Representative

Julie is a vocal coach, teacher, and Senior Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire since 2016. Besides her academic role, she is a singer and collaborative songwriter, with experience performing in diverse bands across Europe.

Sarah Taylor

Central Area Representative

Sarah began singing as a child and grew up through County and National Youth Choirs. She started singing teaching in 2011 and now teaches in Secondary Schools and at Nottingham University. Sarah has been a member of the AOTOS council since 2019.

Louisa Barry

South East Area Representative

Mezzo soprano, singing teacher, and vocal coach with over 20 years of experience, Louisa specialises in vocal health and voice habilitation. Her holistic approach serves diverse genres. Fluent in multiple languages, continuously pursues professional development and leads the Honor Oak Musical Theatre Choir.

Jenna Brown

South West Area Representative

Jenna is a vocal health specialist based in Bristol. She is a trained voice rehabilitation specialist, vocal massage therapist and vocal coach.

Kathleen McKellar Ferguson

Scotland Area Representative

Scottish mezzo-soprano, Kathleen, graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in both piano and singing.

Vacancy on Council

Councillor At Large – Corporates

Nicki Kennedy

Councillor At Large – NYC and EVTA

Nicki is a singing teacher, vocal rehabilitation specialist and coach/mentor who herself had a career as a Classical soloist. She has training and qualifications in counselling skills and coaching and is also the founder and a trustee of Aureole Music Charity in Jersey.

Rob Lines

Councillor At Large – Online Coordinator

Rob aka The Manchester Vocal Coach specialises in Musical Theatre and CCM styles; regularly working with West End and UK Tour clients, as well as recording artists. Rob is also a Vocal Habilitation Professional working alongside voice clinics.