Welcome...
I’m a musician - performer, composer, educator, community musician and researcher - based in Cumbria, UK who believes music makes us more human.
I perform in a variety of musical guises:
Solo - finely-crafted acoustic songs of hope
Bitterbeck - folk / blues with an eco-twist
The Lonnings – harmonious chamber folk
Mouthful - virtuosic a acapella
Tatie Pot - magical story-song collective
Tryckster - raucous political folk-rock
I lead lots of community-based projects including a number of choirs in the Natural Voice tradition:
Sing Owt! - established accessible, fun singing group
Wild Chorus – uplifting eco-choir
I’m Professor of Music Education at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music, and was Head of Higher Education and Research at Sage Gateshead from 2010-19, and founded the Cumbria music charity SoundWave;
My research focuses on group singing; music, health and wellbeing; musician training; Community Music. I pioneered the use of Sensemaker ‘distributed ethnography’ as a method for research into cultural phenomena.
“‘We’ve been delighted to work with Dave, his professionalism and community engagement is of the highest quality.’”
“I didn’t realise what choir I was looking for until I found yours. I’d joined [another choir] but left as it didn’t resonate. Yours opened my heart and soul, not only because you’re so inspirational but your explanation of the history of singing - and how call and response connects you immediately to everyone who has gone before and continues to go on in to the future - makes singing so much more meaningful.”