As Musical Director of The Swingle Singers I was fortunate to have the group's founder, Ward Swingle, as my mentor. I learned so much from him and will always be so grateful for that training. In my role, I had the opportunity to coach and conduct choirs and a cappella groups all over the world. It was the best training ground and, from that experience, I created my most popular choral workshop, ‘You can sing…but can you swing?!’ which gives choirs confidence when performing in non-classical styles.

I was able to bring all of that experience and expertise when I later founded and directed my own group AQUILA at St John’s College, Cambridge; it was a non-auditioning group of women, many of whom learnt music solely by ear. I have also been a guest conductor for the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and Choir of the Earth. I have also conducted the choirs for numerous albums of community choral works by my husband, Alexander L’Estrange.

I have presented choral workshops for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Leading Voices, the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) and for Voice Festival UK.

Since the publication of A Season to Sing, my choral re-imagining of The Four Seasons, I have been guest-conducting choirs around the world in their performances of my piece. Highlights have included conducting the Australian première in Sydney Opera House, the African première in Cape Town and the Californian première in San Diego. I am looking forward to guest-conducting the Madagascan première in 2026 and Choir of the Earth’s performances of A Season to Sing in Venice in 2027.

I will be making my conducting debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall on May 28th 2027, conducting hundreds of singers from all over the world in the American première of Wellspring! The Way of Water. SIGN UP if you’d like to be in the choir!

Enjoy some excerpts from the Californian première of ‘A Season to Sing’ in December 2025: