Moragh Brooksbank

Moragh is a Cumbrian, now living in Devon. Following her studies at Cardiff University where she studied cello with Sharon McKinley and started her vocal studies with Raimund Herincx and Kelvin Thomas, her interest in performance practice led her to complete a Masters degree at York University specialising 18^th century English vocal music alongside the songs of Charles Ives. She subsequently studied with Paul Farrington and has enjoyed an interesting and varied career as a performer, singing oratorio, recitals, cabaret and music theatre as well as professional choral work.

Moragh has always enjoyed teaching and conducting and co-founded and conducted the Wakefield Cathedral Girls Choir, various university chamber choirs and other ensembles. Alongside vocal coaching in a number of Cathedrals and theatre companies, she has taught singing for various music services including Wakefield, Kirklees and Coventry as well as continuing her private teaching practice. She has trained in a number of vocal methodologies including Estill.

Moragh was a lecturer in music at Coventry University for many years where she had cross course responsibility for singing pedagogy, teaching degree students following disciplines in music, theatre and dance. Other responsibilities included course development, historical and contextual studies and general musicianship as well as leading the University’s outreach and community development work which involved her being the Music Director for the triennial Coventry Mystery Plays.

As Director of the Scottish Music Centre she was responsible for promoting Scottish music and publishing the work of Scottish and Scottish based composers, placing the centre at the heart of the music industry in Scotland, serving all aspects of music making and increasing the profile of Scottish Music throughout the country and beyond. She worked with the British Council on the international promotion of Scottish music and was also a visiting lecturer at Glasgow University.

She now works for Arts Council England as Music Officer for the South West region where she has wide understanding, knowledge and overview of the music business in the South West. She works across genres and sectors and is fully conversant with and networked within the national infrastructure for music development. Projects have included regional orchestral development, jazz touring and creating partnerships, networking and touring within the folk, roots and world music sector in the region.

In her spare time she enjoys painting, printmaking, illustration and design, gardening and anything to do with lighthouses.