Meet the Team

Graduate Vocal Coach, Musical Theatre Choir Leader 

Specialising in:  Auditions and Drama School Applications, Musical Theatre, Children, Confidence Building.

Tuition - Hummersknott Academy, Online

Tori was Claire's first ever 1-2-1 student back in 2011, our assistant for many years and now a graduate of Leeds Conservatoire. 

Tori has an extensive training resume in performing arts, training at Stagecoach, Stockton Riverside College and Musical Theatre up to Grade 8. 

Tori made her professional debut in Billy Elliot at Leicester Curve in 2022 and is a very welcoming being. Tori is thrilled to be both teaching privately and assisting our choirs and will be mentored by Claire throughout her teaching journey. 

Tori is certified in Voice Health for Singers with Vocal Health Education.

Graduate Vocal Coach, Musical Theatre Infants Choir Leader

Specialising in: Acting through song, musical theatre, performance theory, GCSE and Secondary Education, confidence and resilience, mental health practitioner, SEND.

Tuition - Hummersknott Academy, Online

Sophie gained her first class degree in Drama at Liverpool John Moores University in 2018, specialising in Musical Theatre and Production Management. She then became a qualified teacher of Drama (PGCE & QTS) and has spent the last 5 years leading performing arts in a range of secondary schools across the country. Sophie has extensive experience in safeguarding young people, SEND and has trained and delivered sessions as a mental health in schools practitioner.  Sophie is mentored by Claire throughout her teaching journey. 

Sophie is certified in Voice Health for Singers with Vocal Health Education.

 Cover Choir Leader and Vocal Coach

Since graduating from university with a first class degree in music, Hannah has experience facilitating a variety of music education and community music activities, including early years, SEND and maternity cover at the Voices of Darlington. She is currently the projects manager at Purple Patch Arts, a charity that uses creative methods deliver innovative and inclusive learning experiences for learning-disabled and autistic adults. 

Hannah is also currently studying a postgraduate degree in Music and Wellbeing at the University of Leeds, and she plans to use the knowledge she gains to ensure she delivers the most beneficial and fulfilling experiences she can.

Hannah delivers vocal coaching sessions both in-person and online.

Hannah is certified in Voice Health for Singers with Vocal Health Education.

 Studio Manager and Cover Assistant

Dawn joined VoD during lockdown in January 2021 and sang online for several weeks before meeting us all in person.  She started private lessons too and was soon working towards her Trinity Rock & Pop Vocals grade 4.  Since joining us, Dawn has completed her grades 4, 5, 6 & 7 with merits and distinctions.

Dawn has always helped us out at classes and events and due to her super organisational skills, in summer 2023, Claire asked her to be part of the team to help keep us organised and provide an extra support to members in dealing with enquiries and day to day activities. 

Dawn deals with bookings for private lessons, new member registrations, keeping our calendar up to date, organising events for the studio and all manner of other things. 

Dawn is also qualified in level 3 Paediatric First Aid and is certified in Voice Health for Singers with Vocal Health Education.

Youth Choir Leader and Cover Leader for all classes, Confidence and Mindset Coach

Annabelle is a professional performer, certified NLP Practitioner (neuro-linguistic programming), hypnotherapy and a life and success coach. Annabelle has been part of the Voices of Darlington team for around 6 years, understands our ethos deeply, and has joined us to guide students in a very unique way. Annabelle's tuition specialises in confidence in singing, mindset, performance, audition guidance and musical theatre grades 1-3.
Annabelle’s experience includes: Debbie Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical (West End); Taught by Claire for a number of years; Snow White and character and parade performer at Disneyland Paris x2 contracts; CBeebies show presenter; over 10 years teaching dance/drama 0-adult; ⁠Stagecoach area manager; taught LAMDA exams; Grade 6 LAMDA; Professional Child Chaperone and Safeguarding for the BBC; Stage Management; Youth Choir Leader for Voices of Darlington. Annabelle helped write our Safeguarding Policies too, and keeps us on track with any needed updates!
Annabelle is certified in Voice Health for Singers with Vocal Health Education; Paediatric First Aid Trained; BA Hons Childhood Studies and Youth Psychology; BSL Level 1; ⁠Makaton Enhanced Level. 

 Vocal Coach

Specialising in: Vocal coach, Musical Theatre lecturer & specialist, Dance specialist & Choreographer 

Tuition - Hummersknott Academy, Online

Lucy graduated with a first-class degree in Dance & Musical Theatre, then went on to gain a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre from the Guildford School of Acting in 2020. She is the Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre course at York St John university. As well as being an academic and lecturer, she has always worked with children and loves teaching performers of all ages.

She has taught various styles of dance, particularly lyrical, contemporary, jazz and acro. She has choreographed and directed several musicals and performs regularly for local companies including Darlington Operatic at the Hippodrome. Her experience  with teaching includes primary schools, secondary schools, college, university, competitive dance schools and performing arts schools. She has also coached students for professional auditions, drama school and university auditions, LAMDA, Rock School and LCM examinations. 

Lucy prides herself on her approachable and supportive teaching style. She has been on her own journey to find confidence as a singer and loves to help others do the same.

 Trainee Vocal Coach & Choir Assistant

Amy has been one of Claire's private students for many years and has completed several Trinity Rock & Pop and Musical Theatre grades and has just completed her Grade 8.  

Amy is a trainee vocal coach and work exclusively with under 12yr olds, using her knowledge and experience to give them the best possible tuition.  

Amy is be mentored by Claire throughout her training.  

Amy is also assisting Claire, Annabelle, Tori & Sophie with the younger classes on a Monday night in order to maintain our high standards of care and support.

Vocal Coach

Specialising in: Vocal coach, Musical Theatre, Drama 

Tuition - Hummersknott Academy, Online

Kirsty has been performing since she was a child, both singing and acting.  Her love for acting has led her to play some amazing parts, namely Cecily in ‘The Importance of being Earnest’ and Hobby in ‘Teechers’. 

At school she teaches KS3 Drama, GCSE Drama, A-Level Theatre Studies and LAMDA as well. Kirsty teaches students both improvisation and scripted aspects of Drama, alongside theory. When she's not teaching, Kirsty directs the school’s annual production and run extracurricular drama clubs too!

Kirsty is an active member of Darlington Operatic Society and has been doing shows with Claire for 6 years now. She has always loved seeing the fantastic work VOD do, and can’t wait to be part of the team.

Musical Theatre Choir Leader

Christina is a music educator, vocal leader, choral conductor and trombonist and has worked across Derbyshire, the North East & in the Caribbean. Christina has led many Vocal and Brass projects in schools across all of these areas. This has included conducting massed choir performances for many events.

She is a qualified secondary music teacher having studied Music at Royal Holloway, University of London, which she followed with a PGCE in Secondary School Music, with specialist Vocal teaching at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal Northern College of Music.

She was the Director of the award-winning North East Derbyshire Music Centre’s (NEDMC) Junior and Senior choirs, has founded and developed her own community choirs, worked for the Halle's corporate choir team and now conducts the acapella group Darlington SING Community Choir.

Christina also has a love of Andean Music and owns over a hundred Andean instruments (!), with which she runs workshops and has delivered lectures on the Music of The Andes at Sheffield University.

Studio Assistant & Cover Choir Leader