The musicians who make a real difference in our communities aren’t household names – they’re the musicians creating meaningful social connections through participatory music-making.
Join Dr Melissa Forbes - singer, researcher, educator, and community music leader - as she explores how these remarkable but unsung music leaders revitalise our social health.
Drawing on insights from positive psychology, social psychology, and leadership research, each episode features conversations with musicians who are building connection through their work.
Whether you’re a musician seeking meaningful work, a music educator training future musicians, or a health professional interested in music’s social impact, discover practical strategies for creating positive change through music.
Let’s make music that matters.
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The musicians who make a real difference in our communities aren’t household names – they’re the musicians creating meaningful social connections through participatory music-making.
Join Dr Melissa Forbes - singer, researcher, educator, and community music leader - as she explores how these remarkable but unsung music leaders revitalise our social health.
Drawing on insights from positive psychology, social psychology, and leadership research, each episode features conversations with musicians who are building connection through their work.
Whether you’re a musician seeking meaningful work, a music educator training future musicians, or a health professional interested in music’s social impact, discover practical strategies for creating positive change through music.
Let’s make music that matters.
4. Singing from the football terraces to the BBC: The many faces of connection with James Sills
Leading Notes Podcast
49 minutes 15 seconds
5 months ago
4. Singing from the football terraces to the BBC: The many faces of connection with James Sills
In this episode of Leading Notes, we speak with James Sills, a vocal leader, energizer, and connector who's revolutionizing how we think about group singing. From football terraces to corporate boardrooms, James shares how he's bringing the transformative power of singing to unexpected places, including his groundbreaking new BBC project 'Bantam of the Opera.'
Drawing from his journey from high school music teacher to innovative community music leader, James reveals how he creates safe spaces for authentic connection through singing, while maintaining musical integrity. He discusses his philosophy of 'meeting people where they are' and explains why singing is such a powerful tool for building community in our increasingly disconnected world.
Join us for an inspiring conversation about making singing accessible to all, the importance of running your own race, and how a portfolio career in community music can create both social impact and sustainable living. Whether you're a musician, educator, or simply curious about the power of collective singing, this episode offers fresh perspectives on using music to create meaningful connection.
https://www.james-sills.com/
https://www.thesofasingers.com/
https://www.james-sills.com/home/book
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cityofculture/bradford2025/bantam-of-the-opera/
Leading Notes Podcast
The musicians who make a real difference in our communities aren’t household names – they’re the musicians creating meaningful social connections through participatory music-making.
Join Dr Melissa Forbes - singer, researcher, educator, and community music leader - as she explores how these remarkable but unsung music leaders revitalise our social health.
Drawing on insights from positive psychology, social psychology, and leadership research, each episode features conversations with musicians who are building connection through their work.
Whether you’re a musician seeking meaningful work, a music educator training future musicians, or a health professional interested in music’s social impact, discover practical strategies for creating positive change through music.
Let’s make music that matters.
