Series: Creative Think Tanks
Ideas explored: music for health and wellbeing
Creative Think Tank 30 September – 1 October 2019
A growing body of research evidence is drawing attention to the many positive impacts singing can have on physical and mental wellbeing, encouraging increasingly more members of the community to seek the connectivity and uplifting qualities of group singing activities. With social prescription currently high on the government agenda, both demand for such provision and complexity of need are likely to increase dramatically. Facilitated by Katherine Zeserson, and with an opening presentation by Bev Taylor, NHS Lead for Social Prescribing, this event brought together researchers, policy-makers, clinicians, practitioners and other stakeholders to consider how community-based assets (choirs, singing and music groups) become ‘social prescribing’ ready.

Attendees
June Boyce-Tillman
Pip Cahill
Baz Chapman
Christine Davies
Dean Dorset
Emily Foulkes
Andy Hall
Louise Hardwick
Heather McClelland
Amy Mallett
John McMahon
Phillipa Reive
Bev Taylor
Nicola Wydenbach
Katherine Zeserson
Related reading:
https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/resources/social-prescribing
https://www.socialprescribingnetwork.com/
http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/

Think Tank: Music, Migration and Displacement
This strategic Think Tank was convened to explore and address the intersections between music, migration, and displacement. The initiative brought…Britten Pears Young Artist: Adia Evans
USA soprano, Adia Evans, shares her experience of the Building a Recital Programme song course, held in July 2025 as part of the Britten Pears…
Friday Afternoons: Five nations united by song
Each year, Britten Pears Arts commissions a brand-new collection of songs for schools to learn and perform. This year’s theme, Five Nations, brings…
