Laura Newman, Choir Manager (London)

I’ve been involved with music all my life - from DJing, to playing in a seven-piece funk band and fronting a three-piece hip-hop band as lead singer. For me, music is one of the most powerful tools we have for wellbeing. It helps us breathe, connect, lift our mood, and feel less alone, even on the hardest days.

Alongside performing, I collect 70’s vinyl, love old synths, comedy and going to gigs. In my other work life I’m a theatre director and filmmaker, and I’ve spent the last 20 years working in creative education at places like the Roundhouse and Cambridge Junction, using the arts, music, film and theatre as a catalyst for change, confidence and joy. I’m passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people can celebrate identity, be heard, and belong, especially within diverse communities.

Being Choir Manager with the Choir with No Name is a real privilege. It’s a place where voices matter, friendships grow, and people can feel seen, supported and valued. Week by week, we build something together through music, and we come together over food too. Sharing a meal, having a chat, and looking out for each other is all part of what makes this choir feel like home. Not just a choir, but a community, and I think that’s pretty cool!