About me

Recent highlights: - Selected to bring choirs to: - welcome guests for Michelle Obama's UK exclusive book launch and Q&A at Southbank Centre - Workshop and film the training video for the national support choirs on the Take That Odyssey Tour, also providing the choir to cover London and Milton Keynes shows - Provide backing choir for Hugh Jackman's World Tour London shows - Selected to receive the British Citizen's Award for services to the Arts empowering communities through music - gained Artist Teacher certificate from the CME Institute, trained under Dr Doreen Rao; joined the UK faculty Naveen Arles BCA, has established himself as an energetic and inspirational vocal leader and animateur. His 35 years in music incorporates two and a half decades of creating and running singing groups of all ages and abilities. Nav's ability to motivate people to try music and train any group of people has meant he has led choirs with all aspects of society. Using this experience, Nav creates and delivers workshops and self development sessions to both senior management training courses and prisoners. Nav currently directs several diverse vocal groups. NewYVC, the leading youth choir in Newham, is the delivering partner in 'Newham Harmony' a vocal project empowering youth in 30 schools over 3 years 2018-2021 funded by Youth Music and Newham Music. Grand Union Voices, the project based vocal unit of the acclaimed 30 year old world music fusion jazz big band, Grand Union Orchestra. Liberty Choirs in prisons and Sing With Ovacome which supports women their support networks who have been affected by ovarian cancer. The last 10 years saw him grow the London International Gospel Choir into a 140 member, 3 rehearsal per week performance choir now seen regularly on all UK broadcast formats. He is very excited to now hold an Artist Teacher certificate from the CME Institute, trained under Dr Doreen Rao, Mandy Miller and Jane Wheeler but the first to receive this in the UK under the organisations new director Dr Sandra Snow. Nav now joins the UK faculty training other choir directors which he furthers through his work having founded and developing 'MD Brunch', a training and networking meeting hub for musical directors to build community and their skills in this 'lonely' profession. All these exciting projects mean Nav regularly conducts on the capital's major stages and at a range of venues and events from the House of Commons to the pitch at Twickenham during the Rugby World-Cup semi-finals. Thanks to creating groups of singers so quickly and efficiently Nav has provided vocal groups to the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, BBC, ITV, Endemol, Thames, Tuesday's Child, Open Mike Productions and from conferences and retail events to studio sessions. Nav's strong belief in inclusion, equality and social justice has led him to work with homelessness and rehabilitation centres, and he co-founded Sanctuary Voices for refugees and asylum seekers. After collaborations with the Brandenburg Choral Festival, Nav became their Fringe Director, putting together a programme of a cappella and small, non-choral ensembles for its year-round series. As someone who relishes the opportunity and responsibility to inspire the next generation of music makers, Nav is proud to have served four years as Artistic Director for the Hertfordshire and Ware primary schools music festival, with over 500 young people annually. He has also facilitated vocal workshops for Music For Youth and worked with ARK Schools. Nav studied piano with Murray McLachlan and Richard Beauchamp and gained valuable experience from staging musicals between Edinburgh and London. He later created the role of Musical Director at London Metropolitan University, founding all extra-curricular musical activity there. Sponsorship from the Southbank Centre's Voicelab initiative helped him further his conductor training beginning his journey in CME Institute training.

QuestionsProjectsExperienceTeam

Skills

• Stage Management
• Concert Production
• Education Consulting
• Education Projects
• Workshop Facilitation
• Creative Workshops
• Arts Management

Education

C
C
Artist TeacherChoral Music Experience Institute
Sep 2012 - Mar 2018London, United Kingdom

Awards

B
B
British Citizen Awards in ArtsBritish Citizen Awards
Selected to receive a BCA at the Palace of Westminster presented by the Rt Hon Lord Dholakia for services facilitating high level music education to vastly diverse and marginalised communities