On the podcast this week, the acclaimed singer, composer, and conductor Joanna Forbes L’Estrange is interviewed by Madeleine Davies.

Joanna Forbes L’Estrange talks about how she developed a love of singing as a child, and why she believes that singing in primary schools is “absolutely vital”. This is especially needed in state schools, she says, where there is often less of a culture of singing than in independent schools.

“There have been lots of musicians over the decades who have recognised this need, but still somehow there needs to be a seismic culture shift,” she says. “It’s somehow convincing the people who make the big decisions that singing provision in schools is absolutely vital.”

She delivered a keynote speech this month at the annual conference of the Choir Schools’ Association. Read more in Madeleine’s report in the Church Times this week.

joannaforbeslestrange.com

Click the play button above to listen to this podcast. You can also listen to the Church Times Podcast on the Church Times app for iPhone and iPad, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and most other podcast platforms. Music for the podcast is by Twisterium.