Music and Drama Education Expo is set to return to London’s Business Design Centre this month. Bringing together the arts education sector’s leading voices with current and future generations of teachers and performers, the Expo offers delegates the chance to hear from expert speakers across the music and drama spheres in an intimate ‘Fireside chat’ format.
The Expo’s first Fireside chat (11am on 30 January) comes from actor Kellie Shirley, who started her career via The National Youth Theatre and trained at The BRIT School. She will talk about her journey on BAFTA’s Elevate professional development programme, as well as her experience as a working actor in today’s industry.
Bass Jonathan Howard follows this with the Expo’s first music chat (12.30pm). Formerly a member of The King’s Singers, Howard has performed more than 1,400 concerts in over 60 countries across the globe and is the creator of Classical Not Boring, which he describes as ‘a connection revolution that feels Queer Eye but for the classical music industry.’
Also offering his perspective is actor, writer and producer Jaz Singh Deol (1.15pm), whose recent acting credits include John Woo’s The Killer, upcoming Netflix drama Toxic Town, and his critically acclaimed performance as Kheerat Singh Panesar in BBC1’s flagship drama Eastenders.
Closing day one is BRIT School principal Stuart Worden (2.45pm), who will share his thoughts on arts education and forging community partnerships.
Radio presenter Jojo Silva opens the Expo’s second day (11am on 31 January) with a chat about her multifaceted career, combining broadcasting on Capital Xtra’s Early Breakfast Show with teaching at an Uxbridge comprehensive, introducing young people to literature and encouraging them to tell their own stories.
Multi-award-winning director Matthew Xia is artistic director of Actors Touring Company (ATC). Xia’s fireside chat (12pm) is followed by composer/lyricist Michael Mahler (2.45pm), whose works for family audiences include Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and The Main Street Kids Club.
The Fireside chat programme is complemented by guest performances from Steel Pans performers (2pm on 30 January), Theatre Re, a company combining live music with visual performance (1pm on 31 January), and Clarion Ensemble, a group bringing together three talented disabled musicians around the sound of a new accessible instrument The Clarion.