Jean first met Nadine in 2006, when during Jean’s first workshop, she was introduced to a new way of working with the human voice that was to change her entire world.
Gaining Nadine George Voice Work NGVW Accreditation in 2013, Jean became Head of Voice (School of Stage and Screen) and the Centre for Voice in Performance CViP in 2014 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland RCS, stepping into the role previously filled by Ros Steen, Professor Emerita and Honorary Accredited Teacher of NGVW.
Jean’s work at the RCS is to develop and shape the work for young adults, where NGVW is the core spoken voice work of the School of Stage and Screen. This involves students on Acting, Musical Theatre and Contemporary Performance programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Jean is a keen advocate for Scots Language, passionately helping Scots value their Scottish-English and fully understand and appreciate the origins and history of this beautiful but marginalised language.
Jean originally trained as a classical musician at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now known as The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Jean taught music and piano in various schools for many years, as well as singing in the School of Drama where she was introduced to the work of Jo Estill and then later, Nadine George.
Jean’s consultancy work as vocal coach and voice director is in both spoken and sung voice, and in English and Scots tongues.
She has worked with many Scottish theatre companies, including the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Citizens Theatre, Dundee Rep, Stellar Quines, Ankur Productions, Vox Motus and Braw Clan. Other companies include Selladoor Productions, Act Productions and Neil Laidlaw Productions.
Performance work includes Scottish Dance Theatre, Red Note Ensemble and Glas[s] Performance.
Jean is Artistic Associate in Voice at Dundee Rep Theatre.
Jean is particularly interested in how and where NGVW can impact on other areas of performance, particularly singing and interdisciplinary performance. She is currently working closely with the Columbian-American soprano Stephanie Lamprea on her new album.
An experienced workshop facilitator, Jean is delighted to share her experience with different groups from various walks of life – recent clients include the Commonwealth Games President, Gleneagles Townhouse Hotel and Scottish Rugy.