YOUR TEAM

LONDON

8-12 April 2024

Biographies

Charlotte Xerri EMT/EMCI-ATP SD

BA (hons) Music, MA (vocal performance), PCGE, LLCM (TD)

Estill Master Trainer / Estill Mentor & Course Instructor with Advanced Testing Privileges & Service Distinction

Charlotte enjoys sharing her many years of performance, teaching and training experience with voice and the Estill Model working with singers and musical directors as well as voice/singing teachers from the major institutions and vocal health professionals.

Alongside her husband Marcel, they are Directors of Voice Your Potential® Ltd producing voice related training & events. These include annual Level I & II courses, in London and internationally in both Poland and Finland, Estill Figure Proficiency (EFP) and Estill Master Trainer (EMT) Certification Pathways and other courses attracting participants from the UK, Europe and globally. Charlotte is also available for ONE2ONE coaching sessions in central London and online video coaching.

Charlotte has Advanced Testing Privileges to examine for Estill Voice International. As President of the Estill International Certification Advisory Board her contribution to the Estill Voice Training® Certification Manual led to updates in both terminology and procedures.

She’s had a varied career in performance and music/vocal education. Performing professionally in opera and extensively as a session singer and an oratorio soloist.

As a voice educator, clients include CPL Productions for Sky TV, Native/19 Entertainment, Map Entertainment, Jimmy Hogarth/Kid Gloves, Royal Bank of Scotland, GlaxoSmithKline, Goldsmiths College London, Brighton University, Urdang Academy & Toastmasters, BRICTT (Brighton Academy of Contemporary Theatre Training), The World Voice Expo.I & II in Poland, Chichester Conservatoire, & NorthONE2ONE bookingampton University.

Always eager to build upon our understanding of vocal function, Charlotte has collaborated both in the UK and abroad with speech & Language specialists including Sue Jones, Consultant SLT in Professional Voice Rehabilitation and author of Laryngeal Endoscopy & Voice Therapy A Clinical Guide.

As part of research teams Charlotte took part in exploring new and exciting research using state of the art technology at The Ohio State University USA and at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust UK, continuing to build upon our understanding of vocal function.

Ann Leberman EMT

Born and trained in South Africa, Ann appeared in many professional theatre productions there before moving to London in 1983.

Her West End and regional UK tour credits include: Cats, Barnum, King, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Follies, Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Joseph.

Ann's Estill journey began in 2002 when she attended her first Level 1 & 2 Course in London with Anne-Marie Speed, Paul Farrington and Kiereen Lock. She went on to train as a Certified Master Teacher with Anne-Marie Speed, qualifying in 2013.

Ann has since worked on numerous Estill courses as an EMT and was very privileged to travel to Nairobi in 2017 as part of the team to deliver the first Estill level 1 & 2 Course in Africa.

Ann has private vocal practices in both London and Bishop's Stortford and is the artistic director of 'Voices', a company dedicated to the training and development of young singers and dancers wishing to pursue a career in professional musical theatre.

Ann is on the audition panel at Mountview Theatre Arts in London where she is also a technical singing coach.

Ann is an Estill Master Trainer

Alex Dengate EMT

Alex is a Musical Director, Conductor and Arranger. He is a singer, pianist, organist, drummer/percussionist and saxophonist.

He is passionate about singing, voice and in particular the Estill Model and its application for performers, singers and speakers across the globe.

Alex has ‘MD'd’ and performed in a significant amount of Theatre and Musical Theatre for The RSC, West End, UK Tours, Warner Leisure etc. He has worked in show/function/jazz/pit bands and ensembles across the UK and Europe including cruises, tours, festivals, pantomime as an accompanist/repetiteur and as a vocalist for the BBC on both radio and television platforms.

As an educator Alex was the principal lecturer in Musical Theatre, Singing and Voice at Stratford-upon-Avon College for over 17 years. He is currently a member of the singing faculty at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is an Associate Lecturer at Northampton University. He is the Director of Music at Knowle Parish Church in the Diocese of Birmingham.

Alex is a co-founder of ‘mtda’ (a Performing Arts training provider) and is co-director of ‘Crystal Gospel Choir’ with his lovely wife Louise.

Alongside Charlotte, Alex has been involved as part of a research team for the department of Speech, Voice and Swallowing at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Later this year Alex is looking forward to taking his Estill Introductory Course to Finland, working with Tanja Torvikoski (EMT).

Alex is an Estill Master Trainer

Mathieu Bertin EMT

I am a French-American voice teacher based in London UK. I started my career as a singer, guitarist and writer before forming an Alternative Rock band called RECKLESS JACKS. Over a span of a decade, we worked with many accomplished producers like Jim Lowe (Stereophonics), Julian Kindred (Ellie Goulding), and Bob Matthews (Alpines, had TV appearances, and performed over 80 shows in the UK and across Europe.

I have extensive experience as a musician, and bandleader and have worked with other artists on their development before my evolution into a trained vocalist and coach.

I recognise the effort and obstacles faced when attempting to connect with our voices. As a teenager, I was very involved in playing sports such as tennis. Participating competitively at such a young age taught me the importance and necessity of having the proper mindset when performing, and I try to make this the centre of my sessions.

Over the years, I have studied several recognised techniques that shaped my vocal training methods to both support an artist on their vocal journey and to be mindful of their individual needs so I can approach them with meaningful and authentic guidance.

As a voice teacher and vocal coach, I strive to keep myself up to date with new studies and research. I recently participated in a group research project with the Department of Speech, Voice & Swallowing at the Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, and have organised a seminar for voice teachers with SOVTs specialist Marci Rosenberg. "As singing is a process that goes beyond the voice, I consider my clients' mind, body, and spirit as I guide them through any performance anxieties, removing tension and developing live techniques.”

Mathieu is an Estill Master Trainer

Lizzy Rushby EMT-C

Lizzy is a singer and vocal coach based in Leicester. She studied acting at Birmingham Theatre School and then Demontfort University where she graduated with distinction and won the highest achiever award.

Since 2018 Lizzy has undergone level I and II courses in the Estill voice model and credits it for helping her to develop belt and twang qualities in her own voice where previously there were none!

Lizzy headed Leicester’s CC Gospel Choir and deps for several touring theatre shows.

Lizzy is an Estill Master Trainer Candidate (EMT-C) on Phase 2 of
Voice Your Potentials Certification Pathway with Mentor Charlotte Xerri.

Tom Reade EMT-C

Tom Elliot Reade graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in Musical Theatre and has been working on the West End and internationally as an actor-musician, singer and actor in shows such as The Commitments (UK & Ireland Tour), Judy! (Arts Theatre West End) and The Choir of Man (European and Australian tours).

Alongside this Tom is a working vocal coach and musical director at the Royal Academy of Music, Italia Conti, London Studio Centre and Mountview as well as privately from London to local and international clients. He also works as a musical director with credits including NewsRevue (Canal Cafe Theatre), Putting it Together (Stephen Sondheim) and Company (Stephen Sondheim) as well as providing workshops and masterclasses through his company Permission to Play.

Tom is an Estill Master Trainer Candidate (EMT-C) on Phase 2 of
Voice Your Potentials Certification Pathway with Mentor Charlotte Xerri.

Tom Bond EFP

Tom trained at Leeds College of Music, and graduated in 2015 with a BA (Hons) in Music (Jazz). Since graduating, he has worked professionally across the UK and Internationally as a Performer, Musical Director and Teacher at venues including at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, Liverpool Echo Arena, Stade Français Paris as well as many other regional clubs and theatres.

Notable professional engagements include: SAGA Ocean Cruises, BBC 2, Evolution Pantomimes, Kristian Thomas Company, Little Wolf Entertainment, Derby LIVE, Sinfonia Viva, The Magic of Motown and England Rugby.Tom has been a member of the singing department at Bird College since 2021. He has also co-founded the Kristian Thomas Company (KTCo), an East Midlands based performance training establishment and production company.

Over the last seven years as both Managing Director and Head of Music at KTCo Tom has acted as Musical Director for over 30 musicals and concerts as well as co-creating the ‘Accelerate Training Programme’, a one-year course aimed at equipping young people for higher education. He is also Assistant Head of Singing & Voice at Bird College.

Alongside his work in education Tom also regularly performs as a member of the Fat Cat Brass Band, who engages in over 120 performances across the UK and Europe each year.

Tom has an Estill Figure Proficiency (EFP) Certificate & is on Phase 1 of
Voice Your Potentials Certification Pathway with Mentor Charlotte Xerri.