Frances Leith
Thinking Music's Producer
Thinking Music's Producer
Trained as a horn player, Frances has enjoyed exploring the boundaries of the music profession both through her playing and her administrative experience. Creative learning and participatory music-making forms a pivotal part of her freelance career, particularly engaging with school children across the country through projects and teaching. The disparity of opportunities on offer to rural schools and those in major cities has been a common thread in her work and she is thrilled to be part of Thinking Music’s ambition to close that gap.
In 2018, Frances co-founded the music education group, Hold the Drama, where she is the producer and horn player. Hold the Drama delivers immersive non-verbal shows, using live music to explore issues around mental health. Currently working on their second show, the group have successfully toured primary schools around the country, engaging with nearly 5000 children, with the generous support of National Lottery funding. Alongside her work with Thinking Music and Hold the Drama, Frances is also working on a pilot schools programme for a London-based orchestra, with the aim of taking West-End musicians into schools outside London to inspire instrumental playing and creative engagement with musical theatre in secondary schools.
With diverse musical interests, Frances has performed with a wide variety of ensembles, including as a regular dep for the Lion King (Lyceum Theatre), the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, and alongside the rock band, Procul Harum. She has performed with distinguished conductors including Seymon Bychkov, Sir Mark Elder, and Robin Ticciati, and recorded with Marin Alsop. Most recently she has become a member of the Blues and Roots Ensemble, performing the music of Charles Mingus and delivering jazz workshops.
As a creative-learning practitioner, Frances has worked with organisations such as the Wigmore Hall, English Touring Opera, Spitalfields Music and BBC Proms, following her training as a Fellow of the Open Academy at the Royal Academy of Music. She is a brass teacher for Camden Music Service and brass tutor for the Camden Youth Orchestra.
Frances completed her undergraduate studies at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, before attending the Royal Academy of Music for her Master’s degree.
Away from the horn, Frances enjoys choral singing and the piano, dabbles in P-bone playing and can often be seen on a netball or tennis court.
[email protected] 07840710862
In 2018, Frances co-founded the music education group, Hold the Drama, where she is the producer and horn player. Hold the Drama delivers immersive non-verbal shows, using live music to explore issues around mental health. Currently working on their second show, the group have successfully toured primary schools around the country, engaging with nearly 5000 children, with the generous support of National Lottery funding. Alongside her work with Thinking Music and Hold the Drama, Frances is also working on a pilot schools programme for a London-based orchestra, with the aim of taking West-End musicians into schools outside London to inspire instrumental playing and creative engagement with musical theatre in secondary schools.
With diverse musical interests, Frances has performed with a wide variety of ensembles, including as a regular dep for the Lion King (Lyceum Theatre), the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, and alongside the rock band, Procul Harum. She has performed with distinguished conductors including Seymon Bychkov, Sir Mark Elder, and Robin Ticciati, and recorded with Marin Alsop. Most recently she has become a member of the Blues and Roots Ensemble, performing the music of Charles Mingus and delivering jazz workshops.
As a creative-learning practitioner, Frances has worked with organisations such as the Wigmore Hall, English Touring Opera, Spitalfields Music and BBC Proms, following her training as a Fellow of the Open Academy at the Royal Academy of Music. She is a brass teacher for Camden Music Service and brass tutor for the Camden Youth Orchestra.
Frances completed her undergraduate studies at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, before attending the Royal Academy of Music for her Master’s degree.
Away from the horn, Frances enjoys choral singing and the piano, dabbles in P-bone playing and can often be seen on a netball or tennis court.
[email protected] 07840710862