Artistic Team
Jo Freya, Artistic Director (2023–26)
Jo Freya’s background is rooted in the traditional folk music of England, having started playing and being in bands since her early teens. Many of the bands she is in have been major influencers on the development of UK folk music, including the legendary Blowzabella. As a musical collaborator Jo set up Freyja, a European band, featuring female instrumentalists and their music from different countries. She has also collaborated with Breton-British band Belen and Dutch band Maalstroom, and she recently formed Harmonia with jazz trombonist Annie Whitehead. She sings in Voices at the Door, who perform with the author Michael Morpurgo.
Jo has also taught extensively in workshops and summer schools, with work including mixed instrument ensembles, one-to-one instrument tuition, singing solo and in harmony, dancing and more.
Jo plays soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet and traditional whistles. She is a prolific writer and arranger of melodies and songs. She particularly enjoys bringing out the creativity in others.
Music Leaders
Since 2016 we have worked with leading folk artists and educators based in England, Scotland, Sweden and the USA to deliver National Youth Folk Ensemble residential courses. These include Kuljit Bhamra, Jenn Butterworth, Archie Churchill-Moss, Andy Cutting, Jo Freya, Dave Gray, Natalie Haas, Rob Harbron, Sarah Hayes, Nancy Kerr, Tom Kimber, Benji Kirkpatrick, Su-a Lee, Bevan Morris, Rachel Newton, Ben Nicholls, Sam Patridge (Artistic Director 2019–23), Becky Price, Rowan Rheingans, Emma Reid, Patsy Reid, Saul Rose, Jack Rutter, Miranda Rutter, Laura-Beth Salter, Grace Smith and Sam Sweeney (Inaugural Artistic Director, 2016–19).
We have welcomed guest artists to deliver one-off workshops: musician and theatre-maker Tim Dalling, storyteller Hugh Lupton, morris dancer Alex Merry, and contemporary composer Peter Wiegold.
Pastoral Team
Alasdair Paul
Jack Healy
Yusra Supdarowa
English Folk Dance and Song Society Staff
Rachel Elliott, Education Director
Overview of the programme as part of the Education programme and national strategy of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Hannah Mears-Young, Programme Manager (National Youth Folk Ensemble)
Responsible for the development and delivery of the programme.
Artistic Directors
Jo Freya (from October 2023)
Sam Partridge (October 2019 to August 2023)
Sam Sweeney (October 2016 to August 2019)
If you have any questions about the Ensemble, please contact [email protected]
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