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What is MDBrunch?

MDBrunch is a skills sharing, training, networking and support organisation for people who make singing happen (MDs).  Through events we aim to both create a community for this often lonely profession and also promote the vital health and wellbeing work that we do for the communities around us and the impact it has.  Having grown over the last 6 years, MDBrunch now has a steering group led by Mel Field (Events Director) and Naveen Arles BCA (Founding Director).

MD (Musical Director), or, People who make singing happen: vocal leaders, choral directors, MDs, conductors, singing teachers, animateurs and all the people who have somehow been tricked into leading their school choir etc 

Brunch = a meal that has all the qualities of being chilled out and so cool people don’t even have to pretend to decide which meal they’re having.  A level or freedom of mind that is mostly always missing from MDs.

"I really do feel like I have found a group of people who just understand our worlds as music makers and choir leaders. I just wish I had found (MDBrunch) earlier because......I had no one else to share with" 

    A. Small (Pop Choir, Birmingham)

Meet the team

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Naveen Arles BCA
NewYVC, Vocal Shack, London Youth Choir

Mel Field
Youth & Schools Choir Leader

Nav

Naveen Arles BCA

Naveen Arles BCA FRSA, has established himself as an energetic and inspirational vocal leader and animateur. His 36 years in music incorporates two and a half decades of creating and running singing groups of all ages and abilities.

 

Nav's ability to motivate people to try music and train any group of people has meant he has led choirs with all aspects of society.  Using this experience, Nav creates and delivers workshops and self development sessions in senior management training courses, with wellbeing support groups and in prisons.

 

Nav currently directs several diverse vocal groups.  NewYVC, the leading youth choir in Newham, is the delivering partner in 'Newham Harmony' a vocal project empowering youth in 30 schools over 3 years 2018-2021 funded by Youth Music and Newham Music.  Grand Union Voices, the project based vocal unit of the acclaimed 30 year old world music fusion jazz big band, Grand Union Orchestra.  Liberty Choirs in prisons and Sing With Ovacome which supports women and their support networks who have been affected by ovarian cancer.  The last 10 years saw him grow the London International Gospel Choir into a 150 member, 3 rehearsal per week performance choir now seen regularly on all UK broadcast formats.

 

He is very excited to have received an Artist Teacher certificate from the CME Institute, trained under Dr Doreen Rao, Mandy Miller and Jane Wheeler.  Nav now joins the UK faculty training other choir directors which he furthers through his work having founded and developing 'MD Brunch', a training and networking meeting hub for musical directors to build community and their skills in this 'lonely' profession.

 

All these exciting projects mean Nav regularly conducts on the capital's major stages and at a range of venues and events from the House of Commons to the pitch at Twickenham during the Rugby World-Cup semi-finals.  Thanks to creating groups of singers so quickly and efficiently Nav has provided vocal groups to the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, BBC, ITV, Endemol, Thames, Tuesday's Child, Open Mike Productions and from conferences and retail events to studio sessions.

 

Nav's strong belief in inclusion, equality and social justice has led him to work with homelessness and rehabilitation centres, and he co-founded Sanctuary Voices for refugees and asylum seekers.  As someone who relishes the opportunity and responsibility to inspire the next generation of music makers, Nav is proud to have served four years as Artistic Director for the Hertfordshire and Ware primary schools music festival, with over 500 young people annually. He has also facilitated vocal workshops for Music For Youth and worked with ARK Schools.

 

Nav studied piano with Murray McLachlan and Richard Beauchamp and gained valuable experience from staging musicals between Edinburgh and London. He later created the role of Musical Director at London Metropolitan University, founding all extra-curricular musical activity there. Sponsorship from the Southbank Centre's Voicelab initiative helped him further his conductor training beginning his journey in CME Institute training.

Mel Field

Mel Field has been running primary school choirs for 13 years, building the numbers from a 12 to a 60 strong choir, leading and performing with them at various events including the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. Mel has workshopped with the likes of Pete Churchill (Guildhall/Royal College of Music), Omari Carter (Lead dancer in STOMP) and has performed on stage at The O2 with Hugh Jackman, Take That and Lulu (London dates of their world tours) and the BBC Proms. Mel’s background incorporates thirty years of stage productions, including lead roles in “Fame”, “Pirates of Penzance”, “Moby Dick” and “Slice of Saturday Night”. She has also performed as the Princess in many Pantomimes – Oh yes she has! Mel has extensive experience in event organising for major fundraising organisations and co-running MDBrunch means incorporating her skills with her passion for music and singing. She hopes to to unite, motivate and encourage people to #GetSinging for their health & well-being.

Mel
Claire

Steering/Support Group

Lizzy Renihan,     Dr. Marta Radwan,     

Angela Reith    &     Louise Raven-Tiemele.

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