Profile
I am a passionate lecturer, singer, songwriter and a harmony/vocal fanatic who has been working in Higher Education since 2004, and have experience in lecturing, course validations, external examiner, marker of practical work and academic writing including dissertations, committee member of academic malpractice and health and wellbeing committees.

I regularly deliver presentations on my research interests in voice science, vocal health, vocal pedagogy, peak performance and bridging the gap between education and career in performance, music industry and musical theatre.

With a diverse array of experience, I am versatile and hard-working individual with a genuine love for music and teaching. I am creative, positive, enthusiastic and energetic and enjoy working both within a team or independently with a student-centred approach in my pedagogy. DBS certificate obtained.

Professional Organisations:
Educational Director, Board member, authorised teacher, mentor and teacher trainer for Vocology in Practise

Teacher Trainer for BAST Training (Be a Singing Teacher)

Trainer for Vocal Health UK

Member of the British Voice Association
Associate member of PAVA (Pan American Vocal Association).
Member of EVTA (European Voice Teachers Association) Norway
Member of AOTOS (The Association of Teachers of Singing), UK

References and certificates are available on request for education, courses and work experience.

Formal Education/Qualifications

July 2011                    MA Performing Arts (Education). Main dissertation ‘Singing the Praise of Singing’ about health benefits of singing.

September 2010         Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Jan 07 – April2010       Licensed instructor ‘Speech Level Singing™’ Level 2 April 2010.

Sept 2003-04             NVQ3 in Business start up with the Music Development Agency and Blue Orchid.

 

June 2003,                 BA (Hons) Performing Arts Music, songwriting and vocals major. Graduated with 2:1, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

June 2000,                  Diploma in Popular Music & Sound Technology, Merit. Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

 

June 1999,                  Diploma in Theatre and Music at Romerike Folkehøgskole.

 

1995-1998                  International Bachelorate eqv. (Generell studiekompetanse) with Sport Science, Instruction and Nutrition. Completed top in my class, Frydenlund v.g.s. and Rœlingen v.g.s., Norway.

Work Experience:

Aug 2018- current      Subject Advisor Singing, singing and performance lecturer, Bårdar Performing Arts Academy, Oslo
I head up the team of singing teachers at this vocational degree.

Sep 2017- May 19       Senior Lecturer, Voice Specialist and Artist Development at the  Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM)

July 16 – Sept 17         Pathway Leader Creative Artist BA (Hons) Degree at ACM

Aug 15- July 16          Visiting Lecturer of Performance

Mar 2011-2016          Lecturer of Popular Music Performance at University of Chester (UoC) teaching vocal technique, performance, band modules, music theory, choir, music technology and more on BA, MA and postgraduate programmes.

May-Sept 2015          Programme Leader MA Popular Music (Performance, Songwriting/Composition and Musicology) at UoC. Left because I took a part time post to also work at ACM.

Aug 2007- Mar 11     Teaching Fellow at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA)

Aug 2003 – Jun 07   Visiting Lecturer and singing teacher LIPA

External Examination

 

Dates	Duties	Institution	Course
2012 à	Specialist External Assessor	Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Association with Access to Music	Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Popular Music Performance
2013 à	External Examiner Validation of the new course	University of Wales, Coleg Harlech	Creative Music Technology

Ongoing consultancy/outside commitments:

• I teach one to one and group singing and songwriting lessons through my artist development company Aurora Borealis Music and Balance Vocal Studios.
• Director of critically acclaimed Threshold Festival, I have also worked on numerous other festivals, concerts and networking events including Sound City, Liverpool Music Week and Øyafestivalen (details in history).

 

Career History

2003-15                        Musical Director and/or Choir leader for a variety of performances and groups including Indigo Vibe – contemporary A Capella choir. I am musical director and arrange most of the material. Started September 2010, and we have performed at festivals such as the Groove on the Green, corporate events and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

2003 à                         In addition to private singing and song writing tuition and vocal coaching I also do one off workshops and courses. Clients include managers, record labels, choirs, schools, colleges and charities.

• Worked with BAFTA winning composer Bill Connor (Lord of the Ring) in the Sing Out Project for Liverpool Capital of Culture Ran a community choir until Dec 2009 when the funding ran out.
• BBC – taught song writing as a part of the Blast Project
• Merseyside Development Agency – Singing workshop for workshop leaders
• M-Zone (A Youth Music funded organisation)– Singing, song writing and generic music workshops
• Wirral Music Service – ‘Sing for Fun’ leading an informal music teachers in a choir and taster sessions across schools on the Wirral.
• Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus – Choir leader (maternity cover) for SHARP’s community choir for people in recovery from addictions.
• Rainhill Community Choir – I ran a 12 week project in Rainhill this spring towards a performance.
• Coordinated ‘Girls Into Rock’ a project with Sense of Sound to get more girls in to playing instruments and writing songs.

2004-2012                  I regularly ran courses and workshop for Sense of Sound in Liverpool and all over the UK. I also was a key member of the Sense of Sound choir and have also arranged pieces for the choir. Experiences include singing with Seal and John Bon Jovi at the Royal Variety Show in 2007, with Ringo Starr at the official Capital of Culture Launch.

Previous employment experience as singing teacher includes:    LIPA 4:19, Stage & Singing Express, St Francis Academy, Millington College, New Deal for Musicians and Kingsley Community School

Practitioner Career Progression – ongoing engagements within music

• I am an active singer and songwriter gigging regularly. Have performed with artists such as Brett Andersson (Suede), Noah & The Whale, Marina & The Diamonds, Cherry Ghost, Sandi Thom, Foy Vance, Wave Machines and The Wombats. I perform solo and with my band ‘Science of the Lamps’, who currently have a released 2 EP’s as well as composing the sound track to an award winning feature film. The band gig all over Europe and at UK festivals including The Great Escape, Tramlines, Liverpool Sound City and Chorlton Arts Festival.
• As an actor I have performed both in musical theatre (LIPA 10 years anniversary show, West Side Story, Company et.c.) and straight plays and film and have also written music for theatre and film.

• Coordinator of the ‘Make It Break It Awards’, a song writing scheme for young people between the age of 14-19, a collaboration between Yamaha and LIPA. I am head of preliminary judge and coordinator of the National competition, prizes and showcase event, in addition to liaising with and coordinating design and marketing team. Main judges include Chris Martin, Mark Radcliffe, Steve Levine, Harvey Goldsmith and representatives from the British Music Experience, HMV and EMI.

• Founding member of ‘Liverpool Music Week’ since 2003. I was key organizer in the first years of the festival and until 2005, when my schedule did not allow me to continue. Apart from booking and programming artists, my tasks included: coordinating the stage management and artist liaison staff and the music industry panels.

• International coordinator at the Øya Festival (www.oyafestivalen.no) for 7 years in Oslo. My duties include taking care of international press and music industry, arranging networking events to bring the Norwegian and International industry together. Directly responsible to the festival management and Music Export Norway.

• Programme manager and founder of ‘The Get Real Academy’; an opportunity for young musicians to train and showcase their music. Initially this was run on a weekly basis under ABM. Since summer 2006 it has been arranged as a summer academy under the LIPA umbrella and as courses in collaboration with other institutions.
• Promoter of several monthly, weekly and one off gig nights, showcases and festivals in Liverpool, London and Norway. Used to liaise with the in house promotion staff, listings magazines/press, print and promotion in addition to the actual event organizing.
• 2003-05 Coordinator of the ‘Women’s Music Network’ for the Music Development Agency

Training courses/ workshops:

 

July 2014                    Attended Vocology In Practice ‘Summer Intensive’ in Los Angeles.

Returning in 2015 to teach on the course.

 

October 2006              Incorporation of vocalists in jazz improvisation, Jazz Institute, Belgium.

Spring 2006                CPD Training in Music Technology to fresh up my skills from university.

April 2005                    Conference in Social Entrepreneurship at the Nevarra Business School, Barcelona

 

2004-2005                   CPD Training with M-zone on conflict resolution, risk assessment, child protection, workshop leadership, self evaluation and community music.

 

Oct 2003                     Business Link Start up course. 6 sessions. Induction to marketing, finance and business law.

1993-98                       I also have a series of instruction/coaching courses in general fitness, football, ice hockey, exercise to music and mental training. Details available on request.

 

Professional qualifications/ training courses/ workshops:

 

December 2013          Licensed teacher of BASTtraining, singing teacher training

 

September 2013         Authorized Vocology in Practice Instructor

 

September 2010         Member of the HEA Academy

 

Jan 07 à                    Licensed instructor of ‘Speech Level Singing™’ Level 2 April 2010.

 

October 2006              Incorporation of vocalists in jazz improvisation, Jazz Institute, Belgium.

Spring 2006                CPD Training in Music Technology to fresh up my skills from university.

April 2005                    Conference in Social entrepreneurship at the Nevarra Business School, Barcelona

 

2004-2005                   CPD Training with M-zone on conflict resolution, risk assessment, child protection, workshop leadership, self evaluation and community music.

 

Sept 2003-04             NVQ3 in Business start up with the Music Development Agency and Blue Orchid.

 

Oct 2003                     Business Link Start up course. 6 sessions. Induction to marketing, finance and business law.

1993-98                       I also have a series of instruction/coaching courses in general fitness, football, ice hockey, exercise to music and mental training. Details available on request.

Mentor experience

• Mentor for Vocology in Practice teachers
• Mentor with CreativeBias and M-Zone
• Mentor for Merseyside Arts Foundation (funded by the Arts Council)
• Freelance worker with ‘Activate Arts’ doing vocational arts projects.
• Merseyside Youth Association; work with young offenders and young persons who had fallen out of mainstream education.

Language Skills

I have an interest in linguistics and find languages fascinating.

English:               Speak fluently and write to high a standard. Good vocabulary.

Norwegian:                   Mother tongue. Speak and write perfectly with a great vocabulary.

French:                Good communication skills. Read well, basic writing skills.

 

I also speak Swedish and Danish fluently and understand some German.

Computer Knowledge
I have had access to PC and Mac since 1988, and used it regularly both privately, in studies and working as a freelance journalist. I am a relatively quick typist (70 w/min) and have high or basic knowledge of a wide range of software’s including:

• The Microsoft Office package – Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Outlook, Publisher
• Several Web browsers – Firefox, Netscape, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
• Audio software- Logic, Garageband, Protools, Wavelab, Cubase (and several CD Burning software)
• Adobe Package – I am a keen designer and have good knowledge Photoshop and basic knowledge of the rest of the Adobe package and Dreamweaver – Web design package. Also know basic html.

 

Other Work Experience

As I chose an expensive education I had to fund and have always been encouraged by my parents to work I have had many jobs. I want to stress that have never been fired or quit before a contract has run out, but has explored many work sectors since 1992 which has made me more determined to make a career in music.

Feb 2002-04               Fitness instructor, (Reviva leisure centre, William Anthony Health and Beauty and Spindles/Adelphi gyms in Liverpool and Spenst, Trimland and SATS in Norway.

Previous

 

 

• Bar staff
• “Singing waitress”
• Children’s Entertainer
• Waitress
• Substitute teacher
• Customer Service/ Product Activation Consultant
• Receptionist
• Salesperson
• Beauty Consultant
• Baby Sitter
• Cleaner
• Ice Hockey Coac

 

Interests
In addition to music I have many other interests. I enjoy exploring the cultural life, food and wine both where I live and when travelling abroad.

I have always been a keen sports person. I still dance and play football regularly and enjoy outdoors activities like skiing, climbing and hiking. I have done sports to high National level in Norway, played first division football, and was also picked out to train with the National Ice Hockey Team.

 

I have throughout my youth been part of theatre and drama groups and have been on stage and in films acting both professional and in an amateur fashion.

Certification:

I, the undersigned, certify that, to the best of my knowledge and believe, this CV correctly describes myself, my qualifications and work experience. I understand that any willful misstatement described herein may lead to my disqualification or dismissal, if employed.

Kaya Ulrikke Herstad

Contact details and reference details have been censored on the below career summary, so contact me if you want to full detail. Also, check out www.linkedin.com/kayamusic for endorsements and further info.