Celebrating Another Alumni Achievement: Christabel Heasman-Cossins Published in Music & Science!

Another Alumni Publication!

We're excited to share that our wonderful alumna, Christabel Heasman-Cossins, has recently had her paper published by Music & Science!

The paper, titled

"Using Vocal Improvisation within the Vocal Coaching Studio to Mitigate Music Performance Anxiety: An Exploratory Study of Three Cases"

provides insights for vocal coaches and singers into the efficacy of sung improvisation as a tool for reducing music performance anxiety. It also contributes to a deeper understanding of the vocal coach’s role in addressing this issue.

And the paper features co-contributors — our very own Debbie Winter, and Dr David Juncos!

Christabel has also recorded a vodcast with Music & Science Journal, set to be released soon. Stay tuned!

Huge congratulations, Christabel!

Christabel has worked professionally as a contemporary commercial music (CCM) singer since leaving school. Her extensive performance experience spans roles as a session singer, lead vocalist and band leader, backing vocalist, top-line writer, voice-over artist, and band agent, working across genres including soul, pop, dance, and jazz.

Alongside her singing career, Christabel has worked as a vocal coach for over 20 years, delivering 1:1 coaching, teaching in schools and performing arts institutions, and leading amateur and community choirs. She currently divides her time between private vocal tuition, choir leadership, and ongoing professional performance work.

In addition to her work in music, Christabel is also involved in her family’s business, Indian Summer, a well-established restaurant in Brighton, UK—where she leads on brand and interiors design and occasionally works front of house. In addition to her work in music, Christabel is the founder of WHOLE Coaching, a transformational coaching framework that supports individuals and organisations in reconnecting with what matters, letting go of outdated identities and unhelpful patterns, and cultivating the clarity, courage, and psychological flexibility to live and lead with deeper alignment.

The framework is structured around five core principles: What (identifying what truly matters), Honest (cultivating honest awareness of inner experience), Ownership (taking responsibility for choice and change), Live what matters (turning values into action), and Embodiment (integrating change at a felt, behavioural level).

Christabel holds a BA in Humanities (University of Brighton), a PGCert in Professional Practice (Vocal Pedagogy) (Cardiff Met), an MA in Contemporary War and Peace Studies (University of Sussex), and an MA in Performance Coaching for Performing Artists (University of Wales Trinity St David). She is currently on the Pathway to PhD by publication with the Voice Study Centre.