Category: Presenter Biography

Shivani Rattan is a choral conductor, mezzo and educator based in London. She sings with the all-female quintet Papagena and is a session singer. Her biggest musical passion is working with young people in music, she leads on Brent Music Service’s choirs and works extensively in the borough on developing singing strategies as well as the skills of teachers.

Her Three Indian Celebration songs published by Sing for Pleasure were written as a response to a lack of diverse repertoire available to musical settings; she has since been commissioned by Hal Leonard to write more music for the same purpose. She also conducts at The National Children’s Choir of GB and National Youth Choir with whom she was a Fellow in 2021.

When she’s not making music you’ll find Shivani in the kitchen making focaccia or at the gym lifting weights!

Mat gained a music scholarship to QEGS Wakefield and was a choral scholar at Wakefield Cathedral Choir. He has worked in education for over 25 years as a Head of Music and Performing Arts, Advanced Skills Teacher, Vice Principal, Head of School and as a Regional Director of Education for Primary and Secondary Schools.

Mat is the founder and Artistic Director of Barnsley Youth Choir, an organisation that now has over 700 members aged 0-24 years old based in an area of significant deprivation. The choir has developed a strong international reputation winning eight 1^st prizes in the European Choir Games and the World Choir Games. BYC was also awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2017 for the work of the 70 strong volunteer team that helps to run the choir. He helped to establish Barnsley Singers, a 160 strong adult community choir and has worked with adult choirs of all abilities. He has close ties with a number of choirs internationally including the choirs at the Kodaly School in Kecskemet, Hungary.

Mat is in demand as an adjudicator and has represented GB on the International Jury in the World Choir Games in Russia, South Africa and New Zealand as well as appointments throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. He is in demand as a course leader, clinician, guest conductor and workshop leader internationally and is the Artistic Director of the Hull and Blackpool International Choir Competitions as well as leading conducting seminars such as the International Conductor’s Seminar in Wernigerode, Germany. Mat is a representative for Great Britain on the World Choir Council and was appointed as an Honorary Member in 2024 for his service. He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for his services to music and young people and was made a Honorary Freeman of Barnsley in recognition for his work within the local community. He is spearheading the development of the Northern Academy of Vocal Excellence (the NAVE) which is a £4m development that will provide a centre of excellence for choral singing in the North of England. He is passionate about the use of singing as a mechanism to engage, connect and transform communities.

Liz is an established vocalist, choral director, and soloist, known for her passionate and forward-thinking approach. She has performed with The Swingles, Bobby McFerrin, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Jacob Collier, The Heritage Orchestra, New York Voices, Paco Peña, the Aurora Orchestra, and London Voices. She has appeared at international venues and events including the Montreux and London Jazz Festivals, La Scala Milan and the Proms. She is also a regular performer, vocal coach and session singer on radio, film and television, including appearances with the BBC, Sky TV, the London Symphony Orchestra, and soundtracks for Netflix, Marvel and Disney Studios.

Liz is dedicated to expanding choral education, innovation and participation in the UK, drawing on her experience working and teaching abroad. As a choir leader she has worked for diverse organisations across the UK, including the Southbank Centre, The Choir With No Name, The Guardian newspaper and Comic Relief as well as numerous community choir initiatives, and training choir leaders in Singing For Lung Health for The Musical Breath. As founder and director of London’s contemporary XL vocal group SOUND, Liz remains committed to creating opportunities for vocalists, and pushing the creative boundaries of vocal music.