Dr Kate Wareham is a passionate advocate for access to opportunities to sing together. Over many years, she has sung in numerous choirs, led singing groups in communities and offices, and championed collaborative vocal experiences for all. Her conviction that music-making can foster belonging and connection led to her connection with the Choir with No Name, recognizing its impact in giving people who have experienced homelessness or marginalisation the opportunity to sing as part of a community. The Choir with No Name now runs seven choirs across the UK from Brighton and London to Sheffield and Liverpool.
As a music psychologist with a PhD from the University of Sheffield, Kate brings both academic rigor and personal experience to her understanding of singing’s benefits. Her research explored the role of music listening in the lives of young people in temporary accommodation, examining how music can be an important tool in creating a space that has aspects of ‘home’. She is now supporting a PhD student based at the University of Leeds who is researching the impact of singing together for members of Choir with No Name. Kate is a keen musician and is a member of Abbeydale Singers, Crookes Brass Band and Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to her current role, she worked with major charities including Depaul UK, The Children’s Society, St John Ambulance and Home-Start.