Jess Baker
Freelance Musician/Project Coordinator
Phone:
07887914678
Email:
Address:
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
A Bit About Me
I am a singer, community musician, performer and song writer. I have worked in so many community settings both as musician and as coordinator, sometimes both. Always working with music for wellbeing and mental health.
As you can see from my CV I worked for a lot of years at Hoot Creative Arts as a musician and project manager. Then during the pandemic I decided that maybe I was due a change. I did some extra study, took some time to hone my practice and became completely freelance. I wanted to take on some different projects and see what would happen and it has been the best thing ever. I now work for several charities and companies and I still work for the fabulous Hoot as a freelance artist.
I perform with bands, including the UKs number 1 Prince Tribute band: Endorphinmachine.
I have a full driving license, DBS on update service and Counter Terrorism Clearance, up to date safeguarding training.
Below is my CV and qualifications which I try to keep up to date.
Work Experience
January 2022-ongoing
2009-ongoing
2011-ongoing
2022-2023
Shared Harmonies CIC
I am a freelance artist for Shared Harmonies. I run regular groups in Singing for Breathing, and Singing with people living with dementia and their carers/family. I am trained in Singing for Lung Health and regularly deliver taster sessions with the pulmonary rehab team in Huddersfield.
Hoot Creative Arts
I started at Hoot as a trainee artist when I was finishing my Masters in Community Music. From there I delivered on their singing for mental health programme, was programme coordinator for the commissioned arts and mental health service in Kirklees, volunteer coordinator and finally Manger for Hoot Music in Prisons.
My biggest achievement at Hoot was developing the successful Hoot Music in Prisons (started in 2013) project which worked across prisons in the North, in units on the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway.
I trained and coordinated a team of artists to deliver high quality sessions in these specialised settings. I worked with the commissioner's, and wrote all the reports and I then went on to secure funding to develop this work in the South. It is still going strong today (I left this role in 2023) and I am now a freelance artist on the project.
Jessie's Fund
I joined Jessies Fund as a trainee artist on their Soundtracks Programme and have worked for them ever since. For Jessie's Fund I work across the UK in SEN settings.
-I am currently working at Leeds Royal Infirmary, working with the play teams and creating music with children on the oncology wards.
-A project that stands out for me took place across Liverpool SEN settings where we wrote songs running up to Eurovision and then the groups performed their very own Eurovision in an accessible venue.
-This year (2025), myself and Helen Beauchamp were tasked with working with an animation company to write and record the music to Jessie's Funds 30th anniversary video.
-I have worked with Halifax and Bradford Portage services to train the staff to deliver more music in their early years sessions with young people and their families.
-Over lockdown I worked with a team to create films for those who were shielding and unable to attend schools. These videos and still used across schools and I have used them myself when playing music with my niece!
Facing The Past - Lancaster
This was a very special project for me. Facing the Past is a project that seeks to redress the ommissions of Lancaster's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade using creative processes as a way to think and feel about difficult histoires and uncomfortable pasts.
I worked with a group of teenagers to learn about this past and to respond by writing new songs. These songs were woven into a a large performance with others groups led by other singers and a dancer. These were then performed in a one hour street performance in the May Bank holiday 2023. We then led a vigil in which I led some reflective singing.
Here is the film:
Other Projects
Board Member for the Natural Voice Network
2020-2024
I was a member of the NVN board for this period. At which time we organised a large online event for our members. We also developed the ARCH group (Anti Racism and Cultural Honouring) this group started the ARCH fund that uses a proportion of members subscription fees to fund projects for people in our network.
The Swan Song Project
I am an affiliate artist for the gorgeous Swan Song Project. A charity really close to my heart. We write songs and record songs at the end of life. See the project here.
Community Choirs
-I have always ran community singing and community choirs. My own community choir is Raised Voices (which are currently masquerading as Sun Sing.)
-I founded and co run Ramshackle community orchestra and choir. We perform to raise money for charities that are close to our hearts.
-I have led lots singing and song writing workshops for children at Hillside Primary and Newsome High School.
Beowulf
This project (2023) was with Proper Job Theatre Company. I worked alongside the composer and led the viking choir in this epic performance of Beowulf, and conducted the performances.
Clips of rehearsals and interviews here
HCMF
I have delivered lots for HCMF over the years. The most recent was a collaboration with singer Satnam Galsian to create videos for primary school children and their teachers to develop group singing.
Woven in Kirklees Festival
I was on the team for this beautiful project that celebrates innovation in textiles across Kirklees. This beautiful performance
was an original song brought together by Boff Whalley developed from stories of different communities and telling the stories of economic migrants who came to Kirklees to work in textiles. The performance is with community choirs and the South Asian Boliyan Singers.
Universities
-I have delivered several times for Goldsmiths university. I was choral director for their Music Week Festival 2019.
-I have delivered freshers week activities with Universities of Huddersfield and Leeds
-I have delivered a workshop as part of a research project in collaboration with Tolson Musieum and the University of Huddersfield with young people. (April 25)
Musica Kirklees
2021- Inclusive Rock Newsome (working with students with SEN towards a performance)
2022- Worked on a project with a DJ to teach young people how to DJ, towards a performance event at the Wardrobe in Leeds.
Education and Training
Vocal Health First Aid
2021- With Vocal Health Education
Vocal Health First Aid plus ongoing CPD including Healthy Spoken Voice.
Vocal Process Singing Teacher Training
July 2020-2021
The Musical Breath - Singing for Lung Health
April 2021
Mental Health First Aid Training
MFHA England, 2 day course 2022
Natural Voice Network singing leader training
Training week with with NVN founder Frankie Armstrong 2011
Masters in Community Music
University of York 2008-2010 (2:1)
B(mus) Music Performance
University of Huddersfield 2005-2008 (2:1)
BTEC Music Performance
Leeds College of Music 2003-2005 (DMM)
+ English Literature A Level- C
3 / Item Title
Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text.
