Education & Workshops
For over 60 years, The Swingles have redefined what vocal performance can be - blending cross-genre innovation with technical excellence. Our educational work has inspired generations of singers, and we offer a dynamic suite of workshops designed to spark that same creativity in musicians of all ages and abilities. Our accessible and versatile approach invites participants to discover what makes The Swingles one of the world’s foremost vocal ensembles.
Workshops with all The Swingles
Soundcheck To Standing Ovation
Ensembles Masterclass
Step into the rehearsal room with one of the world’s most iconic vocal groups for a transformative ensemble experience. In this hands-on masterclass, The Swingles work directly with your ensemble to finesse your existing repertoire, revealing trade secrets from their decades of professional performance.
Exploring group warm-ups, deconstructing and reassembling musical textures, honing blend, balance and vocal clarity, fine-tuning stage presence and ultimately building ensemble cohesion, this session will equip your group for success regardless of their genre or experience.

Duration: 90-120 minutes
Number of Swingles involved: All 7 members
Number of Participants: Minimum of 2 ensembles, maximum of 4.
Technical Requirements: PA & 2-3 microphones, if possible. Microphones will be used for speaking only and won't be used for singing.
Notes for Organiser: Please let us know in advance the number of groups participating and their general music style (eg. jazz, barbershop, madrigals, contemporary pop).
Behind The Curtain
Q&A Presentation
Get an insight into the inner workings of The Swingles in a discussion with the current line up. Whether existing fans of the group, teachers, or aspiring musicians themselves, this is a great opportunity for audiences to get to know us and find out more about the group’s past, present and future, our creative process, the life of a touring singer - anything you want to ask about!
This session also includes a detailed breakdown of our creative process, from songwriting and rehearsing to the performance itself. Ideal for a pre-concert session with a live audience.

Duration: 45-90 minutes
Number of Swingles involved: All 7 members
Number of Participants: Unlimited.
Technical Requirements: PA & 2-3 microphones, if possible. Microphones are for speaking only and won’t be used for singing.
Notes for Organiser: If booked alongside a concert, this session will include a tech demo and breakdown of our live-looping setup, using our own equipment. Details of this can be found in our technical rider.
Specialised Sessions
In addition to our whole-group workshops, we also offer sessions led by individual Swingle practitioners that dive deep into specific elements of vocal music. These specialised workshops are perfect for honing in on the varied interests of your students, and can be bundled in any configuration to create the perfect set of offerings for your music department or festival.
Sing Smarter, Not Harder
Description
A high-level technical workshop exploring the tools we use to sing with precision, stamina and style across genres. From vowel shaping and register shifts to breath control and healthy belting, we’ll demonstrate how to approach even the most demanding arrangements with efficiency and ease. 4-5 participants will have the opportunity to do individual work on a piece of their choice and receive personalised feedback from our team in front of the group.
Details
Duration: 90-120 minutes
Number of Swingles involved: Mallika Bhagwat, Owen Butcher and 1 other.
Number of Participants: Unlimited (plus optional audience).
Technical Requirements: A clear floor space for participants to move around, with seats for spectators. No PA required.
Notes for organiser: Please let us know in advance the number of participants, their general age range and level of experience. Participants who would like to be considered for individual coaching should come with a piece prepared.
Drippin' in Finesse
Description
This session targets personal vocal performance and stage presence to help you overcome nerves and own the stage!
Exploring a wide range of performance aspects including movement, posture, storytelling through song and audience communication, your students will gain the tools they need to perform confidently and passionately across a variety of vocal genres.
Details
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Number of Swingles Involved: Mallika Bhagwat and Tom Hartley
Number of Participants: Unlimited
Technical Requirements: A clear floor space for participants to move around, with seats for spectators. No PA required.
Notes for organiser: Please let us know in advance the number of participants, their general age range and level of experience.
Swingles for Small Ears
Description
This playful and engaging session introduces younger pupils to the joy of music-making using the voice. With improvisation games, sound effects and beatboxing, students are guided through a creative exploration of vocal sound.
Details
Duration: 60 minutes
Number of Swingles Involved: Laura Moisey-Gray and Sarah Alison
Number of Participants: Up to 30
Technical Requirements: A clear floor space for participants to move around, with seats for spectators. No PA required.
Notes for Organiser: Children will need to be supervised by a member of staff.
Vocal Percussion 101
Description
This hands-on workshop introduces the foundations of vocal percussion and beatboxing, with a focus on groove, clarity, and musicality. Whether you're completely new or looking to sharpen your sounds, this session is packed with tips, tricks and techniques to develop your rhythmic vocabulary and confidence.
Details
Duration: 60 minutes
Number of Swingles Involved: Jamie Wright and James Botcher
Number of Participants: Unlimited
Technical Requirements: PA & 2-3 microphones.
Notes for organiser: Please let us know in advance the number of participants, their general age range and level of experience.
Singing Without A Safety Net
Description
In this workshop, suitable for any age or level of experience, we banish inhibitions and use the tools we all possess to create music in the moment. Using improvisation games and listening exercises, participants will soon find themselves composing musical masterpieces on the fly. This is a truly empowering session that gets to the heart of what musicality means – we’re constantly surprised and delighted by the results.
Details
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Number of Swingles Involved: Jamie Wright and 1 other
Number of Participants: Unlimited
Technical Requirements: A clear floor space for participants to move around, with seats for spectators. No PA required.
Notes for organiser: Please let us know in advance the number of participants, their general age range and level of experience.
Find Your Groove
Description
A high-energy workshop all about rhythm and groove for all voice types. Participants will learn how to build rhythmic confidence, effectively pull around tempo and feel as a group, and explore how every vocal part plays a crucial role in keeping your ensemble's groove locked in.
Details
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Swingles Involved: Tom Hartley and Jamie Wright
Number of Participants: Unlimited
Technical Requirements: PA & 2-3 microphones.
Notes for organiser: Please let us know in advance the number of participants, their general age range and level of experience.
All sessions require adequate room space and can be customised to your group's specific needs and experience levels. Please feel free to contact us for special requests or combinations.
Share The Stage
Performance Collaboration
We love working with other singers and vocal groups, now here’s your chance to perform on stage with us. We will send you the materials for your choice of 1-2 Swingle numbers. We will join your choir for a short rehearsal and soundcheck, before inviting participants to join us on stage in the performance.

Note: This offering is only available in conjunction with a booking for a full performance by The Swingles.

Length: Up to 1 hour rehearsal/soundcheck
Number of Swingles involved: All 7 members
Number of Participants: Group of any size, dependant on stage capacity and amplification capabilities.
Technical Requirements: Please see The Swingles technical rider for more details - this will be sent during the performance booking process.
Notes for organiser: Please prepare (and memorise) choir parts in advance of rehearsal. Please let us know in advance the number of participants, their general age range and level of experience.
Available Repertoire Examples:
Man In The Mirror
Narnia
Les Fleurs
Other repertoire includes:
- New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
- Burden - Edward Randell
Until It's Gone
Advanced Collaboration
Suitable for advanced level choirs who can commit to rehearsing throughout the term/semester. This piece was commissioned by the National Youth Choir (UK) in 2020, and was written by The Swingles and choir on the theme of our shared environment.
If interested, please contact us for excerpts of the score.

Length: 1-2 rehearsals with The Swingles before concert
Number of Swingles involved: All 7 members
Number of Participants: Large SATB choir and its conductor, dependent on stage capacity. Choir parts divide into 4 choirs. Please contact us for information on the score.
Technical Requirements: Please see The Swingles technical rider for more details - this will be sent during the performance booking process.
Notes for Organiser: Please prepare choir parts in advance of rehearsal. Stage with capacity for The Swingles, choir, and conductor is required.
What People Say
"I have rarely seen so many students so fully engaged for such a long time, and it was down to your skill and enthusiasm which was evident throughout."
— Richard Niblett, Director of Music at Brighton College
"The Swingles' ability to connect with the singers and to engage them in improvisational exercises was outstanding. The concert was such an inspiration to our singers that they were still talking about it six months later!"
— Judy Hanson, Director of Choral Programs for Chicago Children's Choir
"The boys will have taken away so much from everything you gave this morning and it was all done with such humour and energy. As I walked the playgrounds at lunchtime, small groups were standing in circles improvising."
— Philip Brooke, Director of Music at Dulwich Prep London
"The Swingles not only display professionalism and musical excellence in everything they do, but like graceful ninjas, they take great care to remain quiet at the right moment s, leaving space in their teachings for even the most shy of students to step forward and explore their own unique musical instincts."
— Jonathan Minkoff, founder of SingStrong International A Cappella Music Festival
Why Us?
Each of our 7 members brings a unique and diverse set of skills that we have designed these workshops around - every session is tailored to the expertise of those who are running it to ensure the highest quality of teaching is delivered.
Mallika Bhagwat
Mallika is a PhD scholar in vocal health/technique funded by prestigious London Arts and Humanities Partnership. She has a wealth of knowledge in cross-genre performance practice, having being trained in the Hindustani classical tradition.
Sarah Alison
Alongside her work as a vocalist, Sarah is a classically-trained Trumpet player, holds degrees in Music Education and Contemporary Performance and has several years of secondary music teaching under her belt.
Laura Moisey-Gray
Laura splits her time between singing and working as a professional violist, performing in West End orchestras and as a function musician. She specialises in younger-years education, holding an ongoing position with the fantastic educational organisation Mini Mozart.
James Botcher
James is a seasoned classical performer, regularly engaging in high-level ensemble work across the industry with the BBC Singers, I Fagiolini and more. Amazingly, he is also an expert beatboxer and runs his own workshops on the subject.
Owen Butcher
A versatile vocal coach and experienced ensemble and session singer, Owen brings a unique mix of artistry and pedagogy to The Swingles’ education work. Specialising in vocal health, he helps singers to unlock confidence, creativity, and technical freedom.
Jamie Wright
An operatically-trained baritone, professional vocal percussionist and founder of the trailblazing World Choir, Jamie is an informational goldmine and has been instrumental in furthering The Swingles' education programmes during his tenure with the group.
Tom Hartley
Outside of The Swingles, Tom is one of the MDs of the brilliant London-based ensemble ChoirCo, and runs a thriving private teaching practice for singers of all levels. An expert in rhythm, groove and stagecraft, Tom is an invaluable addition to any workshop.
Booking
NOTES THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL WORKSHOP SESSIONS
If the session length is 90 minutes or more, it will include a short (5-10 minute) break halfway through. 
If workshop participants are likely to have difficulty understanding English, please provide a translator.
Please let The Swingles know the number of participants and their general age range and level of experience in advance of the session.
Workshops do not include a performance by The Swingles.
To book The Swingles, please contact:
Richard Eteson: [email protected]
The Swingles are:
Mallika Bhagwat (India/UK), Sarah Alison (USA/UK), Laura Moisey-Gray (UK),
James Botcher (UK), Owen Butcher (UK), Jamie Wright (UK), and Tom Hartley (UK)
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