Michael Bonshor is a full-time Lecturer in Music Education at UCL. He was
previously Programme Director of the MA in Music Psychology in Education,
Performance and Wellbeing at the University of Sheffield, where he holds an
Honorary Research Fellowship. Michael is Professor of Voice, Wellbeing and
Performance Psychology at Leeds Conservatoire, where he has been a Lecturer on
the MA in Musical Direction and on BA Acting/Actor Musician Courses. He has also
been a Visiting Lecturer at York St John University and the Royal Welsh College of
Music, and he is currently a PhD supervisor with experience of examining doctorates
at several Universities.
Michael has a background as a professional singer with international contracts, and he has had a long career as a conductor and teacher of singing. His MA dissertation focused on managing performance anxiety in amateur singers, and his PhD explored strategies for confidence building for singers and conductors in choral settings. Michael’s postdoctoral research has included projects on psychological wellbeing for singers and choir leaders; holistic wellbeing in brass band players; the development of music library services and resources; and equality, diversity and inclusion in amateur music groups.
Publications have included articles and book chapters on confidence building for performers; conducting; group dynamics in musical ensembles; brass band playing; and music and wellbeing. He also holds editorial roles with several peer-reviewed international publications. Michael’s book, The Confident Choir: A Handbook for Leaders of Group Singing was published by Rowman Littlefield International. He has presented his work at international research conferences and regularly delivers practical workshops on confidence-building and team building in education, business, and community settings, as well as in music performance training sessions.
special interests
Music and wellbeing; performance anxiety management; music education and community musicmaking; choral and orchestral conducting; musical leadership and group dynamics; vocal development, training and performance; equality, diversity and inclusion in musicmaking and education; performance psychology for confidence building in musical and non-musical contexts
thesis title
Confidence and the Choral Singer: The Effects of Choir Configuration, Collaboration and Communication
contact details
- email:
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