All about Grace…

Grace recently took over Aspire Arts Academy from Kat November 2019. Kat & Grace’s relationship goes back year to when Kat used to teach Grace and now it is truly wonderful to have a mentor, friend & colleague so close.

Experience…

Grace has always had a passion for performing from a very young age. It all started out when Grace started at a local performing arts school in the heart of Towcester, she then continued throughout secondary school and assisted with Student Teaching. As years went by – with endless performance opportunities, Grace then had to make the decision of either A Levels or looking at a full time Performing Arts School. Grace completed her first year of A Levels and then auditioned for JP Academy where she secured a place on their 2 year Full Time Performing Arts Course. Following that, Grace trained at Masters Performing Arts in Essex for 3 years where she was made Head Girl whilst training.

• Director of Aspire Arts Academy
• Commercial, Singing & Acting Teacher
• Artist Manager – BEX // Tragic Sasha

After graduating in 2018, Grace secured a number of professional jobs. She has appeared in a number of short films, a Modern Slavery Film for Northants Police, voice over and performed with Down For The Count at a live performance in London at Notting Hill.

Alongside auditioning, Grace has also taught over the past couple of years at a range of Performings Arts Schools including Sands Theatre School in Wheatley, Trinity Theatre Arts, Jackie Palmers in High Wycombe and of course Aspire Arts Academy!

Grace took over Aspire in November 2019 with the guidance and mentoring from Kat. On the side of teaching, Grace started her career in Music as a Campaign & Management Assistant at It’s Never Simple – an independent music services brand specialising in progressive approach to Artist Management, Development & Digital. Now working as an Artist Manager with clients such as BEX & Tragic Sasha, it’s great for Grace to be both sides of the industry!

Grace loves teaching & wants to share everything she knows with the students. From group teaching to 1:1 teaching, Grace is always happy to schedule time for new/previous/current students. Whether that be for Audition Preparation for College/Drama School, Audition for County Choir or someone looking for Private lessons in Singing, Acting or Dance.

All about Kat…

Kat is a singer-songwriter, ukulele enthusiast and leads a ladies singing group (Songbirds) in Towcester. Kat’s professional performance experience includes Jazz, Cabaret and Musical Theatre settings, and she has also featured as a solo artist in big bands, quartets and duos, as well as recording her own material/jingles for radio. In collaboration with Fitdog Recording Studios, Kat has managed multiple song-writing & recording projects for young people, including events to raise money for the local community. Kat launched ‘FunRaiseSing’, which invited participants to write and record their own song with the album proceeds being donated to Children in Need and Towcester Youth Coffee House. The songs created were then performed live at a state of the art theatre with input from music industry specialists Rachel Furner, John Donovan and Julie Gossage.

• Vocal Coach & Head of Singing at Aspire Arts Academy
• Musical Director of Songbirds
• Founder of Serendipity Singing Studio

Kat Stephens has been teaching voice for over 15 years. She is founder of Serendipity Singing Studio in the South Northants teaching all ages and specialising in young, developing voices.

To feed her passion for voice and to ensure that she is well-informed with the most current vocal science and pedagogy, Kat is dedicated to her own continued personal development through the likes of Vocology in Practise and John Henny’s Contemporary Voice Teacher Academy.

Experience…

After teaching at top Performing Arts schools around the country, including Redroofs Theatre School and Jackie Palmer Stage School. Kat founded Aspire Arts Academy in 2014, where she led a team of specialist teachers in delivering Performing Arts training to over 80 pupils. Kat also directed two incredible productions of Lion King Jr & Aladdin Jr whilst director of Aspire Arts Academy. She continues to act as a mentor for  offering her guidance and expertise.

Kat offers 1:1 Singing Lessons at her home studio in Towcester – for more information, you can contact her here.