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Christina Shewell MA, FRCSLT, ADVS has worked for many years as speech and language therapist, qualified voice teacher and communication skills coach in the business world. She holds an honorary senior lectureship at University College London, where she taught voice and counselling skills, and she remains particularly interested in the link between voice, emotion, brain and body. She was a member of staff for six years at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as voice teacher to acting students and spoken voice consultant to the singing courses. Christina’s clinical voice work has been in both the NHS and private practice. She has spoken extensively at conferences, and trained voice practitioners both nationally and internationally, including a five-city tour of Australia, and courses in India, Canada and the United States. Christina’s book, ‘Voice Work: Art and Science in Changing Voices’ (second edition 2025), addresses voice work along the continuum of normal-abnormal voice, in singing, spoken voice coaching and voice pathology, and is widely used.

Mr Guri Sandhu MBBS, MD, FRCS, FRCS (ORL-HNS) is a Consultant Otolaryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College, The Royal Brompton and University College Hospitals in London. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College and University College London. Guri Sandhu graduated from the University of London in 1990. He obtained the Intercollegiate Fellowship in Otolaryngology (FRCS ORL-HNS) in 2001 and a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) in 2011. Guri Sandhu has over 100 peer reviewed research publications and has written several book chapters and  books.  He lectures nationally and internationally and has an active research programme in laryngology with a special interest in laryngotracheal stenosis but also manages voice and swallowing disorders. He has experience in performing the full spectrum of endoscopic and open laryngeal procedures, many of which he has pioneered himself. He is ENT surgeon to the Royal Society of Musicians and he co-founded the British Laryngological Association (BLA).

Pamela Hay
Polish-American soprano Pamela Hay is Chair of the Association of the Teachers of Singing (AOTOS), where she leads the artistic and governance strategy, creates new partnerships, monitors the training courses, and creates national conferences showcasing the best researchers and practitioners in voice pedagogy and vocal health.

She is a Create and Sing Artist for the Royal Ballet and Opera, where she has designed, written and delivered accredited courses on healthy singing. Her role includes narrating operas on the main stage, conducting large-scale performances of children singing, and devising and delivering warm ups and workshops. Her videos and workshops have been seen by thousands of children across the UK. 

Pamela has just been appointed Vocal Coach in Residence to the National Youth Choir, promoted after just one season as Vocal Lead for their 9-15 choir. She has lectured and mentored for NYC’s Emerging Professional Artists Fellowship, and has been filmed for the NYC’s newest initiative Supercharge!, their new permanent website resource. 

As an educator, Pamela has an extensive background in Accent Method and Alexander Technique, and has substantial experience working with children and beginner adults, as well as professional voice users from other fields like acting. She has taught at the ROH Youth Opera Company, Eton College and JAGS among many others. 

Alleyn’s School have just appointed Pamela as their first-ever Head of Vocal Studies, a newly-created strategic role which will involve creating and implementing a whole-school strategy for embedding singing into the culture of the school. 

Alongside Abi Simpson SLT and Professor Guri Sandhu ENT Pamela works in a professional voice troubleshooting clinic at Charing Cross Hospital under 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College NHS Trust. 

Pamela has been a keynote speaker for the British Voice Association, Ark Academy Schools Trust, and the Royal Ballet and Opera Symposium. 

As a performer she has played over 35 roles in opera, theatre and film, including Mimì in the 2011 Olivier Award-winning production of La Bohème, roles at Shakespeare’s Globe and Chichester Festival Theatre with Sir Mark Rylance and Stephanie Beacham, and in Guy Ritchie’s film Sherlock Holmes 2, as well as work as concert soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the Hallé Orchestra. 

Ms Abi Simpson
Abi Simpson is the Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in ENT Laryngology, Airway Reconstruction and Voice in the Complex Laryngology service at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College Healthcare NHS Trust; where she also leads the voice service. Alongside Professor Guri Sandhu, she runs a tertiary voice clinic, a professional voice therapeutic clinic with Pamela Hey (Royal Opera) and is part of the multidisciplinary National Airway Reconstruction team. She has a particular interest in professional voice, laryngeal biomechanics, spasmodic dysphonia and vocal outcomes following laryngotracheal reconstruction.

Course Directors

Abi Simpson
Clinical Lead Specialist in Laryngology ENT and Airway Reconstruction (Voice)
Complex Laryngology and Airways, National Centre for Airway Reconstruction
Speech and Language Therapy 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College Healthcare NHS Trust

Margaret Coffey
NIHR Advanced Fellow, Senior Clinical Academic SLT, 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College Healthcare NHS Trust
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Department of Surgery & Cancer, 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

Dr Margaret Coffey is a Clinical Academic SLT based at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College Healthcare NHS Trust. Margaret has extensive clinical experience in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing and voice difficulty after treatment for Head and Neck cancer. Margaret’s innovative research has focused on the rehabilitation of communication and swallowing after Laryngectomy and the use of different evidenced based instrumentation to improve swallow outcomes.

General information