Our Mission
Our mission is to cultivate vibrant spaces for human connection and transformation through collective vocal improvisation experiences, for both seasoned vocal explorers and curious newcomers.
Our Vision
Our vision is to foster a transformative and paradigm-shifting culture of collaborative emergence inspired by regenerative leadership
and interdependence.
Woah there! What does THAT mean?!
We want to build a future that nurtures healthy humans and a healthy planet. Taking inspiration from the beautiful practice of vocal improvisation, we believe that by doing things differently within our team and in our events we can be a part of a larger shift of institutional practices and collective behaviors.
Dive in below for more info on the big words:
Our Values
Our values, like the values of the artform, are centred around collaboration, deep listening, mutual respect, authenticity, and human to human connection. These qualities are embedded in the way that we endeavour to work together as a team and also encompass the core values of our festival retreat.
We also believe that everyone should be able to fully engage in vocal improvisation and that everyone has a right to be welcomed and encouraged. To support this we have established our Safer Spaces Policy.
Our Story
We are the UK Vocal Improv Collective — a group of artists and facilitators dedicated to creating performances, recordings, events, and festivals that use vocal improvisation not only as an artistic form but as a tool for human connection.
Brought together by the trials and tribulations of the pandemic and sparked by Briony Greenhill, the founding members of the collective offered The Daily 10&6 - twice-daily online vocal improvisation sessions, that became an emotional and creative lifeline for both participants and facilitators. The undeniably shiny silver lining of this challenging time is that we started talking regularly, co-creating spaces, and really digging into what collaborative vocal improvisation actually means to us. Most importantly, we realised that by joining our forces together, we could reach more people and help the artform to flourish.
From this flowed our yearly gatherings, beginning in 2022. Visit the links below to learn more about each past event.
UK Vocal Improv Festival Retreat 2022
UK Vocal Improv Festival Retreat 2023
2025 was a year to digest, integrate, and reflect on the journey so far, as well as vision into what the future holds. 2026 and 2027 may look slightly different as we focus in. Watch this space!
Some of the exciting projects that have germinated and grown from this closer collaboration, connection, and cross-pollination over the years include:
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The Daily 10&6: The online lifeline that kicked it all off throughout the pandemic
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Remembering: An collaborative album of improvised songs fresh out of the pandemic
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Anthropos: Reimagining ancient human sounds through spontaneous song
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Oöm: Tender and ridiculous vocal mastery that will make you feel things
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The Collective Identity project: A collaborative enquiry of dancers with Parkinson’s
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The inimitable time-travel livestream of Kate Smith and Uran Apak
We are grateful to so many influential artists, teachers, and improv greats, who have influenced us all and who we would like to honour for their contribution to this artform. Thank you particularly to Bobby McFerrin for his incredible innovation and continuous inspiration, and also to Rhiannon for her pioneering teaching resources - Vocal River. Thank you also to our friends and collaborators in the UK including Jenni Roditi, Cleveland Watkiss, and many many more.
Our (Evolving) Community Ecology
Click on the circles below to find out more
Meet The Team
We are the Production Team who together dream up and produce all of the UK Vocal Improv Events. We also collaborate in various formations on many other artistic projects.
Uran Apak
London-based Uran is a space travelling, looping alien from outer space who creates improvised electronic music and enjoys taking others on cosmic voice journeys. Uran often handles the UKVIC social media, holds our conflict resolution process with Kate M and is the slow-time mama of the group.
Jaka Škapin
Jaka is a wizz kid of the arts business as well as a rhythm and harmony nerd. He's the force behind The Well and a member of Anthropos and is currently diving into his Slovenian heritage through researching Slavic folk song. Jaka is a master of industry know-how and maintains UKVIC's connections with the wider world of vocal improv.
Emma Coleman
Emma of the dulcet tones is a Leeds-based singer and cellist. She plays with Me and My Friends, is a member of Oöm and Wildsong Collective, and co-creator of Vocal Playground with Phoebe. She feels deeply into all the details, gives big love and attention to wellbeing, and is our meticulous archivist.
Kate Mellors
Kate is a magic forest pixie who leads a forest theatre school, outdoor choirs and is building her home in a wood in Southampton. She is a member of Polly Gone Wrong and Oöm. Kate often contributes to research and copy and along with Uran is the holder of our conflict process! Kate is our queen of play and always brings the silly!
Kate Smith
Kate is a globe trotting singer of many interests, often found between London and Lisbon. She's the creator of the Embodied Voice and is inspired in her singing by all things movement. She is a part of Oöm and Anthropos. Kate is the team octopus, managing the spreadsheets, websites, tickets, moneys and more.
Phoebe Martha
Phoebe is a voracious manifestor, with years of experience under her belt leading community music projects and performing her own music under Penniless Cove. Of Welsh origins, she is a member of Oöm, co-facilitator of Antidote and Vocal Playground with Emma. Phoebe serves the hustle and holds the timelines.
Explore the Community
Our events are made possible by the involvement of a wide number of people who love vocal improv and are eager for the scene to grow, for our collaborations to expand, and to nurture the growth of a vibrant community.
Our Partners
