Flutist Francesca Leo takes us through her journey of long-term injury, somatic education practices and the process of setting up Playing Without Pain.

As both flutist and entrepreneur, Francesca has used her own injury experience to connect injured musicians to resources and advice they may need.

Listen to her episode here.

Peter recently graduated from the Royal College of Music and this summer founded Fulham Fest with two friends. In his last year of study, he developed an injury in his hands, affecting not only his playing but also his mental well-being. Luckily, the pandemic seemed to come at just the right time for Peter as it meant that he could take things a little easier and pace his practice to suit him and his injury. Like many of us, he started doing some at-home yoga which seemed to help, but didn't completely remedy his injury. But then he accidentally linked up with a mobility coach, Mark McCourt (The Guy Who Didn't Settle), through social media. Mark showed him some joint exercises to develop a fuller range of motion, and Peter's eyes were opened to another level of looking after oneself and injury prevention.

Listen to Peter’s episode here.

Sophia Kannathasan tells us about her playing injury, which was diagnosed as golfers elbow. She takes us through the process of grieving playing violin, readjusting her priorities and healing with time, increasing playing incrementally. She also speaks about the rewards of mental practice and score study, both of which still form a part of her violin work.

Adamant about giving an honest account of being an up-and-coming musician, Sophia has reached people all over the world through her Instagram account.

Sophia has performed as part of chamber groups, orchestras, pit bands and as a soloist in various cities all over the UK, notably the Chineke! Junior Orchestra. Sophia has performed as part of an orchestra at the Royal Festival, the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican. She led the Redbridge Music School Symphony Orchestra and co-led the University of Leeds Chamber Orchestra. She also led a string quartet that performed at Hampton Court Palace for Prince Edward.

Born in 2000 and raised in Ilford, England, Sophia Kannathasan studied with Roberta Sullivan at the Redbridge Music Service. She is currently on a placement year at Saffron Hall, a thriving concert hall in Essex, as part of her degree with the University of Leeds. She is now studying with John Crawford. She currently plays on a violin made around 1750 by Richard Duke.

Listen to Sophia’s episode here.

A sufferer of focal dystonia, Bob shares with us what it was like to go through such an experience whilst still working and teaching. He talks about the difficulty in trying to find out what exactly was wrong, his trips to see various dystonia specialists, and the support he received from those around him.

Born in Wales, Bob studied the Bass trombone from 1976 at the RAM with Harold Nash and was the winner of the Sydney Langston Brass Prize. Bob’s first job was with the BBC Scottish Symphony at the age of twenty. He then went on to play with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Philharmonia and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Bob has made multiple recordings with these orchestras including soundtracks for blockbuster films such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and Braveheart. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, Americas and Asia.

Bob began teaching Bass Trombone at the Academy in 1989 and many of his students hold orchestral positions in the UK. Bob was president of the British trombone society from 2006 - 2010 and there is a biannual competition named after him - The Bob Hughes Bass Trombone Competition.

Listen to Bob’s episode here.

Songeun Choi talks about her experience with injury from her time at school onwards and how it's affected her ability to play, practise and fulfil commitments. Thank you for your openness and honesty Songeun!

Songeun Choi is a soloist and enthusiastic chamber musician. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she studied with William Fong and Diana Ketler. During her studies ,she was supported by scholarships and was awarded DipRAM and the Dorothy Bryant Award. She has performed in venues including Steinway Hall, Fazioli Concert Hall, Barbican, Wigmore Hall, King's Place, Klassische Klavier Festival in Austria and the Venue in Leeds.

Listen to Songeun’s episode here.

Murphy was studying saxophone at Guildhall School of Music and Drama when she started experiencing chronic pain in her jaw. She talks to us about what happened, and where she went from there.

Listen to Murphy’s episode here.

Flutist and musicians personal trainer Angela McCuiston speaks to us about her journey with an injury, leading her to further research, study and to launching her business, Music Strong, supporting musicians with rehabilitation and prevention through strength training.

Listen to Angela’s episode here.