Practitioner Profile: Vicky Abbott

Your Name
Vicky Abbott

Your Practice
I sing, teach, and arrange and write music for choirs.

How long have you been a creative practitioner?
Since 1997

What were you doing before that, and how did you get to where you are now?
After finishing a fine art degree I became involved with the Golowan Festival in Penzance, where I met and started singing with a couple of the women at the Banner Workshops. We formed a choir called the Singing Nuns (holy we certainly were not) and it soon became clear that I was the only one bossy enough to lead. I was hopeless to begin with but we had the spirit to keep trying and in the end we even became quite entertaining. I’ve been involved with singing ever since, I started a small close harmony group called Angel Tongue and that’s when I began arranging and writing more seriously.

Describe the work you are doing right now
Running two ‘Kernow Voice’ choirs at the Hall for Cornwall. Performing in and directing a small choir called The Fragrant Vagrants, at the Eden Project during the ‘Time of Gifts’. Developing a small a cappella group of teenage girls called ‘Those Girls' who I have been involved with for over two years. Working in small groups of young people who are at risk of social exclusion and co-facilitating a street dance and singing project with Fiona Richardson for CYMAZ.

What has recently been the most revelatory or transformational moment for you?
Watching Howe Gelb (from the band Giant Sand) perform at St George's, Bristol. I was on the verge of giving up song-writing because I thought that what I was writing was too weird for people to listen to. Then Howe started performing and I was utterly gripped. His words were painfully honest; his performance was open and brave. I realised that I had to stop being afraid of what people thought of my material and concentrate on improving my own performance.

Who or what has had the most profound influence on your career?
Many people, too many to mention, but most recently Christine Moore of the
Bristol Dyslexia Centre, who I had the privilege of working with. Without realising it she showed me how to deal with the most difficult pupils with respect and sincerity.

What is the best aspect of your creative work with school children or other adults?
Listening to anyone allowing themselves to let go. Everyone has it within them to be a great singer.

What is your ambition?
To become self-reliant through my creativity in Cornwall, which at times has been a struggle.

If you had three wishes for the future what would they be?
Obviously world peace, an end to poverty and education for all.

What simple advice would you give creative people setting out on their careers?
Follow your intuition. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.