Jacqueline Turner
Lowestoft,Suffolk
Summary
An energetic and passionate professional, knowledgeable about leading and inspiring performers, cultivating positive learning environments, and fostering people engagement and dedicated to continuous practice and improvement for audience enjoyment and skills development.
Strong background in Music and the Performing Arts, teaching, and performance, with excellent communication and people/personal skills.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of Music and Performing Arts
Ormiston Denes Academy
Lowestoft, Suffolk
2013.09 - 2025.08
- Created a motivational and challenging curriculum for students aged 11 - 16 and incorporated modern technology in lessons to increase range of skills and engagement.
- Orchestrated a diverse range of school concerts, showcases and productions, both within school and also in the local community, to give students a wide variety of opportunities to show case within the Performing Arts.
- Advocated for the importance of music education within the wider school community, fostering appreciation and support.
- Delivered and coordinated a full extracurricular programme for developing students' performing skills.
- Cultivated relationships with parents and carers through consistent communication about pupil achievements.
- Fostered a positive and safe learning environment through effective classroom management techniques and skills.
- Provided pastoral care for pupils, promoting their overall well-being and confidence in musical abilities and ensured equal opportunities for SEND and vulnerable student to achieve.
Head of Music
The Denes High School
Lowestoft, Suffolk
1997.09 - 2006.08
- Teaching a Music curriculum to students age 13 - 18 years.
- Building a successful and fulfilling Music department within the school that matches students' needs and follows the National Curriculum to enable students to achieve in line with national standards.
- Enhanced the department's public profile by arranging community music events.
- Created extracurricular activities for developing students' performing skills and a sense of community within the school.
- Coordinated instrumental lessons from Peripatetic teachers visiting the school each week.
- Managed departmental administrative tasks such as timetabling and report writing.
Music Teacher
Cambridgeshire County Council
March, Cambridgeshire
1991.09 - 1997.08
- Increased student participation in extracurricular activities by promoting the benefits of musical education.
- Explored varied musical styles in lessons broadening student appreciation of diverse cultures and traditions.
- Managed classroom effectively to maintain focus on lessons whilst ensuring student safety and wellbeing.
- Provided pastoral support where needed creating an inclusive space for all learners.
- Sourced music, costumes and props for regular classes and special performances.
- Coached students in voice, tempo and rhythm excercises to promote strong foundational music skills.
Education
Bachelor of Education Honours Degree - Music - Voice and Piano
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
1987.09 - 1991.06
Skills
- Professional Performing skills (30 years experience)
- Musical creativity and interpretation
- Live performance coordination, conducting and directing
- Talent scouting and development
- Vocal coaching and public speaking
- Production planning and rehearsing
- Communication and motivational skills
Affiliations
- My musical hobbies are singing with the Great Yarmouth Minster choir weekly and also as a soloist, as well as singing for local charities and clubs. I also compose and arrange music for choirs and schools and create musical backing tracks.
- I love gardening and growing fruits and vegetables.
- My artistic hobbies include crochet, pyrography and wood carving.
Accomplishments
In my musical journey, I have been lucky enough to sing, act and dance both professionally and non-professionally for several companies and in several masterclasses, one of them being for the Duchess of Gloucester. I had training as a mezzo soprano for over 20 years and I sing both opera, classical music and musical theatre as well as dabbling in more modern styles. As part of my vocal training, I can sing in Italian, French and German as well as English.
I have also trained and coached other singers and performers from teenagers to mature adults, many going on to be performers and music teachers themselves.
I was also the Musical Director for the Broadway Players in Lowestoft for several years, who were an amateur operatic society affiliated to NOVA, as well as directing, choreographing and musically directing many secondary school productions over my teaching career.
Timeline
Head of Music and Performing Arts
Ormiston Denes Academy
2013.09 - 2025.08
Head of Music
The Denes High School
1997.09 - 2006.08
Music Teacher
Cambridgeshire County Council
1991.09 - 1997.08
Bachelor of Education Honours Degree - Music - Voice and Piano
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
1987.09 - 1991.06