Meet Polly
Sing! Faringdon singing classes are taught by Polly Cross. Polly is an experienced singing teacher, lecturer, musician, vocalist, and mum to Amelia and Charlie. Polly moved to Faringdon in March 2024 and was surprised to find there weren't any group singing classes available to book her daughter into, so after a bit of jiggling (and help from her husband!) Monday nights are now free to get Faringdon's youth singing!
​
Polly believes passionately in the power of singing to grow voices, confidence and community.
Experience
Teaching:
Polly has been working as a singing teacher for nearly 20 years. Many of her students have gone on to have successful careers in the music industry, on the West End and some have even become pretty fabulous singing teachers themselves. She currently works as a lecturer at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts on the Musical Theatre degree and diploma courses. She specialises in Singing Technique, Vocal Health and Anatomy. She previously held posts at SLP College (Leeds) as their Head of Singing Curriculum and interim Head of Singing; Cirencester College as their Head of Singing and Musical Director; External Examiner at Huddersfield University for their BA and MA Popular Music courses; plus peripatetic teaching work in various primary and secondary schools. Prior to having children 5 years ago she also always ran a thriving private teaching studio.
​
Performance/Recording:
Polly has sung professionally as a pop, rock and jazz singer, keyboard player and bass guitarist and has been lucky to have gigged, toured and recorded with many different musicians over the years. She's temporarily put her microphone back in its case since having children but prior to that most of her recording session work came from the EDM/Trance scene where she can be found as a guest vocalist and cowriter under her work name "Polly Strange".
​
Voice Training:
Polly has a BA (Hons) in Jazz Vocals; Diploma in Laryngeal Manual Therapy/Voice Massage for Voice and Swallowing Disorders; Vocal Health First Aider; Estill Levels 1 & 2, plus 2 years trainging with Anne-Marie Speed; PTLLS Teaching Qualification; Grade 8 ABRSM Classical Singing; Grade 8 Rockschool in Pop Singing; Grade 8 ABRSM Piano.
​
DBS checked.