Joanna Cordell

Jo Cordell is a singer, pianst and vocal coach who has been giving singing and piano lessons full time for twelve years and has been giving private lessons from her home in Crowborough, East Sussex exclusively since 2009.

Jo loves to perform and she sings and plays on stage and at weddings and events, as well as regularly working with function bands. As a member of the Musicians Union, she carries full public liability insurance and is happy working with children and adults alike.

Roots in a Musical Family

Jo comes from a family of musical talent. Her late Grandfather was a trumpeter and composer of chart hits playing in brass bands, orchestras and ensembles, as well as working with Louis Armstrong and John Lennon. He also penned the winning British Eurovision entry ‘Sing Little Birdie’ in 1959.

Her late Great Uncle, Frank Cordell composed for motion pictures, notably his popular scores for ‘Ring of Bright Water’, ‘Khartoum’ and Academy Award nominated ‘Cromwell’ and was musical director of HMV Records, known subsequently as EMI, so it is no surprise that she has chosen to follow a musical career herself.

Training and Early Teaching

Jo started singing and piano lessons aged five and then went on to train at Trinity College of Music, London from the age of 14. She also trained with English National Opera for a year at 18. Obtaining Grade 8 Piano and Grade 8 Singing as well as The Performer’s Certificate, Jo’s next step was teaching for several specialist performance schools in Surrey and she also taught at Stagecoach in Sussex.

Beginning Private Lessons

2002 saw her move to West Sussex where she started offering private lessons from her home as well as continuing to teach at schools and stage schools, and taking part in Arts Council projects, workshops and summer school productions. By 2005, Jo had enough students to warrant the production of a students’ concert that has grown and developed and is now in its 6th year.

Moving to East Sussex

In late 2007, Jo moved to Crowborough, East Sussex, near Tunbridge Wells and her client base grew over the next year to the point where she made the decision to concentrate on teaching full time under the name JC Vocals. She now teaches over 40 students a week.