Stephen Clift is Professor Emeritus, Canterbury Christ Church University, a Professorial Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), and a former Director of the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health.
With over 40 years’ experience in the fields of health promotion and public health, he has made valuable contributions to research, practice and training on topics such as HIV/AIDS prevention, sex education, international travel and health, and the health promoting school in Europe.
Since the turn of the millennium, Stephen has pursued research in arts and health, and his most cited works centre around the potential value of group singing for health and wellbeing. Stephen has featured in a variety of academic journals: he was a founding editor of the journal Arts & Health: An international journal for research, policy and practice; is a joint editor of the Oxford Textbook of Creative Arts, Health and Wellbeing; and as recently as 2022 co-edited a Health Promotion International journal article titled A chorus of voices: social singing and health promotion, which champions the notion that social singing together can be a powerful unifier in the face of uncertainty and isolation.
Join Stephen for an international overview of recent and current singing for health research initiatives and how the findings might translate into practice. Stephen will also provide a detailed insight into the value of randomised controlled trials for assessing the contribution that group singing has on the health and wellbeing of those affected by mental health challenges, dementia, Parkinson's, long COVID and more.
Stephen’s one-hour ‘New Directions in Singing for Health Research and Practice’ short course runs from 1-2pm on Thursday 22nd June 2023 and offers a great way to develop your learning and boost your CV.
Professor Stephen Clift
Stephen Clift is Professor Emeritus, Canterbury Christ Church University, and former Director of the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health...
Recent Posts
After The Session
After The Session: Pop Pedagogy - an Overview with Kim Chandler
Voice Study Centre
Wednesday 28th October 2026A recap of our recent session with Kim Chandler, broadcast live from a recording studio in Marbella, southern Spain. When a session singer, industry vocal coach and academic walks into one room, you get a very particular kind of masterclass. Kim brought all three hats to our latest short course, a two-hour "whistle-stop tour" of the 15 areas she believes a pop-specific vocal pedagogy should cover. Fittingly, she taught it from the very room where the vocals for Kung Fu Fighting in Kung Fu Panda 3 were recorded.
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Student Interviews
Negotiating Authenticity: Tre Cooper Explores Cross-Genre Singing and Stylistic Decision-Making
Voice Study Centre
Friday 23rd October 2026What does it mean for a singer to sound authentic when performing in a genre outside their usual style? And how can voice teachers help singers develop stylistic versatility without losing their individual artistic identity?
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After The Session
After The Session: Practical Magic*: The Art & Science of Balancing Voices with SOVTs and VFEs with Melanie Tapson
Voice Study Centre
Thursday 22nd October 2026What makes a vocal exercise effective? Is it the tool itself, the way we use it, or our understanding of what happens when we put it into practice? In Practical Magic: The Art & Science of Balancing Voices with SOVTs and VFEs, voice teacher and professional singer Melanie Tapson explored the science behind two widely used approaches to voice training: Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVTs) and Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs). Combining scientific explanations with practical demonstrations and interactive activities, the session examined how these techniques can support vocal efficiency, stamina and sustainable voice use.
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