Louisa strachan - founder & director

Louisa is the founder of The Song School, a community interest company breaking down barriers to music careers for young people in Southend-on-Sea.

Growing up in the area without access to local music opportunities, Louisa set up The Song School in 2018 to create the space she wished she'd had - where ANY young person, regardless of background or circumstances, could come together to create, play, perform and connect with other musicians.

What started as once-a-week sessions has grown into a full timetable with a proven alternative pathway to music careers. Young People progress from participants to Youth Mentors to paid coaching roles - learning by doing, building real skills, and earning a living in music without university debt or industry connections.

Under Louisa's leadership, The Song School has become an approved Alternative Provision provider and secured funding from Youth Music, Postcode Lottery, and others. Students have gained places at institutions including The BRIT School, BIMM and ICMP, while others have built sustainable careers through The Song School's own progression pathway.

Herself a vocalist, published songwriter and qualified vocal coach (Higher Diploma in Contemporary Singing, The Voice College), Louisa specialises in contemporary vocals. She's worked as a lead and backing vocalist across the UK and Europe, with support slots alongside Bastille, Bang Bang Romeo and Andy Bell (Erasure). The Times described her as having "gorgeous gymnastic vocals."

Her debut album was released in 2008, and more recently she co-founded The Tempo Collective, a Southend-based choir focusing on dance floor anthems with gospel-inspired harmonies.

Today, you'll find Louisa leading The Song School into its next phase - developing a replicable model for alternative pathways in music education that prioritises talent and commitment over postcode and bank balance.