Natalie Mason

Originally from Birmingham, Natalie returned to live and work here in 2012 following the completion of her Master’s degree at SOAS in London, before which she spent several years living and working in South Africa.

Natalie's work as a Creative Music Facilitator in Cape Town was particularly significant to her development as a practitioner of international and intercultural music-making. In 2015 she established a creative partnership with Friction Arts in Birmingham to develop a new ethnomusicologically-informed music education project.

The ongoing Youth Music funded 'Multicultural Music Making' programme (MMM) is guided and informed by the musical interests and connections of participants and their families. It creates a space for the learning and sharing of international repertoire alongside composition and performance opportunities.

Natalie continues as Creative Director of this programme and leads training sessions with teachers and musicians on inclusive music education practice. The MMM project, and Natalie's professional work has been a key motivator to undertake PhD research in this area.

Natalie has also performed and recorded widely as a freelance multi-instrumentalist including work at The Royal Albert Hall, FIFA World Cup, Symphony Hall and Real World Studios. She writes and performs with two bands, Kamura Obscura and Into The Zoetrope. Previous collaborators have included Cara Stacey, Sarathy Korwar, Galina Juritz, David Carroll, Gareth Jones and Peter Mason.

Natalie's performance experience also includes interdisciplinary work in theatre, such as actor-musician roles with Cloud Cuckoo Land. She has composed music for theatre, site-specific installations, and a range of other ensembles. Natalie co-curates alternative music night Club Integral Midlands Branch at The Edge in Digbeth and co-hosts a show on Brum Radio.

Natalie's research is funded by Midlands4Cities.