Born in Bristol, Joanna graduated with an honours degree in music, from Cardiff University in 1993, where she specialised in performance. She then moved to South Africa where she pursued her teaching and playing career alongside post graduate research in Ethnomusicology and Jazz Saxophone studies at the University of Natal’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music.

Since her return to the UK in 1998, she has worked for Lancashire Music Service as a teacher of woodwind , Head of Woodwind and latterly Coordinator for Wider Opportunities.

She maintains a busy playing schedule in contexts as diverse as an African Band, Big Band and Functions Band.

She has long believed that exciting and accessible resources presented in a relevant way should be at the heart of any music course.

“It is fantastic and rewarding working with Charanga whose ground breaking use of ICT will bring my materials to life and allow children to enjoy them!”