You're currently on:
Mark and Helen Johnson
Mark
and Helen Johnson are not only the founders of Out of the Ark but also
its principal songwriters. Their vision and gifted writing have ‘helped
put the singing back into assemblies’ and have taken the company from very
humble beginnings to it’s current position as one of primary
education’s favourite creators of musical resources. Mark and Helen’s
ability to write songs with catchy melodies and memorable choruses that
both children and adults adore, continues to be the cornerstone of
their appeal.
Mark and Helen live in Surrey and have three children.
Titles
Niki Davies
Niki
Davies is one of Britain’s top music writers for nursery
and reception aged children. She is an early years education specialist
and therefore understands how to appeal to the very young through her
music. Whilst having numerous works published, Niki is also in great
demand for her teacher workshops and has written for many BBC radio and
television programmes.
Niki has two children and lives in Lancashire.
Titles
Margaret Carpenter
Margaret
Carpenter, a teacher for over 20 years, has a joint
passion for music and teaching. Writer of many popular musicals for
primary schools, she continues to work with her children's choir,
writing and recording new music. An extremely gifted composer, Margaret
has developed a strong following for her musicals and nativity plays.
Married to Richard, she lives in Wiltshire.
Titles
- Baboushka
- Witnesses
- Stable Manners
- The Piper
- Giant Slayer
- Hoodwinked
- Daniel
- On The Move
- People Who Help Us
- Taking Care Of Myself
Ann Bryant
Ann
Bryant has over 25 years’ teaching experience specializing
in music for 3 – 9 year olds. Her lessons captivate the children with
an atmosphere of high energy contrasted with intense calm, creating
moments of magic that are truly inspirational. Ann has written for BBC
schools radio and TV programmes and has a wealth of published material
including a piano tutor, musical plays and various musical educational
materials.
Ann has two children and lives with her husband in Kent.
Titles
Sha Armstrong
Sha has worked in numerous nurseries for the last twelve years
as a singing teacher and entertainer. Previously she was part of a band
playing both here and abroad.
Sha is now Head of Music and Community Director for the Performing Arts at Thamesmead School in Shepperton, Middlesex and lives in
Twickenham with her two children.
Titles
Ann Beresford
Ann
has a wealth of experience in teaching music to all ages
and stages. In particular, she has worked with pre-school children and
their parents for over twenty years, making music a mutually fun
experience and developing physical, emotional and interactive skills.
Ann lives in Herefordshire with her husband and two children.
Titles
Mary Green & Julie Stanley
Mary and Julie
have a successful writing partnership with
several published works for Early Years, KS1 and KS2. Their
productions have been widely performed as well as being broadcast on
TV. Mary began writing when her children were small and was a regular
outline writer for TV’s Play School with many of her poems and stories
also being broadcast. Julie graduated from Trinity College of Music,
initially working as an accompanist at the Arts Educational School
before starting her teaching and composing career.
Titles
Nikki Lewis
Nikki
Lewis is the winning songwriter from our Search for a
Songwriter competition (2006), with her entry Colours of The World. Nikki is
an advanced-skills teacher specialising in primary music and drama. She
leads music and drama initiatives throughout Somerset supporting the
work of teachers in primary schools. Nikki is also passionate about
raising the profile of singing in schools and leading singing workshops
for children across the primary age range.
Titles
Maree Simpson
Maree
was
runner-up in our Search for a Songwriter competition (2006) with her song Colourful Hair. The standard was so high that we just had
to include it! Maree gained a B Ed Music degree in 1999 and later
completed a Diploma in Jazz.
Currently, she teaches music at two primary schools in the Shetland Isles.
Titles
Ali McClure
Ali has many years’ experience teaching, writing and
performing music. She runs workshops empowering teachers and early
years practitioners to have fun and be successful in their music
experiences with children. Ali also works with trainee teachers, lecturing for Kingston University. She believes that music is the key to
so many areas of the curriculum and life and should be practical and
accessible to everyone.
Ali is married with three young sons who show her new ways to make
music every day.
Titles
Alison Hedger
Alison
Hedger has spent her career making, writing and
publishing children’s music and has become a highly respected figure in
the field of music education. A happy understanding of children and an
insight into their humour, means that her songs really appeal to young
performers, whilst delighting teachers, families and friends alike.
Titles
Natalie Hollinshead
Natalie
is a Music and Performing Arts co-ordinator for
primary schools. Working with infant children on a daily basis gives
her clear insight into their musical capabilities and what makes them
tick in general. A keen singer herself, she leads an adult ‘a
capella’ choir and also works with the Out of the Ark Choir on their
various recording projects.