Joanna Tomlinson has established an outstanding reputation for her work as a conductor, singer and vocal coach.
She is Artistic Director of the Military Wives Choirs, and conductor of two outstanding London-based adult choirs, Constanza Chorus, who have appeared at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, and Whitehall Choir who perform regularly at Cadogan Hall and Sinfonia Smith Square.
As one of the UK’s most sought-after workshop leaders for choral vocal training, Joanna is known for her ability to refine the sound of the choirs she works with, giving clear explanations with a joyful and engaging approach.
Joanna is Artistic Director of the Military Wives Choirs – a network of over 70 choirs worldwide, bringing together women who have connections to the military. Her role involves conducting high profile events when members from across the network are brought together, including television appearances, national events, and recordings.
In 2010 she founded Constanza Chorus, a high level 140-strong SATB choir based in the City of London. In its short history so far, the choir has quickly established a reputation for high-quality and often sold-out concerts, alongside outstanding artists and orchestras including the London Mozart Players and Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment.
In 2025 Constanza Chorus received its first invitation to appear at the BBC Proms, in a performance of Mahler Das Klagende Lied with BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, under Hannu Lintu.
“…outstanding joint forces of the BBC Symphony Chorus and the amateur Constanza Chorus”
- Opera Today
“The BBC Symphony Chorus and Constanza Chorus injected warmth and vigour”
- The Guardian
With Whitehall Choir, Joanna has made première recordings of works by Cecilia McDowall and William Mathias and performed regularly at Sinfonia Smith Square and Cadogan Hall. They have recently recorded Russell Hepplewhite’s Living Voices, a set of ten new songs with newly commissioned poems including poets Mona Arshi, Michael Rosen and Pam Ayres. This is due to be released on First Hand Records in 2027.
As Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir’s age 9-15 Female/Non-Binary choir for five years, she made numerous recordings and conducted at venues including the Royal Albert Hall in London. She continues to work for NYC, leading auditions, and as a conductor and vocal coach. In 2022 she prepared NYC (18-25) for a performance of Brahms' Requiem at the BBC Proms with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Ilan Volkov.
“….vividly assured contributions from the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, belying their youthfulness”
- The Guardian
In her time as Artistic Director of the internationally renowned Farnham Youth Choir they were winners of two gold medals in the 2019 European Choir Games and featured in the live final of ITV’s X-Factor in 2018.
Her expertise in upper voice repertoire through her work at Farnham Youth Choir and National Youth Choir led to her co-editing a choral collection for Oxford University Press, As You Sing.
Joanna is a regular guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Chorus and Epiphoni. She has also worked with London Symphony Chorus, RCM Chorus, and Brighton Festival Chorus. She has studied conducting with tutors including Sîan Edwards, George Hurst, Neil Ferris and Peter Hanke.
Joanna is in demand as a workshop leader, specialising in vocal technique and vocal health. In addition to her training as a singer at the Royal College of Music she has studied on vocal pedagogy courses including with Ron Morris, Meribeth Dayme and Jenevora Williams, and has completed Estill Voice Training Level I and II. She is a member of the Association of Teachers of Singing.
Projects and talks have included:
Recent Come and Sing or vocal technique workshops include:
As an adjudicator Joanna enjoys working for Interkultur, including for Vox Lucensis in Lucca, Italy. She will adjudicate and lead workshops for the Hull International Choir Competition in 2027. She has also adjudicated for the Leith Hill Festival and for the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts as well as school choir and solo singing and instrumental competitions.
Joanna studied at the Royal College of Music where she gained the post-graduate diploma in Singing, with Distinction. She has sung with world-class professional choral groups such as the BBC Singers, London Voices, Gabrieli Consort, Philharmonia Voices and Sonoro.
She has appeared as the soprano soloist in core repertoire such as Mozart Requiem and Bach Christmas Oratorio, as well as in new works including Cecilia McDowall's A Time for all seasons.
Joanna has taught singing for 20 years and is in demand as a vocal workshop leader for choirs around the country. She has presented seminars for the Association of British Choral Directors on tuning for choirs, vocal health, and on female voice change. She is vocal coach for Helicon Arts Summer Singing Courses.
Joanna is a member of Association of Teachers of Singing, and has studied on vocal pedagogy courses including with Ron Morris, Meribeth Dayme and Jenevora Williams.
Please get in touch via email on info@joannatomlinson.co.uk or on Twitter or Instagram.