We have been singing the way to happier, healthier communities since 2010. 

Using singing to connect people is at the heart of Starling Arts' work. Through our projects in healthcare, school, community and workplace settings, or with our choir community in London, we explore how singing has the power to change lives. Our ultimate goal is to inspire positive changes to health and wellbeing through singing, all whilst building communities.

We met in 2008 while studying at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, connecting by singing around the piano in our flatshare. Soon after, we set up Starling Arts to explore the ways singing can forge new friendships, improve wellbeing and connect people.

Starling Arts became a Community Interest Company in 2021. We now operate as a social enterprise to provide tangible benefits for communities through singing.

Group singing is a great leveller, democratic by nature and accessible to all. It’s also proven to boost moods and improve wellbeing. These qualities combined make singing such a powerful tool. 

Starling Arts is founded on the extraordinary power of singing together. Our own friendship, built on our mutual love of singing with others, is at the root of an ever-growing community.

Want to know more about the Starling Arts philosophy? Watch the TEDx talk we gave in 2015 on Why the World Needs to Sing, or our short documentary Celebrating Singing for Wellbeing.

Have a browse of our site and see what we get up to. We hope to sing with you soon!

Anna & Emily

Anna Shields and Emily Garsin
Co-Founders and Directors of Starling Arts