History
Starling Arts began in 2010 with a simple belief:
that group singing is one of the best ways to build healthy, connected communities.
What started as a creative partnership between Anna Shields and Emily Garsin has grown into a pioneering social enterprise.
By bringing the energy and high standards of professional musical theatre to students, professionals, and communities alike, we have spent over 15 years creating spaces where people can truly thrive.
From 2010 - 2025 our community choirs fostered deep social connections, engaging well over 400 members in hundreds of experiences and events
Since 2010, our original musicals (written as Garsin & Shields) have shown that community-led art can be high-quality, inclusive, and deeply moving.
In 2015, we took our mission to the global stage. Our TEDx talk, Why the World Needs to Sing, has become a go-to explainer for why collective singing is so vital for our health and happiness.
As we grew, so did our work in Creative Health. We developed specialist programmes in Singing for Lung Health to deliver sessions that offer life-changing support for both body and mind.
Looking forward
In 2021, we became a Community Interest Company (CIC), a move that put our mission at the very heart of our business. Today, we continue to lead the way in Applied Musical Theatre, giving communities the tools to tell their stories through original music. Whether we are designing a bespoke project for a global brand or facilitating a local health group, we bring over 15 years of expertise, warmth, and professional excellence to every project.
Bringing people together through song since 2010, we remain dedicated to finding new ways for communities to find their voice.
Since 2023, we have served as the official workshop partners for the West End production of Wicked. We lead the production’s learning programme, bringing professional theatre expertise to schools, communities and organisations.