About us
Starling Sessions is Oxford's global folk community orchestra, exploring the global traditional music of the city's citizens. We believe in building connection and understanding through music-making. The sessions give space for group members to bring songs from their backgrounds to share, and we work together on arrangements and perform locally. Whatever your instrument, level, age, wherever you're from, you're welcome at Starlings!
Founded in 2021, the project followed on from Tandem Collective’s international music exchange, Ethno England, bringing the focus to local communities.
Over the past four years, Starling Sessions has become part of Oxford’s social and cultural fabric. Through our weekly sessions more than 120 participants have shared over 70 songs representing more than 50 cultural traditions. We have become an in-demand live act, performing regularly at events and venues across the city. We have worked hard to make the sessions accessible to all. We are determined to be a place of genuine welcome and we work to remove barriers, especially for those with recent experience of forced migration. We deliver music lessons and one-off workshops in partnership with various organisations and strive to foster a spirit of support and mutual aid, both within Starlings and within the wider community.
Artistic Directors
Starling Sessions was first piloted in 2021 by co-founders Lauren Spiceley and John Ruddock, whose complementary backgrounds shape the project’s approach. Lauren and John first met playing folk music in the pub many, many years ago and have collaborated in bands, community projects, and live events ever since.
You can book Lauren and John to facilitate a Starlings-style workshop at your event or workplace.
John Ruddock
John is an experienced play and behaviour specialist with many years of work in therapeutic communities. He is a guitarist, singer, workshop leader, community music facilitator, occasional sound engineer, and reluctant events producer. He plays in several bands and has toured internationally.
He is at his happiest playing music without any stage to separate performers and audience, and cares deeply about making music accessible to all.
Photo credit: Cris Piersenne
Lauren Spiceley
Lauren is a musician, facilitator and producer committed to pursuing social change through musical projects. Her work encourages open mindedness, exchange and participation in and through music.
With over 10 years of experience leading and producing cultural projects, Lauren has specialist experience in Intercultural Music Facilitation (Ethnofonik) and Community Music Leadership for Peacebuilding and Social Change (Musicians Without Borders). Lauren holds a first-class degree in Music from the University of Oxford, and is a professional violinist, accordionist, singer and pianist.
