BACKGROUND​

Michelle’s musical journey has been shaped profoundly by growing up in a family of musicians. With a drummer for a father and uncles who were classical musicians, music was woven into the fabric of everyday life. This early exposure nurtured a deep love of sound, creativity, and expression—but it was Michelle’s natural ability to play by ear that truly set her on her own path as a multi‑instrumentalist.

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At just 11 years old, she was invited to join the North Ayrshire Choir, opening the door to a new world of discovery and self‑expression. From those early choir days, Michelle’s musical adventure has taken her to stages and venues across the country.

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Michelle went on to train vocally with Lorraine Handling, achieving her grades with distinction. www.lorrainehandling.co.uk

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In 2018, she released her first instrumental album, Dìleas, capturing the heart of her musical journey up to that point. Three years later, during the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival in 2021, she released Selah—a deeply personal project shaped by lived experience and reflection.

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SESSION WORK​

Michelle’s musical life is rooted not only in her own creative projects but also in the connections formed along the way. As a session musician, she has contributed to a range of albums and events. Notably, she worked on the RAMH North Ayrshire Wellbeing & Recovery College singles Happy Days and I’m Free, bringing her own style, sensitivity, and emotion to each track..

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DRUM CIRCLE FACILITATION​

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Michelle’s drum circle facilitation work has gained international recognition. In 2024, she was invited—alongside Drum 4UR Life—to present at a major European drum circle facilitation conference in Madrid, where she shared insights from her community practice in Scotland and reflected on the power of facilitation. In 2025, she continued this international journey by contributing to a global gathering of facilitators in South Carolina, strengthening her connection to the worldwide facilitation community.

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Michelle is a certified Village Music Circles Drum Circle Facilitator—an internationally recognised standard of excellence awarded to facilitators who demonstrate advanced competencies, strong community‑building values, and a commitment to reflective practice.

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In November 2025, she was endorsed as a REMO Facilitator, acknowledging the professionalism and high quality she brings to both performance and participatory music‑making.

In December 2025, she was accredited as a recognised Drum Circle Facilitator within the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild.​

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COMMUNITY WORK

Michelle is a seasoned community musician from Ayrshire, Scotland. With a strong commitment to community engagement, she works alongside local, regional, and national charities to deliver bespoke, in‑the‑moment music‑making workshops designed to spark meaningful connections and foster collective joy.

 

Since 2017, she has been actively involved in community initiatives across Ayrshire, supporting individuals and groups through creative, inclusive, and accessible music‑making experiences.​

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DRUM 4UR LIFE

Michelle is the Project Coordinator for Drum 4UR Life, supporting the ongoing development of the team and its community activities. With her dedication and attention to detail, she helps create an environment where everyone can thrive and benefit from the programme.

 

Find out more at: www.drum4urlife.co.uk​​

 

ACCREDITATION

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Certified Village Music Circles Drum Circle Facilitator (2025)

REMO‑endorsed Facilitator (2025)

Accredited Drum Circle Facilitator, Drum Circle Facilitators Guild (2025)

Rhythm 2 Recovery Practitioner (2024) 

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FURTHER EDUCATION

In September 2026, Michelle will enrol in the third year of a BA (Hons) in Performance, focusing on her specialist area, after being granted APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning). This recognition reflects the professionalism, experience, and extensive prior learning she has demonstrated throughout her career, formally acknowledged by the university as equivalent to earlier years of study.

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TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Emergency First Aid

Mental Health First Aider

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills - Trained

Mental health and Wellbeing Award

 WRAP – Wellness Recovery Action Plan 

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