Meet Joanna Tarpey, our Music Director
With over 23 years of experience in music education, Joanna brings a wealth of passion and expertise to our community choir. Having taught music in secondary schools from KS3 to A level, Joanna now inspires children aged 4 to 11 in the primary sector, nurturing a lifelong love of music.
Beyond the classroom, Joanna leads several choirs as well as Take Note Community Choir, including the Ryton Singers, Ryton Youth Singers, and Mini Ryton Singers. Her enthusiasm for musical theatre shines through her work with a local theatre group and her own performances in amateur productions.
A dedicated performer, Joanna regularly sings with the Side by Side Arts Band and the seven-piece vocal harmony group ‘Songbirds’, delighting audiences at weddings and special events.
At the heart of Joanna’s work is a commitment to community. She is passionate about bringing people together through music and singing, supporting local events, and contributing to charities. Her outstanding contributions have been recognised with prestigious awards, including the ‘Angel Award’ from Councillor Liz Twist and the ‘Music Group of the Year’ award from Gateshead Council.
We owe a great deal to our former inspirational Musical Director, Mark Deeks, who led us on our musical journey from Autumn 2013 to December 2025, and we are delighted and excited to continue our musical adventure with Joanna at the helm.