WHY MND?

I first met Sue when I was nine years old. She was previously a music teacher at a local private school before going on to teach singing and piano privately. Alongside this, she led numerous choirs and became a much-loved figure within the community. Sue had an extraordinary ability to bring people together. She created an environment where everyone—regardless of age, experience or confidence—felt welcome, valued and part of something truly special.

I had been singing from a young age when someone suggested I try private lessons with Sue. I still remember walking into that first lesson. I was nervous, but within minutes I felt completely at ease. That first lesson marked the beginning of a journey that lasted more than ten years, right up until Sue became too unwell to continue teaching.

To say Sue taught me how to sing would be an understatement. She taught me how to believe in myself.

She was one of the most positive, eccentric and kind-hearted people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. No matter how I felt before a lesson, I always left 45 minutes later feeling lighter, happier and more confident. She had an infectious energy that made every student feel capable of achieving more than they ever thought possible, and I know so many of us experienced exactly the same feeling.

Sue didn't just help me find my voice—she helped me find my confidence. She encouraged me to take risks, believe in my abilities and pursue the things I loved without fear. Looking back now, I realise that so much of what I do today through Behind The Artist is rooted in the encouragement she gave me all those years ago. If I can inspire artists to believe in themselves and pursue their passion, then I know I am carrying a small part of Sue's legacy forward.

One of the things I admired most about Sue was her unwavering optimism. Even while receiving hospice care, just five days before she passed away, she was sending messages saying how much she hoped to be back at the piano for another singing lesson. That was Sue. Her love for music, and for her students, never left her. In true Sue fashion, she also chose to keep her diagnosis of MND private until the very end, never allowing her illness to become the focus of who she was.

Sadly, Sue passed away just one month before I launched Behind The Artist. I often think about how much she would have loved seeing the incredible community we've built over the past three years. She dedicated her life to nurturing creativity, celebrating talent and encouraging people to find their voice.

Sue helped hundreds of people discover not only their voices, but also their confidence. She was a fantastic opera singer, and there is a heartbreaking irony that MND eventually took away the very gift she had spent her life sharing with others. Yet while the disease may have silenced her voice, it could never silence her impact. Her kindness lives on in every student she inspired, every choir she led, every performance she encouraged and every life she touched.

Whenever I think of Sue, I can still hear her saying her favourite word: "Fabulous!" It perfectly captured the joy, warmth and enthusiasm she brought into every room she entered.

One of Sue's favourite songs for me to sing was Vincent by Don McLean, and I can't think of a more fitting way to remember her than with these words:

"This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."