Biography
The Rev Dr June Boyce-Tillman MBE read Music at Hugh’s College, Oxford, and taught in primary and secondary schools in London and at the Inner London Education Authority’s Centre for Young Musicians. She pioneered work in introducing composing activities into the classroom, and completed a PhD (‘Towards a Model of the Musical Development of Children’) at the Institute of Education. The results of this research have been translated into Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese, and Polish, and she has lectured, given papers, and led workshops in many parts of the world for teachers and schools. June has presented many broadcasts for BBC Schools Radio, and was warden of the Music in Education Section of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.
June has a particular interest in Music and Theology, including Religious Education, and regularly writes and takes workshops linking these areas together. She has done pioneering work in Interfaith dialogue in South London and was Research Officer for an EEC Intercultural project based at the Institute of Education. June has written articles, produced materials for, and spoken on interfaith and intercultural links in both Britain and abroad, and she has written widely on models for intercultural work in music, and music as a tool for reconciliation. Her ‘Space for Peace’ events held annually in Winchester Cathedral illustrate the use of music in the area of inter faith dialogue. June has also founded the Hildegard Network, which is concerned with bringing together the areas of healing, the arts and theology, and regularly runs workshops linking these areas together.
June has both written and spoken much on women’s role in church music, and music in general. She has encouraged the promotion of music by women and held workshops for women on composing. She is a composer, writing much religious music, including hymns and anthems. Her works have been performed in various cathedrals in the UK, including Southwark, Winchester, Norwich, and Westminster Abbey, and in other countries including; Australia, Poland, Germany, Zimbabwe, and the US. Her research is into the medieval abbess, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), and many of her pieces incorporate her ideas in this area. Such music theatre pieces have been performed as part of the Chard Festival of Women’s Music. June also performs as a singer, specialising in religious material.
June is currently Professor of Applied Music at The University of Winchester and an Extraordinary Professor at North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She is the convenor of the Centre for the Arts as Well-being at Winchester University, a non-stipendiary priest in the Anglican Church, and an honorary chaplain to Winchester Cathedral. In 2009 June received an MBE for her services to Music and Education.