Annie Ball Dip ABRSM BMus MMus
Classically trained concert pianist, lifelong educator and creative producer
Projects & Initiatives
Welcome to my Projects & Initiatives. Here you’ll find a snapshot of the creative work I lead — from Semibreve CIC and the Newcastle Piano Festival to The Howay the Lasses Project, inclusive studio spaces, and music education. Each project champions excellence, community, creativity, and underrepresented voices in music. Scroll down to explore more.
Newcastle Piano Festival
I'm extremely proud to have established the Newcastle Piano Festival — an annual event that champions excellence, diversity, and accessibility in classical music. The festival creates meaningful performing opportunities for underrepresented musicians and celebrates the work of women composers.
We are currently fundraising for a mentorship scheme for young pianists, designed to offer the kinds of opportunities I didn't have growing up.
We’re also developing a new educational outreach programme inspired by In Harmony and El Sistema — but instead of orchestral instruments, we use pianos and keyboards to help children experience the joy of music.
Howay the Lasses
As part of the Howay the Lasses collective, I co-write and produce original songs that celebrate women from the past and present who are often overlooked in history.
Volume I was toured internationally and regularly featured on live radio and TV. We’ve received support from organisations like Sunderland Culture and are currently developing Volume Two of the project.
Our aim is to inspire a new generation of scientists, artists, changemakers, and leaders by telling the stories of women whose legacies deserve more recognition.
Semibreve cic
I am the Managing Director of Semibreve CIC, a community interest company focused on presenting classical music in unconventional, grassroots formats.
We create artist-led events with integrity, where musicians are free to focus on their craft while we take care of branding, marketing, and production.
Semibreve supports:
-
Local talent and young artists
-
Underrepresented musicians, especially women and neurodivergent creatives
-
Music that commercial frameworks often overlook, championing beauty, connection, and creative freedom
Studio Work
for Women in Music Tech
​My journey into music production began while working with NEET young people (many from Feltham Young Offenders) in London, where we explored genres like dubstep, grime, and rap using Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, and Reason.
Later, I trained with Dr. Isobel Anderson on a women-only music production course, where I realised just how underrepresented women — especially those over 35 — are in studio spaces.
Now, I run the Semibreve Studio with support from engineer/producer Lisa Murphy, who shares my mission to create welcoming, accessible recording spaces for women, particularly neurodivergent women, where they can experiment, learn, and create without time pressure or judgment.
