“Hi, my name is Jordan Mackin and I teach singing (Pop, Music Theatre and Classical), speech & drama and piano here at The Musician Academy, on top of managing and running the school alongside my partner, Ryan Belshaw. I first discovered my voice at age 7, before commencing classical training at age 10. This training finally culminated in me obtaining my Grade 8 in Classical Singing in 2013 and then my ALCM in Music Theatre in 2014. Following this, I took a break from music to study abroad and work on my degree in English and Linguistics at Queen’s University, Belfast, and graduated with a 2:1 in the summer of 2018. A mere month after my graduation, I met my partner, Ryan (call it fate!), who encouraged me back into music, and with his assistance, I finally embarked on my career as a singing teacher in January 2019. On a whim, I decided to sit my Grade 8 in Speech & Drama in June 2019 and passed with Distinction. I’m sure you’ll all be glad to hear that there are currently no plans for more qualifications in the immediate future, however I would love to sit my Grades in drums at some point down the line! 

During my years training, I was an active performer in the local musical theatre scene and have appeared in shows such as Annie, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, The Boys in the Photograph, Evita, and Beauty and the Beast. I have also performed in numerous competitions and festivals across the UK and ROI, including the Buxton International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, the Feis Ceoil Festival in Dublin, and the Harrogate ClassicFest. Whilst studying in Milwaukee, WI, I also performed in Naomi Iizuka’s Anon(ymous), as well as the premiere of The Way Things Go, an original theatre piece by Theatre Gigante. During lockdown 2021, I was approached by Theatre Gigante again to appear digitally in A Cosmic Fairytale A Day Keeps The Doctor Away, an English translation of the stories of Slovene fantasist Rok Vilčnik, alongside 30 other actors from across the globe! In addition to this, I have performed in numerous choirs both at home and abroad, as well as dipping my toes into the world of original music as part of symphonic metal three-piece, Otheria, whom I founded alongside my partner, Ryan, and our friend, Mike. Since then, life has been quiet on the performing front, as Ryan and I became parents to our baby boy, Myles, in March 2022. So, we have had our hands full as you can imagine, but I am very much hopeful that more performing opportunities will come my way in the not-so-distant future!

I historically (or notoriously, depending on who you talk to) have had trouble sticking at things in the past, so the fact that I have lasted this long in this field should be a testament to the fact that I truly love my job and wouldn’t change it for the world! In my years of teaching so far, I have had the pleasure of teaching many different people of all ages and abilites, bonding over a mutual love and appreciation of music; from 80’s dad rock, to music theatre, to Irish traditional, to pop – if it sounds good, I will generally like it! As a teacher, I have found that, although I teach all ages and have found great fulfilment in doing so, my ‘niche’ (unintentionally) has very much became teaching adult beginners. It is a true joy and extremely moving to watch these students finally taking the leap to start singing after wanting to do so for so many years, and a privilege to be part of their journey as they grow as vocalists and people. I also have long-term younger students who have been with me for years and, although it makes me feel old, it has been amazing to watch them grow up before my eyes as they move through their Grades and blossom into the musicians they were meant to be! 

So, if you are looking to sing like Adele, learn how to perform a Shakespearean monologue like Laurence Olivier, or learn a wee bit of piano, I am very much looking forward to teaching you and embarking on this journey with you – and if you’re learning from one of our other teachers, as manager of The Musician Academy, I am excited to welcome you into our crazy and fun community!”