Natty’s recordings reflect that breadth. The release notes for Leo’s Piano describe a three-part ambient work developed from spontaneous late-night recordings by pianist Leo Lupascu, with music and mixing by Natty.
The connection with The Commonwealth Resounds began during Natty’s time at The Purcell School for Young Musicians:
From 2023-2025 I studied composition at The Purcell School for Young Musicians under Alison Cox as my head of department.
I displayed a keen interest in collaboration and outreach which was acknowledged by Alison, who then invited me to take part in teaching/workshop based activities in schools across the UK with a focus on music and composition.
That interest in collaboration is also reflected in BIRD SONG. In November 2025, The Purcell School reported that Natty’s jazz fusion piece had begun as a creative task on the very first day at the school. Two years later, it had developed into a studio recording bringing together current and former Purcell pupils.
In Antigua, Natty will bring that experience to both composition and performance.
I will be going as a composer and instrumentalist (in this case – drums/percussion, though I also specialise in jazz piano and production). With this, I will be writing music for the conference and assisting/leading group music work.
The chance to meet people and share a love of music is what Natty is looking forward to most.
I’m most looking forward to meeting new people and learning about the world through people’s experiences. I’m excited to spread a passion for music and celebrate people coming together for an important cause.
Natty hopes to return with a sense of having contributed to the wider community.
I’m hoping to come back with new experiences of my own, but also to know that I’ve made an impact in this larger community.
For the people Natty meets, the hope is simple.
I hope that I can bring joy and creativity, and celebrate our differences.
Sharing skills will be one way to put that into practice.
I’d love to teach something that people might not know, so that they have the opportunity of combining it with their strengths
That exchange will run both ways. Natty is keen to discover the musical history of Antigua and Barbuda and bring new ideas into future projects.
I’d love to learn about the unique musical language of Antigua and Barbuda – the history, and elements that make it unique. I would love to come home knowing more and having new things that can contribute to my own musical projects. There is an amazing opportunity of cross-fertilisation between our musical identities that can produce something beautiful.
Natty sees listening as the starting point for creating something together.
I think it starts with awareness and knowing each other’s strength and weaknesses, and then a great level of listening and open contribution. A successful collaboration should be something that one contributor couldn’t make on their own, but instead an amalgamation of every collaborator’s abilities and experiences.
Confidence, too, is central to Natty’s hopes for the young people involved.
I would love to see young people gain confidence in expressing themselves in different ways and celebrate what makes them unique, understanding, especially via music, that they have their own valuable creativity that should be celebrated.
These personal connections are also what Natty sees as music’s contribution to the wider Commonwealth.
Music has the undeniable ability of bringing people together; a universal language that can bridge gaps between cultures. Across the commonwealth, it can bring a sense of relatability between each other, and a way of celebrating that. By making it an accessible activity, it can be an easy way for people at opposite ends of the spectrum to come together and meet.
At CHOGM, Natty would like leaders to recognise the emotional support that music can offer young people.
I think the leaders at CHOGM should know that music has the ability to connect with people unlike many other things in the world. It has the power to spread hope, joy and positivity, as well as vulnerability, awareness and confidence. In a world that might seem daunting and overwhelming, we can use music to ground us and remember what is important.
When the visit ends, Natty’s measure of success will be the effect on the people who have taken part.
The knowledge that I have inspired someone – or a lot of people – to make music or art in any way, shape or form, and that people will remember our visit as something that can be looked back on with joy and positivity – spreading a message of kindness and optimism.
Looking beyond Antigua, Natty hopes to keep working with people who want to create.
More opportunities like this! I’d love to continue to teach and cultivate creativity in all sorts of areas around the UK and the world.
