Rate My Professor Kat Branch

Kat Branch is the Head of the Centre for Music at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, situated within the Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education. She possesses qualifications comprising a BA Honours, PGCE, and MA. Her professional interests lie in Arts and Health, particularly exploring the role of music in community-making and wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on social justice. Branch's musical pursuits extend across classical to underground genres and incorporate composition for visual media and songwriting. She is committed to education that is holistic and transformative, reflecting her dedication to enriching student experiences through music.

In her capacity as Head of Centre for Music, Branch manages a dedicated facility accessible to all UWE students and staff, promoting diverse musical activities. Her teaching encompasses Music, Composition, Arts and Well-being, music theory, Music Technology, Singing, Voice, social justice, Community Music, and Social Prescribing. She serves as the research lead for the 'Sing for Happiness' project, a groundbreaking collaboration with St George’s Bristol initiated in Spring 2024. This initiative represents the first large-scale research into the links between singing and wellbeing, involving approximately 400 participants—many without prior singing experience—in in-person and online choir sessions. Participants complete mood surveys, and early findings reveal reduced tiredness, enhanced relaxation, and boosted energy post-sessions. The project features live performances, such as the June 2024 event at The Bristol Beacon, and collaborates with partners including the Good Grief Project, Rising Voices, Age UK, and Hand in Hand for subsidised access. Branch also co-hosts the Serious Leisure podcast with colleagues from UWE Bristol and Teesside University, discussing leisure's academic dimensions. Her contributions highlight music's value as an accessible, safe mechanism for health improvement and social prescribing.