Home Truths: A look into "HERITAGE"

Rebecca Wing is a saxophonist, vocalist, and composer from London, now based in Birmingham. Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she was mentored by world-class musicians such as Sara Colman, Mike Williams, and Rebecca Nash, she has continued to develop her project “HERITAGE” expanding the score to big band and recording her debut album that will be released this year. Ever since her arrival to Birmingham in 2020, Rebecca has been an active member of the Birmingham jazz scene, hosting jams and playing gigs in and around Birmingham and London with her own quartet, playing gigs in venues such as The Spotted Dog, Symphony Hall, The Warehouse Café, and supporting mentor Rebecca Nash at the EFG London Jazz Festival in 2023. She plays and sings arrangements and originals that compliment her bold and textural style, drawing inspiration from players such as Myron Walden and Wayne Shorter.

Leo Morland is an improvising and composing guitarist from South London, known as a perceptive, idiosyncratic player and a catalyst for intense, esoteric and satisfying moments of group improvisation. He has been playing since the age of 9, and quickly became obsessed with music making, spending his upbringing playing in bands and composing and producing music. He went on to study Jazz Guitar at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he learned from some of the world’s strongest improvisers including Percy Persglove, John O’Gallagher and Mark Hodgson, and became an active member of Birmingham’s thriving jazz scene. He was the winner of the Phil Miller Solo Guitar Prize and a semifinalist in the 2022 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition. For him, music is a way of dealing with, remembering, and celebrating emotions that would usually be buried, and a way of finding community through a shared love for music and the unspoken connection that it provides.

Amy Coates is a double bassist, composer, and arranger based in Birmingham. She graduated from the music course at the University of Birmingham, where she developed a love for jazz and improvised music, and is now an active member of the city’s scene, with a particular love for free jazz. Alongside her performance endeavours, Amy works as an arranger and engraver, focusing mainly on cross-genre scores.

Leah Wing is a classically trained flautist. Since graduating in 2023 she has been going back to her jazz roots as well as exploring singing and songwriting. She performs in a variety of contexts from classical to jazz to singing &amp, songwriting for her upcoming debut album. Leah shares an inheritance of creativity with her sister Rebecca as they perform “HERITAGE” together, an ode to their Grandparents and the beautiful influences that made her the creative she is today."

Gaynor Tutani (Art Adlib) is a curator, producer and writer who integrates her passions for arts, culture, community and education into exhibitions, events and art commentary. Her speciality is in public programming – hosting live performances, talks, interviews and poetry programs of which she extends as part of her practice as the Creative Programming Officer at Museum of the Home. Working across the Creative Programmes and Collections & Curatorial team, as well as the Commercial division, her role centres on aligning the Museum’s programming within the core values and vision of engaging with the museum communities through fundraising and programming that interrogates critical societal issues via an artistic lens. She co-founded EARTHworks[artists], a curatorial duo focused on fostering intergenerational creative collaborations. Gaynor holds a BA in History and the History of Ideas and an MA in Museum Cultures with Curating, specialising in decolonial approaches. 

Home Truths is Museum of the Home’s socially engaged initiative and commitment to discuss current issues of home and home beyond the physical space. 

The programme brings together writers, creatives, artists, and academics to investigate what impacts individual experiences and understanding of home in the 21st century.  Homelessness, discrimination, racism, decolonisation and what they mean for today’s society are just some of the topics past Home Truths have reflected on. 

The ideas behind Home Truths centre around discussions some often find difficult to face – but which are central to the experience of home, and the human experience. The idea of “truth” is often contested and subjective. Through reflection, talks, performances and more, we will amplify and highlight how these ideas of belonging vary from person to person.  

Home Truths creates a deeper understanding of our society and inspire action. It is a place to learn more, take part in discussions and for us all to find ways of living better together. 

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