Lily Fontaine, vocalist, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist with acclaimed band ‘English Teacher’, has been made a Fellow of Leeds Conservatoire.
Presented at an October graduation ceremony at the Royal Armouries, the honour recognises Lily’s advocacy, influence on the music industry and her alignment with the conservatoire’s creative and innovative values. Leeds Conservatoire, formerly Leeds College of Music, awards Fellowships to leading figures in music and the wider creative industries. Lily now joins an esteemed list of Fellows including Marc Almond of Soft Cell, The Selecter’s Pauline Black, and jazz musician Courtney Pine CBE.
Originally from Colne, Lancashire, Lily formed ‘English Teacher’ with bandmates Lewis Whiting, Nicholas Eden and Douglas Frost while studying at Leeds Conservatoire. What began as a student collaboration has grown into one of the UK’s most exciting bands, with their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’ receiving widespread acclaim and securing a Mercury Prize win.
Lily Fontaine, Vocalist, Lyricist and Multi-Instrumentalist said:
“I am honoured to be receiving this Fellowship from the conservatoire where I spent three formative years. A decade ago I walked into the building and had a gut feeling that here was where I was supposed to be. It feels like a celebration of trusting your instincts.”
As a mixed-race woman working in music, Lily has become a powerful advocate for representation and inclusion in the industry. She has mentored artists and aspiring professionals from diverse backgrounds, and her own journey has been one of personal growth and resilience — overcoming social anxiety, speaking openly about building confidence and community through creativity, and inspiring others to do the same.
Lily has also addressed Parliament alongside the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), calling for greater protection for small venues and better support for regional artists. She has contributed to a range of music initiatives with organisations such as Music:Leeds and Come Play With Me. She and her bandmates remain committed champions of grassroots music. ‘English Teacher’ recently received the Youth Music Grassroots Hero Award in recognition of their work to empower emerging musicians and nurture local music scenes.
Patsy Gilbert, Vice Principal at Leeds Conservatoire added:
“Lily is an inspirational figure in music. Her artistry, creativity and advocacy reflect what we stand for as a contemporary conservatoire. We are proud to welcome Lily, a former student, as a Fellow during our 60th anniversary year and look forward to future collaborations.”
Leeds Conservatoire is a leading specialist institution for music and performing arts education in the UK, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as Leeds Junior Conservatoire for young musicians and performers. Located in the heart of Leeds’ cultural quarter, the conservatoire is known for its artistic ambition, commitment to quality and strong industry focus. Its teaching and training aim to develop career-ready musicians, performers, producers and creative entrepreneurs equipped for today’s professional landscape.
Find out more about Leeds Conservatoire, including undergraduate and postgraduate courses, at www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Visit www.englishteacherband.com for information on ‘English Teacher’ such as upcoming shows.
