(They/them) 2026
Luca Whittle is a SCDTP-funded MSc Education student at the University of Southampton, researching how disabled young people experience music education and developing co-creative approaches to policy.
Their work brings together critical disability studies, co-production, and education policy, exploring questions of inclusion and power in classrooms, ensembles, and policy processes.
In 2026, Luca graduated from Durham University with a First Class BA in Music, receiving the Eve Myra Kirsch Prize for academic achievement. As a Laidlaw Research and Leadership scholar, they explored disabled choristers’ experiences in UK cathedrals and developed practical strategies for more inclusive choir direction.
Their wider work spans disability advocacy, SEND tutoring, and assessment accessibility, including a summer internship with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, where they were particularly delighted to contribute to the development of modified braille and tactile examination materials. Through research, writing, and student advocacy, Luca is passionate about ensuring disabled young people’s views are heard in decisions that affect them.
When their head is out of their books, Luca is (most likely) making some kind of music – whether through brass banding, morris and folk sessions, choir, or just constant stim-singing. They can be occasionally persuaded away with the promise of collecting access materials from theatre productions, listening to Radio 4, or attending Quaker meeting.
Luca hopes to work at the intersection of disability, education policy, and the performing arts. They believe innovative approaches to accessibility and inclusion can spark creativity, connection, and excitement, and are committed to creating spaces where everyone can experience that joy.
