Pauline Black is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Music Engagement at the University of Aberdeen. Her professional career has involved teaching and leading participatory music projects in various different contexts, including in Higher Education, in schools and in a range of community settings.

Pauline has particular interests in informal learning and improvising, jazz in education, digital creativity and music technology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and the Higher Education Academy.

Pauline has over 20 years of teaching experience in secondary schools and was formerly Faculty Head (Expressive Arts) at Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen City. She is also pursuing a PhD exploring learning in jazz and improvising, at the University of Edinburgh.

She has several years of experience in fulfilling board roles in the music industry and is currently co-chair of Jazz in Education UK and a board member for Sound New Music Incubator, as well as being a nominator for Scottish Album of the Year.

Throughout lockdown, she endeavoured to find various ways to continue to engage musicians in music making and sharing. Pauline's research and practice explores music, excellence, inclusion and identities and what these key terms mean to different communities. She enjoys playing the trumpet and singing in a range of ensembles and genres.