Amelie
Bebop, Swing
Jazz Singer
Amelie Payne-Heneghan is a jazz vocalist based in Leeds and Leicestershire. She is known for her “truly stunning” and “outstanding command of vocal technique.” Amelie’s career as a jazz musician spans over a decade. Raised on opera and Jazz, she felt a strong pull to listen to her idols, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, and started teaching herself to sing, beginning in the Syston Swing band as their vocalist. Now, she is studying Jazz (BA) at Leeds Conservatoire, where she receives the finest training from industry professionals across the UK. In addition, she is now the principal vocalist for the LCSU big band, a vocalist in the LCSU pit band, and a vocalist for Soleil, a jazz fusion band.
Amelie is working on recording her debut album, set for release in 2026, as well as writing music in the swing era style and bringing it to live audiences this year. Amelie has also been working as a recording background vocalist, session vocalist, function singer and live sound engineer.
Amelie is currently an undergraduate at Leeds Conservatoire studying for a BA in Jazz Vocals; as part of this, she is receiving training from industry professionals across the UK. During this time, she has played with Benny Bennack the third, supported Jocelyn Gould and her trio, supported Sultan Stevenson’s trio at Severn Arts in conjunction with Leeds Jazz Festival and performed in the Leeds Soul songbook event as a solo artist.
During Amelie’s 10-year career, she has accumulated experience in all aspects of the arts. Joining Stagecoach School of Arts at 13, performing alongside Bella Ramsey in shows such as “The Lion King”. realising later on that her passions lay elsewhere, she was asked to join the Syston Swing band, where she performed shows across the Midlands. Still keeping an interest in art song, Amelie competed in the Leicester Music Fest, where she achieved silver in art song with a “show-stopping” performance of “I Dreamed a Dream”. The following year, Amelie received her RSL qualification in level 3 music practitioner with a distinction, and her work was used as an exemplar piece for future students on the same course in the UK. After 2 years of studying music management, technology, performance and sound engineering. Amelie pursued Jazz Vocals and started her 4-year course at Leeds Conservatoire.
Notable work
- Performed with Benny Bennack III and Andrew Wiess as part of the ‘Sing and Swing’ event at the Howard Assembly rooms.
- Headline with support for Jocelyn Gould 2024
- Leeds Jazz Festival 2025 Sultan Stevenson support act Amelie Payne-Heneghan Quintet
- Leeds Jazz Festival 2025 Soul songbook Amelie Payne-Heneghan
- Leicester Music Fest 2023, Second prize in advanced art song
- Student of Achievement Stagecoach 2020
- principal vocalist for the LCSU big band at the Great Northern Big Band competition.
- Performed at WW2 commemorations as commissioned by the Great Central Railway 2022
- Released an album with the folk group, Dacha Band
- Performed at De Monfort Hall as the Director of the De Lisle College choirmaster
Testimonials and reviews
- “Amelie’s powerful and classic jazz vocals, in which you can hear an evident respect and love for iconic vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone.” – Sophie Speed in conjunction with Leeds Jazz Festival 2025
- “She (Amelie) is very accurate with intonation, articulation and rhythmic placement and performed flawlessly” – Matt Anderson on a performance of Straight No Chaser.
- “An outstanding level of expression and sense of engagement”- James Mainwaring
- ” She (Amelie) has a strong vocal technique and command of her voice”- Becca Wilkins
- “Her voice is incredibly expressive, allowing the deep emotions to connect with the audience on a profound level” – Dave Kane
- “Her performance technique is excellent, with strong control in intonation, articulation and diction – Ulrich Elbracht
- “You perform with such emotional storytelling that really brings in an audience”- Amy Clark
- “Beautiful Tone and sound” – LaVance Colley PMJ
