Joan Busby taught singing for many years in the Music department of Edinburgh Napier University, and teaches privately in St Andrews, Fife. Her teaching is based on Bel Canto technique with insights from Estill Voice Training and Core Singing. She aims to encourage beauty of tone and line, lively expression and for the singer, ease, freedom and enjoyment.

Born in Yorkshire, she sang from an early age, making her first solo broadcast for BBC Radio at the age of 15. A science graduate of Edinburgh University, she studied singing with Ena Mitchell and Laura Sarti, with coaching from Paul Hamburger.  She sang with Scottish Opera and in several professional ensembles, notably the John Currie Singers, the Hill Square Consort and Trio Felice. She appeared on STV and in many recitals and concerts, and  devised themed programmes for special venues, including the National Gallery of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and the Tate Gallery in London. She initiated and became Festival Director of the Handel at Hopetoun Festival, with its memorable production of the opera Rodelinda, with Rebecca Evans and Michael Chance.

Joan was a founder and for many years Director of Oxenfoord International Summer School.