About Us
Vegan Queen V / Jen Armstrong
Founder & Choir Master!
Jen has been a professional musician since graduating with a BA (hons) degree and Masters degree in music from Leeds College of Music here in the UK. Her music has taken her around the world to America, China, Scandinavia, Germany and more. Accomplishments include ABRSM grade 8 in piano and violin, being a songwriter on a Gold selling album in Finland, supporting The Proclaimers, Billy Ocean, Nerina Pallot and The Vaccines to name but a few.
Jen went vegan in 2016 and started writing animal rights songs shortly after. She has since released two albums as Vegan Queen V - 'Freedom Warrior' in 2022 and 'In Dog We Trust' in 2024, and tours both these albums around the UK and Europe at different shows and events. She lives everywhere and nowhere in Freeda the Freedom Van with her two companion dogs Zala and Simba (see below!) and they tour around the UK playing at events, supporting various animal organisations, adventuring and visiting friends. She particularly likes cold water swimming, running with her dogs, epic salads, yoga, ecstatic dance, climbing mountains and smoothie bowls.
Jen is passionate about Freedom for all and believes ARC Animal Rights Choir will help to liberate the world!
Sue Joyce
Pigeon Ambassador / Little Green Pigeon CIC / Merchandise Guru
Sue, like Jen, went vegetarian when she was 8 years old through her affinity for animals and understanding at a young age that we are here to look after animals, not use and abuse them. She spent 15 years in veterinary practice as an RVN, which lead her on the path of wild bird rehabilitation and care. Sue opened Little Green Pigeon Sanctuary in 2018 focusing on and caring for specifically pigeons, having realised through experience that they are very individualistic birds and require a great deal of long term care.
The sanctuary remained open until Autumn 2024, when after a series of devastating storms, viruses and many forced location changes, Sue decided it was the right decision to close the sanctuary and re-home the birds to other established sanctuaries, and concentrate her efforts on raising money for these sanctuaries and others, whilst spreading awareness around pigeons with her talk 'why we need to love pigeons' that she shares at festivals and events around the UK.
Sue now lives in Wales with her partner Matt, and dogs Noggy and Kira (see below!) She loves swimming in the sea, the odd glass of red wine, lifting weights, and eating peas.
Katie O'Grady
Virtual Assistant
Katie is the technical and organisational support for ARC Animal Rights Choir.
Katie went vegetarian when she was 13 years old through her love of animals and understanding that she did not want to contribute to their suffering. She went vegan in 2016, and started running Vegan Christmas Markets in 2017. Katie now runs the Gloucester, Bristol and Cardiff Vegan Christmas Markets, and opened Katie O'Grady Virtual Assistant in 2024 providing freelance admin support to small businesses and projects.
Katie lives in Gloucestershire with her Romanian rescue dog Gertie. She enjoys yoga, running, live music, and long walks with Gertie in the forest.
Ollie, Poppy and Gizmo
Southampton Chapter
Ollie and Poppy head ARC Southampton! They have worked together on a number of projects such as ‘Legally Blonde’, Chitty Chiity Bang Bang’, ‘The Addams Family’ and countless concerts.
Ollie works as the musical director for Winchester A Cappella, Romsey Ladies Choir, the RMDS choir and Rising Stars Productions. He is also a private peripatetic teacher working on behalf of the National Open Youth Orchestra, Treloars School and himself. He achieved a first class honours in Music at the University of Southampton.
They have both been vegan since 2019 and feel passionate about animal rights and the need to spread the message of animal liberation.
They are helped by their wonderful companion, Gizmo.
Rona Topaz
Reading Chapter
Rona is a singer, actor, songwriter, choir leader and activist based in London and Berkshire. She became a vegetarian in 1984 after seeing footage of veal rearing and battery hen keeping.
Qualifications include an AAS Degree in Performing Arts from Five Towns College (New York), a certificate in Essential Arts and Health (Sound it Out Community Music West Midlands) and a City and Guilds 7407 certificate in Workshop Leading Skills and Acting Skills.
Films include: Bright Young Things, Distant Bridges, Alien Autopsy (and yes, Ant McPartlin is exactly the same IRL..) and many others.
Theatre includes Les Miserables in Concert (London Palladium) Sweeney Todd (Bridewell Theatre) ET The Musical Comedy (Players Theatre) and many more.
As a singer, Rona has supported Billy Bragg, John Cooper Clarke and The Pearlfishers, amongst others. Recording sessions include making a contribution to the longest song ever recorded, by Welsh rock band The Alarm.
Currently Rona is resident singing tutor for Action On Disability, as well as having a thriving private practice in singing tuition, and doing session work for an Athens based DJ and artist/songwriter. However, she has no plans to leave the UK any time soon….
Rona controversially believes cats are kinder and better than most humans, although she is open to anyone who can change her mind... 😻
Zala
In-house Beat Boxer
Zala's full title is Princess Zala but goes by Zala for daily life. She was born and raised in Romania and came to live with Jen in London in Islington when she was 11 months old. Since then she has been a resident in Yorkshire, and now lives with Jen and Simba in Freeda The Freedom Van. Likes - being cosy, Noochy Poochy, running, downward dog stretching, barking / beat boxing, blueberries. Dislikes - metal grates, things blowing in the wind, loud rattly vehicles.
Simba
Choir Mascot
Simba hails from Bosnia and is 4 years old and has lived with Zala and Vegan Queen V since he was 9 months old. He loves visiting his sister Sasha who lives in Bristol with her adoptive parents Bob and Jane. Simba is actually a very good singer himself although he's quite modest about it. Likes - destroying squeaky toys, little dogs (scared of big ones), carrots and sweet potato, finding sandwiches in random bushes, being a cheeky boy, howling. Dislikes - big dogs (see above), people who are scared of dogs, firework / gun-shot bangs.
Doctor Nogglesworth
Old Boy
Doctor Nogglesworth (not a real doctor) hails from Birmingham and adopted Sue when he visited her in practice 13 years ago and they fell in love. 'Noggy' has been with Sue through thick and thin and now resides with her in Wales with his adoptive sister Kira and dog-dad Matt. Likes - sunbathing, getting fusses from people in Little Green Pigeon shop, chasing balls, chasing human feet, liberating carrots for the other dogs, travelling in the car. Dislikes - being away from his mum, other dogs coming too close to his dinner.
Kira
Talent Scout
Russian-born Kira started life rough but rescued animal-mad Matt 6 years ago and is now a Welsh resident alongside Matt and her pals Noggy and Sue. She is adapting to life in Wales very well and in particular is enjoying the wild Welsh countryside and long sandy beaches. Likes - Chasing balls, long walks with Matt, carrots (and really anything edible). Dislikes - the car, insufficient treats.