▁sit ▁a ▁degree ▁in ▁music , ▁ach ieving ▁a ▁B A ▁in ▁Popular ▁Music ▁Studies ▁under ▁the ▁guidance ▁of   Dr ▁Ger ald ine ▁Con nor   at ▁Bre tt on ▁Hall , ▁a ▁College ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Le eds , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁ ▁While ▁studying ▁at ▁Bre tt on , ▁a ▁leading ▁liberal ▁arts ▁and ▁performance ▁institution , ▁she ▁became ▁a ▁professional ▁perform er ▁and ▁taught ▁and ▁led ▁the ▁ch orus ▁for   Dr ▁Ger ald ine ▁Con nor ' s   acc laimed ▁musical ▁production ▁Car n ival ▁Mess iah , ▁an ▁am bit ious ▁marriage ▁of ▁Hand el ’ s ▁or atorio ▁and ▁the ▁sounds ▁and ▁styles ▁of ▁the ▁Car ib bean ▁– ▁reg ga e , ▁cal y ps o , ▁s oca ▁and ▁sound ▁systems . ▁ ▁The ▁show ▁was ▁performed ▁for   the ▁Queen   at ▁the   Common wealth ▁Institute   and ▁sold ▁out ▁two ▁ 6 - week ▁runs ▁at ▁West ▁York shire ▁Play house ▁in ▁Le eds ▁before ▁tour ing   Tr in idad ▁& ▁Tob ago   for ▁another ▁sell - out ▁ 6 - week ▁run . ▁ ▁During ▁this ▁time , ▁Al me ida ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁backing ▁singer ▁for   L iz ▁Mc Cl arn on   and   N at asha ▁Hamilton   for   leading ▁British ▁girl ▁group ▁At omic ▁K itten   and ▁fle w ▁to ▁Moscow ▁with ▁Nat asha ▁Hamilton ▁to ▁perform ▁for ▁the ▁G 8 ▁and ▁ 3 8