Music is not just a source of entertainment, but an incredible tool for creating positive social impact. Therefore, this event will focus on projects where the creators are tackling community issues such as homelessness and violence. Speakers will share their experience using music as a tool to address these issues, and will talk about what inspired them, the ups and downs of their journeys, and some incredible stories of transforming lives.
PANELLISTS:
Alexia Quin (Music as Therapy International)
Alexia Quin is a professional music therapist who founded Music as Therapy International in 1995. The charity provides training and support to teachers, psychologists, activity leaders, social and health workers, and care practitioners who share their ambition to make music an integral part of care for vulnerable children and adults worldwide.
Alexia has steered the charity from its original focus in Romania to working in other countries internationally and across the UK, whilst continuing her active involvement in delivering the charity’s projects. Alongside working as the Director of the charity, Alexia was a music therapist in the NHS for 15 years with a clinical specialism is children with severe learning disabilities, including complex needs, emotional difficulties and challenging behaviour. She sat on the Commission on Dementia and Music which launched the Music for Dementia 2020 campaign, is one of the course leaders of our Interactive Music-Making Programme and regularly teaches, supervises and presents her work.
Website: www.musicastherapy.org
Bridget Rennie (Streetwise Opera)
Bridget Rennie is Co-Executive Director at Streetwise Opera, an award-winning performing arts charity for people who are or have been homeless. Streetwise Opera runs creative programmes across England and stages critically-acclaimed operas.
Bridget has a proven track record in effective strategic planning, successful fundraising and sector-leading impact measurement. Following a career in arts fundraising and events and concert management, she joined Streetwise Opera in 2011 as Head of Development and after growing the charity’s income by 88% over four years, became Co-Executive Director in 2016.
Bridget is a Clore Leader and a Trustee of Music in Detention, a charity which works with immigration detainees.
Website: www.streetwiseopera.org
Sara Lee (The Irene Taylor Trust)
After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, a performance at HMP Wormwood Scrubs became the start of Sara’s musical career ‘inside’. She was offered the opportunity to develop all aspects of creative music in the prison, which, via a Butler Trust award in 1995, led to her being asked to form the Irene Taylor Trust ‘Music in Prisons’. Sara has held the role of Artistic Director since 1995, developing, supporting and delivering the organisation’s work with prisoners, former prisoners and young people on the fringes of the criminal justice system.
Over the past 7 years, Sara has been fortunate enough to take the work of the organisation to the US, Colombia and Norway, supporting musicians and teachers to deliver creative programmes in a variety of criminal justice settings. She was awarded a fellowship by the Guildhall School of Music in 2012 and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 2015 Sara embarked on a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship, travelling to the US and Norway to look at the role music can play in resettlement and crime prevention.
Website: www.irenetaylortrust.com
Thu 6th Feb 7pm
@ COLOURS HOXTON N1 6NU
Free Entry via Eventbrite
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