DRAKE MUSIC SCOTLAND (DRAKE) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- Technology Officer
Bas joined Drake Music Scotland in May 2018, and provides all-round administrative support to the Drake Music Scotland core team, its Associate musicians and its participants. Previously, Bas worked as administrator, ensemble tutor and music educator in London and Cambridge. With over 20 years' experience as a performer and educator, Bas remains passionate about the transformative power of collaborative music making.
Ex-Reuters, Sunday Times & The Scotsman award-winning business and finance correspondent (freelance) Bill Magee, BA(Hons), AdvDip(Ed) has for the last two decades run his DigiComms advisory consultancy coupled with BizTech writing bureau based in Edinburgh. Currently a columnist for Institute of Directors, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce members' publications, Scottish Financial Services Yearbook, he has also written 50 columns for the Scottish Business Insider. He recently wrote a "Thunderer" column for The Times on social media exploitation of children.
Caitlin has been working in community music settings for over 10 years and has worked with National Theatre of Scotland, Lyra Theatre, St Andrews Voices Festival, Limelight and Drake Music Scotland amongst many others. Most recently she has moved into composition and sound design for theatre, film and performance. She is passionate about equality in music and believes that everyone should be given the platform to perform, compose and experiment, with this in mind she has started her own company Tincrate alongside choreographer Hannah Venet to create opportunities for children in contemporary music making and dance.
Caitlin joined Drake Music Scotland in March 2023. Having previously worked in Learning teams for organisations across Scottish heritage, she has years of experience in delivering exciting and engaging learning experiences for a variety of audiences. She has a great love for music, and an even greater passion for supporting others to express their own love of music. As Project Co-ordinator, she organises projects delivered in schools all across Scotland as part of the DMS Learn programme.
Chris is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, bass and drums. He has a wide range of experience as both a performer and teacher, including time spent in London teaching whole class music lessons in primary schools, working as the music teacher and choir leader at St Paul's Steiner School, and as a guitar tutor, rock band leader and studio musician at Morpeth Secondary School in Bethnal Green. Chris completed an HND in Music Performance at City College Manchester in 2005, and has recently moved back to Edinburgh, where he has been working as a community musician for various projects in Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Borders.
I have worked in arts marketing and communications for the past decade and am currently employed by the Glasgow based internationally renowned producing art house, Cryptic. Delivering targeted and widespread campaigns to reach niche and mainstream markets, my work encompasses brand management and strategic development, media and PR management, individual giving and sponsorship, digital content production and online community management. I have always enjoyed exploring and maximising the many opportunities offered by new technology for increasing audiences' engagement with, and understanding of, artists' work. I have collaborate on projects with both Apple and Google and delivered seminars to students at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and University of Edinburgh amongst others. I'm keen to bring my knowledge of branding and content creation, audience evaluation, and development of new technologies to the Board of Drake Music Scotland. My favourite composer to play on the piano is Satie and not a week goes by when I don't play one of his pieces to relax.
Debbie Storm I've worked in communications for over 20 years in the private and public sectors and have recently taken up a role in the third sector. My areas of speciality, which I hope Drake Music Scotland will find helpful, are issues and crises management. I approach communications with the aim of actively managing the reputation of an organisation. I also have a particular interest in strategy and leadership. I'm very much looking forward to working with the staff and board at Drake Music Scotland and to help build on the excellent work you all do. A little fact about me is that I am shortly off to a Punk festival in Blackpool to relive my youth!
Eilidh Joanne Fraser graduated with a 2:1 BMus Honours degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2016. She has been working as a Music Centre Instructor for Aberdeenshire Council and is currently in the process of starting her own freelance business as a saxophone performer, tutor, composer & arranger. Eilidh has been supporting the Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra, who are part of the YMI programme in Aberdeenshire. She is the alto saxophone player in the group's very own saxophone quartet, who have played various different gigs and provided interactive workshops for primary school children. Growing up with a younger brother with an autistic spectrum disorder & learning difficulty with language helped Eilidh to become a passionate advocate for Disability Rights, gaining voluntary work experience helping those with additional support needs. Eilidh strongly believes that everyone has the right to learn a musical instrument and that musical education should be made available to all so being an Associate Musician
Liz is an experienced public and third sector leader, having undertaken a wide range of strategic roles in the justice, marine and culture sectors. In addition to her role as chair of Drake Music Scotland, she is currently Vice-Chair of Independent Living Fund Scotland and works with three befriending charities. She believes passionately in the value of creativity and the arts to enhance all our lives and has had a life-long involvement with music as a performer, writer and all-round fan.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- DMS in 2012 As Programme Manager
- Head of Learning
Emma Lines joined DMS in 2012 as Programme Manager, and is now Head of Learning managing the DMS Learn programme. Leading on the strategy for Figurenotes, and young people's music making both in school and transitioning out of school, working with UK, National and International partners. Emma is Commissioner for the International Society for Music Education's Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, and Board Trustee for Music Education Council. Emma has also been active in the MEC ASN/SEND Working Group since it began, and as an outcome of her contributions in the working group, Emma Co-Wrote and designed "The Short Guide To Accessible Music Education" which won Best SEND Resource in 2018. Emma owns ELM School of Music and has been teaching pupils of all ages woodwind and piano since 2002. Emma was previously Co-Chair for New Music Scotland and Board Director and Co-Chair of the Edinburgh Youth Music Forum. Her experience prior to Drake Music Scotland was as a Youth Music Initiative Coordinator for Edinburgh City Council and as a Woodwind Instructor in Local Authorities across the Lothians. Emma also had her first tutor book, Recorder Roundabout published in 2008.
Emma Murray I have worked in Financial Services for the last 20 years in a variety of roles specialising in Banking, Investments and Administration. I have also been involved in amateur theatre since 2007, and volunteered backstage for a variety of musical productions, looking after essential details such as the props. I learned how to play the Piano and Clarinet and like to practise when the opportunity arises. My first experience of performing was during the Commonwealth Games in 1986!
After graduating with a Master's degree in Music from King's College London in 2013 and realising he might have romanticised the idea of doing a PhD, Jack began working in development by chance following an internship at the Edinburgh International Festival. Since then, he has worked in various roles in both the arts and third sector, and is keen to help develop Drake Music Scotland's fundraising portfolio. He is currently acting Head of Development at the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, and is also attempting to write an 80's-style pop musical about the life of Lady Jane Grey.
Jamie Munn is now living in Scotland after almost 10 years working on music projects and for music-based organisations in Berlin, Nairobi, Mumbai, Dubai and Hong Kong, as well as leading workshops in Cambodia, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and Thailand. He is currently Chief Executive of Nevis Ensemble, and has previously worked for Live Music Now Scotland, the European Music Council, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow UNESCO City of Music. As well as Drake Music Scotland, Jamie is also on the Board of Trustees for Mendelssohn on Mull (Soundwaves). Outside of music, Jamie is an avid hiker and never more at home in the wild of the Scottish highlands and islands - perhaps sampling the local whisky and gin as well.
My name is John Allanson and I have been a Drake Trustee for a number of years now. I am retired now but used to work for Standard Life amongst others in IT. When I started work the computer I used filled a large hall; now there is more computing power in my mobile phone! I like history so I am now spending time on a History degree at the Open University with two years to go.
I have no great talent for making music but I do love listening to others playing great music so it has been my privilege to listen to a number of the amazing musical performances put on by Drake Music Scotland and I look forward to many more.
One interesting fact about myself. When I was a child I lived in Kenya and I have a scar on my leg where I was bitten by a monkey. It needed 5 stitches to sew me back up.
Katie graduated from Durham University in 2012 with a BA(Hons) in Music and since then has been working as a freelance musician. Katie works as a private piano and music theory teacher, but is also currently pursuing her passion for arranging 70s and 80s popular music for brass, wind and funk band. Katie also composes contemporary, acoustic chamber music. Katie joined Drake as a volunteer in 2012 and soon after became an Associate Musician.
Lauren joined Drake Music Scotland as Figurenotes Officer in March 2012. As the first port of call for all Figurenotes queries, she will act as the connection between Drake Music Scotland and Figurenotes users. Lauren is also a freelance violinist and instrumental teacher, enabling her to understand the needs of teachers and musicians using Figurenotes. Lauren has a keen interest in the effect music and music making has for those with disabilities. She strongly believes that everyone has the right to make music, and that nothing should act as a barrier.
Lewis is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and music teacher. He was awarded an MMus in Composition with Distinction from the University of Edinburgh in 2011. Since then he worked extensively as a music session leader for children and young adults with additional support needs before completing a PGDE Secondary (Music). Lewis enjoys exploring innovative and adaptive music technology and musical instrument design, and
as a composer, he often draws on elements of Scottish traditional music. As a Drake Associate Musician, Lewis has facilitated performances as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and the St. Magnus Festival in Orkney.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Solicitor With Turcan Connell
Mark McKeown is a solicitor with Turcan Connell, specialising in tax and estate planning advice for private clients and their families, the administration of estates, and advice to private philanthropists and charities. He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and a Notary Public. Mark has served on the Drake Music Scotland Board since 2015, chairs its Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee and acts as its Company Secretary. He is also a Board Member of the Nurses' Memorial to King Edward VII in Scotland. He has a broad interest in the arts, particularly choral music.
Mary Bell gained a post-graduate diploma in voice and guitar from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama whilst teaching as a music specialist and special needs teacher in Dumfries and Galloway. She later trained as a music therapist at the Nordoff Robbins Centre in London. Mary's passion is to make music accessible to all deaf and deafened children and adults. She has personal experience of re-learning to understand music since losing her hearing through meningitis when she was 36. Mary has level 2 British Sign Language and is an accomplished lip reader. Along with Teresa Brasier, she has taught music to deaf children in Greenock for the last 3 years and they hope to work closely with Drake and other partner organisations offering deaf accessible music workshops over the coming year.
Matilda Brown is a Glasgow based composer and musician. She has been working with Drake Music Scotland for over eight years. Matilda loves making music with others. Working with Drake helps her to discover fresh and exciting ways to deliver this music.
Matilda writes for and performs in her own ensemble. Her most recent project, "Matilda's Music and Mountains" is based on making music inspired by walking in the mountains and staying in bothies.
She is currently working with the community of the West Highlands of Scotland on performances inspired by walking the Cape Wrath Trail.
Matilda's previous professional experience includes writing orchestral music for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the LSO and the Mostar Sinfonietta. She has also written pieces for Mr McFall's Chamber and Nana Vasconcelos. Over the years, Matilda has worked with theatres companies such as the Citizens Theatre and Thear Cymru.
Matilda is currently composer in resident for SCO's ‘Connect'.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- Member of the Core Team
Pete was appointed as Artistic Director in December 2009. He joined the team at Drake Music Scotland as a freelance associate musician in 2005, leading projects in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. In 2007 he was appointed as Education & Training Officer and spent a busy few years training teachers and musicians to use music technology in a variety of different settings. He is completely convinced that making music is fun, good for us in many ways, and we should be doing more of it - all of us! He was Education Officer of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 2002-2005. As a freelance project leader he has led creative projects with many different participant groups for various organisations including: Drake Music Scotland, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Artlink Central, and Jessie's Fund.
Rachel is a Graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, London where she studied violin, viola and piano before working in Kent as a music teacher and freelance musician Since moving to Turriff she has worked for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils, The Northern College of Education and Robert Gordon's College. Currently Rachel is a member of the Rococo String Quartet and the Grey Cat Ceilidh Band as well as playing in numerous local orchestras. Working with young people and helping them to discover and develop a love of music and performing has been a lifelong vocation which she is excited to carry into her work for Drake Music Scotland.
Rebecca Di Rollo joined Drake Music Scotland as Figurenotes Officer Maternity Cover in January 2019. Rebecca is also a freelance community musician, sound artist and Youth Music Initiative Coordinator. Prior to joining the DMS team, Rebecca's experience in schools, special needs and early years provisions enabled her to experience the unequivocal social and mental development of people who participate in the arts.
Richard worked for 19 years in the investment industry, most recently as Head of Research at an investment bank. Since 2003 he has been a freelance executive coach, working with senior leaders in a range of organisations on leadership, influencing and communication. He plays the viola in several ensembles.
Interesting fact: Richard's first degree was in Zoology and he is joint author of a published paper on ageing in fruit flies.
Simon had a background in construction, before studying outdoor education. For most of the past 22 years Simon has led and managed youth development organisations and services concentrating on personal skills, confidence, and employability. Simon's skills are innovative ideas, experience of working with young people, and knowledge of the Third Sector. Simon has a life-long love of music; his favourite band is Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is teaching himself the guitar. Slowly
Stuart Macpherson is a musician, composer and sonic artist based in rural Galloway. His work has a strong focus on place and environment and how we are connected to it, in particular the remote and rural and its relevance on a bigger stage. His works have been performed by a wide variety of music ensembles including Red Note, Scottish Ensemble and McFall's Chamber and has been twice shortlisted for the Martyn Bennett Prize for Composition. He has worked on cross-disciplinary projects through National Theatre of Scotland, Creative Mackintosh Festival, Spotted Stripes Circus and recent work has diversified into immersive sound installation and collaborative projects with performances as part of Galloway's darks skies event for experimental works, Sanctuary and Glasgow's Cryptic Nights. He has a desire to create new music that raises compelling questions about wider environmental ideas, whilst challenging audience perceptions.
As a performer he has been involved in numerous projects ranging from the highly acclaimed orchestration of Martyn Bennett's ‘GRIT' and ‘Bothy Culture' by Greg Lawson to his work with singer/songwriter Emma Gillespie (Emma's Imagination). He is currently performing and writing for new quartet ‘The Galloway Agreement' with Wendy Stewart, Ruth Morris and Gavin Marwick.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Member of the Core Team
Thursa has led the organisation since 2002, previously having been involved as fundraising consultant. She has wide experience in the arts as a musician, visual arts practitioner and consultant. Starting her career in the community of Wester Hailes, she then became the first Co-ordinator of Artlink Edinburgh and the Lothians, inspiring her lifelong commitment to the arts and disability field. She believes in the transformational power of music, active participation in creative activity and access to the highest quality cultural learning experiences for all.