Imogen Heap is an Ivor Novello and Grammy award winning musician. She is a British eclectic, eccentric and innovative recording artist. Her talent spans from the craft of songwriting to elaborate live multi-instrumental improvisations with electronics, building on a unique voice, classical training and unusual interest and command of technology. Self-produced, independent, engaged, she blurs the boundaries between pure artform and creative entrepreneurship.
She is also part of the team who invented Mi.Mu Gloves. Imogen says: “I first met Drake Music while hosting a workshop in December 2014. Drake Music, represented by Gawain Hewitt and Kris Halpin, were here as one of the 15 collaborators now involved in the development of the Mi.Mu Gloves that us on Team Mi.Mu have created. Working with Drake Music has widened our perspectives as they explore the use of the gloves to help break and push creative boundaries for people with disabilities, enabling new ways of expression on both stage and in the studio.
This is where the combination between Mi.Mu gloves and Drake Music is so exciting. We both aim to support everyone’s creativity, to make their culture, musical knowledge or physical condition not a limitation, but a creative asset.”
Charlotte began performing and composing with Drake Music when she was a pupil at St Rose’s School in Stroud. She is now studying for her BA in Social Policy and Criminology at University of Kent, Canterbury, where she also volunteers as a mentor.
Jools Holland | Composer, Pianist, Bandleader & Broadcaster
From playing pubs in the East End docks as a teenage greaser, to leading his rhythm and blues orchestra and selling millions of records this century, it is his passion for music that has made Jools Holland into a doyen of the music scene. www.joolsholland.com
Kerry Andrew | Composer/Performer
Kerry is a freelance composer, performer and educator based in London. She specialises in contemporary vocal music and music theatre with a twist of pop, jazz, folk, world music and everything in between. www.kerryandrew.net
Marlo Donato | Musician/Author
Marlo is a successful author & musician. In 2009, she published a book ‘Awkward Bitch, My Life with MS’, which candidly chronicles her struggle & achievements with the condition. Marlo regularly lectures about MS, music, & raises awareness for the UK’s MS Society. www.marlodonato.com
Trustees
Chas de Swiet | Chair
Chas has worked in arts management for almost 20 years and has a specialism in disability arts and diversity. Chas has a parallel career as an artist mainly working with sound and music, his musical progression has been from a classical violinist through to a world music and ambient DJ and then on to playing in bands and producing music for film, dance, theatre and events.
Liz Salmon | Trustee
Liz is a quality a practice development manager with Livability, the disability charity which connects people with their communities. After completing a music degree, Liz trained as a social worker and has 25 years of experience across social care gained from roles as a practitioner, manager and educator. Liz is passionate about diversity, wellbeing and enabling people to make music in a way which is right for them.
Julian Stodd | Trustee
Julian is a writer & learning consultant, working with organisations globally to design more effective learning. He has a passionate interest in music, writing widely about composing & performing. Julian believes strongly in Drake Music’s work enabling everyone to participate in the creative & social aspects of music.
Alex Gowan-Webster | Trustee
Alex trained as a composer, specialising in electro-acoustic music and creative technology. Following this he has worked for several years in arts administration and marketing for organisations such as nonclassical, Royal Philharmonic Society and Musicity as well as being a freelance marketing and digital consultant. Alex currently works at Sound and Music, the national organisation for new music, where he works on developing audiences for new music and to help composers engage new and diverse audiences for their work.
Jodi-Alissa Bickerton | Trustee
Jodi is a London-based, disabled Theatre Maker hailing from Melbourne. She has broad artistic and strategic experience across disability, arts, and education sectors and working with communities both as a Theatre Practitioner and Creative Producer. She is Creative Learning Director at the wonderful Graeae Theatre Company.
Jodi-Alissa Bickerton | Trustee