Staff

She oversees the programme development and logistics, fundraising, partnerships, marketing and finances. With a varied background in both the corporate and voluntary sector, she has developed strong networks and knowledge of the creative sector in a wider business context.

Her experience in business strategy and project delivery is enabling South West Music School to move forward with new initiatives and partners. Tracy is passionate about music of all genres and how it can transcend barriers throughout society.

With a background in the world of music education, exam assessment and music education publishing, Jen oversees the day to day management of SWMS mentoring programme. She also handles our safeguarding responsibilities for our various activities.

She studied Music and Business Studies at University.  Laura played the piano as well as cornet in various brass, wind bands and orchestras.

During her time at Oxford University, Kerenza was involved in a variety of music outreach initiatives. These included Turtle Song, a songwriting project for people with early-onset dementia, and Sing Inside, delivering vocal workshops in prisons. She also worked as a music theory tutor, and remained active as a performer in musical theatre productions and the National Youth Chamber Choir.

Kerenza is delighted to have joined the Board of Trustees at this exciting stage in South West Music School’s development, and is dedicated to ensuring young musicians across the region have opportunities to thrive.

In her role as a trustee of SWMS, Kerenza will be supporting the development of our alumni base.

David spends the majority of his professional life working with charities and other not for profit organisations. He has been a trustee of South West Music School since 2017.

In his spare time, David plays sport, runs and taxis his children to various activities. He is passionate about music but has no musical ability whatsoever!

This all within a safe environment and a peer group who are as excited about their music making as you are. He has first hand experience in how SWMS can do this, and is keen to see it flourish at a time when support for an inspiring musical experience at school can be hard to find, particularly away from urban centres.

In his role as a trustee of SWMS, Philip focuses on the mentoring process and providing alumni support.

Oliver was educated at Norwich Cathedral School. Having won both the Bernard Burrel Memorial Prize and the John Pollard Scholarship for Musical Performance he went on to study Music at the University of Edinburgh where he won the Tovey Memorial Prize for Musical Performance. While at university Oliver worked with the organisation Warchild in Bosnia Herzegovina, working with children suffering from trauma caused by the Balkan war. Having been awarded a Buchar Scholarship from the University, he completed a Masters in Saxophone Performance at the Montréal Conservatoire of Music, Canada. Appointed to the Junior Department of Trinity College of Music, London in 2003, Oliver was subsequently appointed to the Composition Department of the Senior College and also lectured at various other universities.

In his role as a trustee of SWMS, Oliver will be focusing on academic network development and quality assurance.

From there he advanced through News and Current Affairs, Science History and Comic Relief before settling in BBC Events where, as well as overseeing ceremonial events, he also enjoyed working on films on David Bowie, Carly Simon and Primal Scream as Executive Producer. Plus in 2019 he worked on the BBC’s Biggest Weekend with artists including Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and Taylor Swift.

‘I feel very blessed to have had such a wonderful career and win both a BAFTA and Royal Television Society awards for programmes I have worked on, but I always wish I’d had a talent for music. Many of the very best TV directors and producers I know enjoyed a formal training in music and they draw upon it in their work, it really makes them and their programmes stand out from the crowd, it is amazing where a knowledge of music can take you.’

In his role as a trustee of SWMS, Philip will be focussing on ambassador development and events.