About MusicAbility
Introduction
Formed in 2017, MusicAbility Community Interest Company was created in response to changes in the local landscape of music therapy and music education in Cornwall – the company continues to deliver work that was previously part of Cornwall Council’s services in education and health. MusicAbility is evolving as an organisation, working in close partnership with a broad ecosystem of health and education organisations serving West Cornwall, Cornwall and the whole of the UK.
MusicAbility was in essence created for and is made possible by the community the company serves. It is a company for people in Cornwall – a county that is rich in character, history and beauty, but also one with significant challenges. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of the individual in their community, whatever that means to them and at the centre of everything we offer is a core belief in the potentially life-enhancing power of music.
Music therapists
Ruth Boulton LTCL, LRAM, PGDipMTh (GSMD-York)
HCPC registered AS12407 BAMT registered supervisor
Chris Baron BA (Hons), MA
HCPC registered AS017223
Chris is also a qualified Supportive Imagery and Music therapist (SIM) website
Lucy Melluish GRSM Hons, LRAM, PGDipMTh (GSMD-York)
HCPC registered AS16458
Lucy has an MA in core process psychotherapy website
People
MusicAbility promotes and supports Health Education England return to work
Music educators
Tim Boulton FTCL MISM
Emma Stansfield BMus MMus
Directors
Dr. Mimi Bird BSc MBChB
Ruth Boulton LTCL LRAM PGDipMTh
Tim Boulton FTCL
John Maggs BA MSc
Tim Boulton
In the 1980s and 90s Tim Boulton’s musical career took him all over the world, but with a growing awareness of the environmental impact of his professional work, he changed direction: For the last 20 years he has centred his professional life on developing local and community music-making in Cornwall.
Since 2003 Tim has invested his energies promoting opportunities for young musicians. As Director of Cornwall Youth Orchestra and MusicAbility CIC’s network of youth ensembles he regularly works with large numbers of young people while also sustaining a teaching practice that includes many of the county’s most able young string players. He is also conductor of Penzance Orchestral Society.
Tim has established a strong partnership with the local Music Education Hub and Music For Youth, whose thriving regional festival supports musicians making music in many genres. Tim’s approach to music is underpinned by years of performing experience but his musical roots were cultivated by attending many IMS (Prussia Cove) courses in the early 1980s. His current work with IMS includes Inspiring Young Musicians courses for musicians from across the South West, various outreach projects in Cornwall and regular performances at IMS concerts in September and January each year.
Tim and music therapist partner Ruth Boulton established MusicAbility CIC and initiated the charity MusicAbility Foundation to promote the benefits of music in the community through health and education services, and by presenting concerts and other music-based events. The Foundation is currently developing MusicAbility Centre at 10 Parade Street, Penzance – the project is in its early stages still but activities at the building are already benefitting many people of all ages. For more information please visit www.musicabilityfoundation.uk
All Tim’s education work is underpinned by years of performing experience in top chamber ensembles including Domus piano quartet, the Vellinger String Quartet and the Raphael Ensemble and with chamber orchestras including English Chamber Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Tim has also appeared as guest viola player with many quartets and ensembles. A professor of viola and chamber music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama from 1988 until 2005, his responsibilities included Deputy Head of Strings and Head of Strings at Junior Guildhall.
Ruth Boulton
Ruth has been a music therapist since 1994. She now works with families, groups and individuals – both children and adults – from MusicAbility Centre’s fully-equipped, dedicated music therapy space in the heart of Penzance . Through using attachment, systemic & psychodynamically-informed approaches, Ruth is dedicated to listening unconditionally to the people she works with, facilitating a creative & intuitive enriched therapy environment. Her focus is the development of a trusting, attuned & interactive relationship, led by a person’s need for something to change.
Ruth has confidence in music therapy to access a living dialogue that connects with clients’ experiences, across a wide range of health ‘conditions’. She has an understanding of the role and spectrum of the music in therapy – from being its own non-verbal language, through to silence and restorative listening, as well as its ability to reflect and enhance what’s verbally communicated. Ruth works closely with other Health, Social & Education professionals as part of a multidisciplinary approach to health, mental health and welfare support where required, to improve the client’s health-related outcomes. She found her ‘home’ as a music therapist following her own personal challenges. As a result of the support she has been given and the musicianship she is able to use, she is motivated to establish this support for others. Enabling people to express themselves in their own way, without need of musical skill, but instead finding a new shared language through sound, words & silence, Ruth enjoys facilitating improvements to health.
Her brief biog: Studied for 9 years at Chetham’s School of Music (winner, Thames TV’s Fanfare for Young Musicians ’79) before attending Trinity College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music (violin prize year 2, Manson prize for chamber music) and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s music therapy course, being offered scholarships to all of those institutions. She is an experienced chamber musician, was a duo member of Live Music Now! and worked as a professional violinist in London with orchestras including London Sinfonietta and John Elliot Gardiner’s ORR before working exclusively as a music therapist.
For the last 5 years, Ruth has been a visiting lecturer to students on the BMus course at Falmouth University where she’s enjoyed offering experiential opportunity & insight into the work of a music therapist, being routinely enlightened by the students’ engagement, own insights & observations. She is also clinical supervisor to existing professionals and placement manager to students undertaking their MA qualification to become a music therapist.
Dr. Mimi Bird – MusicAbility’s BAME Inclusion Ambassador
Mimi Bird studied Biochemistry at the University of Bristol and Medicine at the University of Leicester. She now works as a Junior doctor in the Southwest of England. Mimi is currently working towards becoming a general practitioner with a specialist interest. Mimi has a keen interest in research due to her science background and hopes that research can play an important part in her future career. General practice focus on two of the most important aspects of medicine for Mimi, the patient centeredness and the holistic approach to patient care.
During her youth Mimi was a member of Penzance Youth String Orchestra, and Cornwall Youth Orchestra, playing the viola. These musical experiences in her youth initiated a passion for music which is still going to this day. During her time at University she was a music scholar and played in multiple ensembles including the University of Leicester Orchestra. In her free time Mimi has also worked closely with the Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra coaching the viola section. This has been driven by her passion for music and education as well as being connected by heritage. Music continues to be a big part of Mimi’s life.
John Maggs
After graduating from Keele University (BA: International relations) and the London School of Economics (Msc: Sea use law and policing) John has spent the last 25 plus years as a campaigner on oceans and climate issues, representing civil society in the various EU, regional and United Nations bodies where new international rules and regulations affecting the marine environment and the fight against climate change are negotiated. In recent years this work has focussed on mitigating the very significant climate impacts of international shipping, but previous campaign work has focussed on, amongst other issues, overfishing, oil tanker safety, and ship waste dumping at sea. While not a musician himself John is an enthusiastic concert goer and has been a keen supporter and follower of his daughter’s progress on the violin.
Chris Baron
I am a dedicated music therapist with a diverse musical background, working across age groups in education and psychiatry. My specialisation involves utilising World Drums and Percussion, Supportive Music & Imagery (SMI) Therapy, and Electrorganic Music production instruments. Music is an integral part of my life, having guided me towards my path as a music therapist through personal experiences. SMI website link
At the heart of my practice, I prioritise psychodynamic approaches and improvisation. My work spans community music therapy projects, nature-based music wellbeing initiatives, conference presentations on music therapy in mental health, and training for Mental Health Care Professionals and Assistants in health-oriented music circles.
As a guest lecturer at Derby University, I engage with students in Creative Expressive Arts Health & Wellbeing and the MA Music Therapy program. Through collaboration with PANArt® Hang Manufacturing Ltd, Switzerland, I extend the applications of my Pang Ensemble in Health & Social Care and Arts & Culture. PANG ensemble website link
My research interests revolve around the potential of PANArt® instruments in music therapy, particularly for individuals and couples with neurodiversity, especially those impacted by ADHD.
Lucy Melluish
About Lucy: My own path has been held in music as I trained at the Royal Academy of Music, and in 1988 I qualified in Music Therapy at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I am an HCPC registered music therapist and presently work with children, adolescents and adults in MusicAbility in Cornwall. I have 10 years experience of working in mental health in the NHS in London. I am a qualified UKCP core psychotherapist. Website link
I am a mother of grown up children and have a deep connection to the natural world. I am curious in the nature of relationship and how mindfulness and a developing sense of awareness can lighten our life journey.
Emma Stansfield
Emma is a former student of Tim Boulton at both GSMD Junior Department and Guildhall School of Music & Drama. After graduating she taught violin and viola in Abu Dhabi for eight years including setting up a youth string orchestra for Abu Dhabi’s most talented string players – a particular highlight was an orchestral masterclass with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
After leaving the Emirates, Emma gained a diploma in music education at the Kodály Institute in Hungary and completed a Master’s degree at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) studying with Richard O’Neill (Takacs Quartet) and Carla Maria Rodrigues (principal viola, San Francisco opera). During her time in California she taught on UCLA’s music partnership programme working with underserved communities, as the teaching assistant for the strings department and for musicologist and cellist Elisabeth Le Guin’s Early Music Ensemble.
Since returning to Britain, Emma has been teaching Kodály musicianship at Junior Guildhall and is excited to bring her passion for string playing to Cornwall!
Introducing MusicAbility’s Patrons
Dame Evelyn Glennie CH
As a virtuoso solo percussionist Evelyn travels the globe, playing and recording with the world’s finest orchestras and ensembles. She is notably recognized as the first musician to maintain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. Evelyn is also deaf and has, with the aid of her first percussion teacher, honed her awareness of sound to such a degree that she describes her body as ‘a resonating chamber.’ More recently, Evelyn has collaborated with a spectrum of diverse artists on projects that foreground artistic vision and innovation. When not engaged with music, Evelyn embraces her role as a public speaker, consultant, presenter and advocate for humanitarian causes. Evelyn shares her mission to ‘Teach the World to Listen’ across the mediums of live performance, radio and TV. www.evelyn.co.uk
Steven Isserlis CBE
“MusicAbility is a wonderful enterprise, offering so much that is valuable in so many ways. There is no doubt that music can – and frequently does – transform the life of a child, or of a family. MusicAbility has the potential to spread happiness and wellbeing throughout the community; I do hope that it will flourish for many, many years to come”
Acclaimed worldwide for his profound musicianship and technical mastery, British cellist Steven Isserlis enjoys a unique and distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster.
As a concerto soloist he appears regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors and as a chamber musician he has curated series for many of the world’s most famous festivals. He also takes a strong interest in authentic performance and has frequently performed and recorded using instruments from the same period as the music being played. He is also a keen exponent of contemporary music and has commissioned and premiered many new works.
Writing and playing for children is another major enthusiasm and as an educator Steven gives frequent masterclasses all around the world. He is Artistic Director of IMS Prussia Cove. stevenisserlis.com
Chi-Chi Nwanoku OBE
An ex-sprinter and half the size of her double bass, Chi-chi Nwanoku has gained a reputation as one of the finest exponents of her instrument today. Chi-chi is the Founder, Artistic and Executive Director of the Chineke! Foundation, which supports, inspires and encourages Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) classical musicians working in the UK and Europe, celebrating diversity in the classical music industry through its two orchestras, as well as its educational and Community engagement work.
Chi-chi was a founder member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and held the position of Principal double bass there for 30 years. She is Professor of Double Bass Historical Studies at the Royal Academy of Music. Her musical interests have resulted in a broad career spanning authentic baroque through to 21st century, with many of Europe’s leading chamber orchestras and ensembles.
Community Mentors
MusicAbility’s Comunity Mentor scheme is our way to connect with the vast pool of experience held by the people in our community. Mentors are a virtual group of well-wishers who for professional, personal or local reasons have an interest in our work, and the scheme provides a gateway through which we may from time to time receive supportive feedback or helpful advice. The group includes representatives who are service users, doctors, councillors, parents, psychotherapists, teachers, musicians and concert goers, as well as people with experience in the charity sector. Becoming a mentor involves no more time commitment than the few minutes it takes to read an occasional email newsletter – offering feedback is entirely optional.
Please let us know if you’d like your name to be added to our list of Community Mentors.
Organisations we work with
MusicAbility is proud to work with a number of local, national and international organisations with whom we share common aims:
ASONE: asoneperform.com
ABRSM: abrsm.org
Golowan Festival: www.golowanfestival.org
Falmouth University: Academy of Music & Theatre Arts
Hayle Academy: www.hayleacademy.net
HeadStart: www.head-start.org.uk
Health Education England: www.hee.nhs.uk
Healthy Cornwall: www.healthycornwall.org.uk
Harbourside Physiotherapy: harboursidephysiotherapy.co.uk
Humphry Davy School: www.humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk
International Musicians Seminars (Prussia Cove): www.i-m-s.org.uk
Music for Youth: www.mfy.org.uk
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire: www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire
St. Mary’s, Penzance: www.penleecluster.org.uk
Truro and Penwith College: www.truro-penwith.ac.uk
Funding
MusicAbility relies on a number of different strands of income and we carry out a significant amount of fundraising to make sure that our services are as affordable as possible. Our track record to date is that we’ve never turned anyone away on the basis of not being able to afford our services.
Payment for services
Our clients pay all or some of the cost of the services they receive, some of which are heavily subsidised. Clients may be individuals (or their parents) as well as organisations, for example schools or care centres.
Grant support
MusicAbility is very grateful for substantial funding it receives from a number of generous organisations, including
ABRSM ● ASONE Hub ● Awards for Young Musicians ● Cornwall Council Community Chest Fund ● The Frost Trust ● The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund For Youth ● Music For Youth ● Penzance Town Council ●The McCabe Trust
We are also very grateful for support in kind from other organisations with which we share common aims, including
Concerts Penzance ● The Exchange & Newlyn Gallery ● Harbourside Physiotherapy ● Health Promotion Service ● Humphry Davy School ● John Daniel Centre ● Music Masters ● Penlee Cluster ● Poppies Inclusive Café ● Royal Birmingham Conservatoire ● Trelya ● Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Donations
Put simply, without the donations we receive we would not survive. As a Community Interest Company we aim to serve our community and we value the gifts that members of the community offer to support our work. If you would like to make a donation please scroll down to our LocalGiving donations page.
Fundraising concerts
Fundraising concerts have become central not just to our fundraising efforts, but are often important educational opportunities for young people too. MusicAbility string orchestras often give free concerts with opportunities for donations at the end. The concerts given at Penzance’s annual Golowan Festival are both important cultural events in the Penzance calendar and a lifeline to supporting music therapy work. Events given by others as fundraisers for MusicAbility are very much appreciated too, for instance the annual Duchy Singers Messiah performance before Christmas. A great big thank you to everyone who makes these concerts possible, both musicians and helpers.
Make A Donation
Generous donors like you make a massive contribution to MusicAbility’s work each year. In particular, music therapy services in West Cornwall are underpinned by donations, supporting adults with learning disabilities and complex needs, dementia sufferers, challenges caused by addiction and homelessness, as well as children living with trauma and young people’s mental health.
To maximise the effectiveness of your donations, we have teamed up with national charity Localgiving. If you are a UK taxpayer, making your donation through Localgiving using Gift Aid enables us to claim back tax on your donation. If you are able to do so, please consider donating to MusicAbility:
