Our Team

Alison helps in the office, providing the vital service of keeping the finances in order. This allows our musicians to do their amazing work!

David gained a passion for prison-based music-making during his undergraduate degree at Dartington College of Arts before completing a PhD at Exeter University successfully defending his thesis entitled, ‘The Role of Music-Making in Prisons in England and Wales’. He has set up an online resource showing the availability of music in prisons in England and Wales at www.prisonmusiccollective.org. With 15 years experience of delivering music workshops in prisons, David has made building lasting relationships with participants and seeing positive change across carceral institutions his life's work.

Dave has had many years’ experience playing with bands on the UK festival and touring circuits. He has supported the development of The Wak Therapists, a band that’s grown out of his post-release sessions and is now signed to Red Tangent Records. Dave loves to write songs and is passionate about helping participants to write and record their own material. One of the things Dave enjoys the most about working with Changing Tunes is witnessing the direct benefits music brings to people who are often at rock bottom.

David is a skilled musician across several instruments, including guitar (acoustic and electric), bass and drums. He also enjoys singing and song-writing. These are all fields in which he has spent many years teaching while playing in bands, mainly in church settings and in many different styles. David brings valuable skills and experience in counselling and supporting vulnerable people, enriching his work with Changing Tunes.

Working as an IT manager and musician in two parallel careers led Dave to Changing Tunes. Dave has played in many bands and settings over the years and has seen the positive effect music has on people. Dave has also witnessed how the work of Changing Tunes is a force for positive change in people's lives, which inspired him to become part of the team.

David has enjoyed releasing original music for over 15 years and working in music education settings for the last 8 years. Through his work facilitating Changing Tunes’ Young Voices programme, David finds meaning in the hope that comes from witnessing growth within young people he engages.

David joined Changing Tunes in 2019 from a background in voluntary sector leadership. His experience in Early Years, Safeguarding, Community Development and Financial Exclusion gives him a solid understanding of the challenges facing our participants and an appreciation of their strengths. David has a strong commitment to social justice and is an innovative leader.

As a talented musician across many instruments and a skilled technician in music-mixing and production, Gareth has the holistic skills required of our Musical Director. Gareth personifies the empathetic and motivational values that make Changing Tunes Musicians uniquely suited to our work. He has nurtured the team we have today, greater than its separate parts, and resilient enough to deliver hope in the challenging environments of the criminal justice system.

Music has always been a massive part of Isie's life and through music she has made a lot of special connections. Isie believes that music has the ability to hold space for heartbreak, sorrow and grief, but also to uplift and raise spirits – always transcending where words cannot reach and that is why she feels that being a Changing Tunes Musician-in-Residence is the perfect job for her!

Jake is skilled in a range of instruments, particularly drums, keyboard and bass. Hip-Hop, Reggae, Jazz, Bluegrass and Rock/Punk are all familiar territory for him. Jake’s greatest love however is rap, which he has written and performed on stages and at festivals for many years. He’s a great singer and enjoys using lyrics to express himself, whether they be sung or rapped.

Jane is a facilitator for ‘Tuning In’ - our therapeutic music-making project engaging mothers in prison and their children. Jane has been a supporter of Changing Tunes since it began, including as a clinical supervisor for our Musicians-in-Residence and as a Trustee.

Jordan is a song-writer and performer. His main instruments are guitar, keys/piano and bass guitar. He plays in a psyche/soul band, touring all over the UK and parts of Europe and engaging an international fan-base. Sharing musical experience, knowledge and passion with others has been all Jordan’s ever wanted to do, and this is what drives his work at Changing Tunes.

Lindsay brings a rich array of organisational skills and enterprise. Changing Tunes’s work to transform the lives of prisoners, ex-prisoners and vulnerable young people through music is a mission that’s close to Lindsay’s heart.

Livvy has worked with us as a volunteer and is now a full member of our team. An enthusiastic and versatile musician and singer, she can play acoustic, bass and electric guitar, piano, ukulele, dulcimer guitar and cajon, and is adding the viola and drums to her repertoire. In parallel she is studying at UWE for a Master’s degree in music therapy.

Matt is a multi-instrumentalist who writes and produces music for his bands. When it comes to Changing Tunes he loves how the sessions are geared to bringing people together through music. Watching people develop together is something he really enjoys. His work includes facilitating rap sessions and he finds a lot of joy watching people tell their stories through music.

Matt is an experienced singer-songwriter who works in producing, recording and mixing music for artists on the south coast. As a prolific performer, Matt has spent a lot of time working in bands and as a solo artist pursuing opportunities for his music. Matt first engaged with Changing Tunes as a volunteer Musician, supporting our Senior Musician at HMP Ford. This practical insight and experience enriches his current role as our Musician-in-Residence at HMP Winchester.

Mike is a dedicated and active member of Bristol’s live music scene, with a long list of recorded projects in his wake. Mike loves to create music collaboratively and is passionate about sharing his skills with others. In his eyes, the valuable thing about Changing Tunes is its work to bring hope. In his words: ‘Seeing the value of a person, whoever they are, whatever they’ve done, is the foundation of bringing them hope.’

Mike oversees the administrative operations at Changing Tunes, including HR, Health and Safety, Training Plans, Insurance, Asset Registers and Trustee meetings. Mike enjoys supporting a team of inspiring musicians working for a great cause.

Nathaniel is a rapper/singer/producer, and has produced, mixed and mastered dozens of songs over the years. In fact, he has a degree in song writing and plays the guitar and piano. Most of all he is competent in beat making/composition and is an outstanding rap artist. Having been involved with a lot of detrimental activities at a young age he finally found music as a way to change and create something positive. In joining Changing Tunes he has passion to help those who are in similar positions to his in the past and giving them a second chance. He says “music is a beautiful way to start the healing process”.

Rea loves engaging people in the work of Changing Tunes to help build our community of supporters. She has worked as a fundraiser for a range of arts organisations including LIFT, The Place and Futures Theatre. Rea is also a professional actor and performance-maker who believes that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of creativity.

Shelly is a vocalist, pianist and an experienced performer. She has worked in all aspects of music-making, from community arts projects to professional productions. Shelly works with Changing Tunes because she is passionate about the power of music’s ability to change people’s lives for the better.

All through his working life Simon has collaborated with people who are from emotionally and mentally stressful backgrounds, whether in schools, churches or the wider community. Simon believes passionately that music can have a positive impact in these environments and has seen its power throughout his work with Changing Tunes. Simon is a keen slide guitarist, drummer, blues harmonica player and has even been known to wrestle with the banjo!

Stuart has been a teacher and performer of music for many years. He has played in a variety of bands, performing all around the country and Europe. Stuart’s main instruments are the guitar and bass and he is highly skilled in recording, mixing and producing music. Stuart sees Changing Tunes as a fantastic way to help bring about positivity and meaningful change in participants’ lives.

Tehillah is a music producer, songwriter and piano teacher based in Birmingham.Tehillah was first drawn to Changing Tunes after seeing the positive change that their work can bring about in people’s lives and because she wanted to make a difference through music.

Toby’s main instrument is the Guitar, playing regularly at prestiguous Jazz venues across the uk. As well as teaching, he also records and performs as a Bassist, Keys player and Drummer. He has also worked in schools and for corporate clients frequently running concerts and large scale events as a music workshop leader.