Matt Salvage

From piano to iPad via tuba and guitar, Matt has always been around music. After training as a sound engineer and developing music technology for schools in London, Matt returned to his hometown of Southampton to find the landscape for aspiring contemporary musicians sparse. SoCo came out of a passion to provide inspirational music making opportunities for everyone, especially those facing challenging circumstances, he rarely finds time for tuba these days.

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Craig Lockwood

Craig’s been professionally combining his two main passions of creative arts and personal development for 17 years. Craig co-created ‘BearFace theatre CIC’ that works creatively with individuals involved within the criminal justice system. He has written/directed immersive theatre shows and has residencies at theatres across Hampshire performing improvised storytelling. Craig is the MC for bands including HipHop Farmers and Bookkeeper, also guest MCing with Hannah Williams, Jimi Needles, Bombs, and many more at festivals and events. He hosted the weekly open mic night at the Railway inn (Winchester) for 14 years. For the last 3 years Craig was the Youth Project Manager for Groundwork South at Energy youth centre in Eastleigh. Craig is also a rock climbing, bushcraft and cliff jumping instructor.

Mark Scott

Mark has been involved in music since the age of nine, and has worked in the arts sector as a Project Manager and Music Leader for the past ten years. Following early classical music training, Mark performed in various jazz, funk and rock ensembles and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Music from Kingston University. Mark has a passion for creating programmes and spaces for people to explore music and sound, with a particular interest in promoting musical inclusion through performance and technology for adults in challenging circumstances.

Ignacio Agrimbau

Ignacio Agrimbau is an instrumentalist, composer, workshop leader and ethnomusicologist. He has specialised in delivering music-making programs in SEN-D settings since 2007 and has worked in collaboration with SoCo Music Project, Spitalfields Music, Drake Music, Handel House Museum, the OAE and others. He has toured worldwide and his music has been released by several labels. He is currently completing a PhD in Ethnomusicology at SOAS, University of London.

Louis Duarte

Since graduating in 2010 with a music production degree Louis works as a creative practitioner with SoCo music Project. He works with vulnerable adult groups and with young people alongside working as a sound engineer at SoCo’s Hightown Studio. Louis also performs live with various other musical projects. He is passionate about providing musical opportunities for everyone and strongly believes we all can benefit from having music in our lives.

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Kate Mellors

Kate is a vocalist, musician and facilitator who uses music, games and voice to create spaces that are supportive, permissive and full of aliveness. She has over 15 years of experience working with people in school settings, choirs, theatre companies, inclusive groups and in specialist workshops. Kate has been singing in bands and writing songs since she was 12 years old, and has fronted a prog band, a live drum and bass act, many jazz bands and currently gigs with acapella trio ‘Polly Gone Wrong’ and plays tiny instruments with ‘Babsie Brown and the Miniature Orchestra’. Kate loves helping people find freedom in their voice and use it as a way to express themselves creatively, whilst also having a good old giggle! She also rather enjoys chopping wood, trying to knit socks and plunging herself into the sea as often as humanly possible.

Shannon B

Shannon is a practitioner within the New Music Development Unit (NMDU) who is a songwriter and independent recording artist. For the last four years she has been working within the education and social care industry teaching music to vulnerable young people with additional needs. She has collaborated with local artists Tyrone and Foor and has a video on GRM daily. She’s been a backing vocalist for top 10 recording artist Alexandra Burke and starred in her video “shadow”. Shannon is a member of Route 2 Rootz, a nine piece ska, hip-hop, dub group. Shannon hosts a number of open mic nights at various venues in her hometown of Southampton and also in London. She has supported various DJs performing at club events in the UK and internationally.

Jim Chorley

Jim is an experienced community music practitioner whose specialism is songwriting. A performing Acoustic singer songwriter, Jim gained a masters degree in songwriting in 2012 from Bath Spa University. He worked in education for 14 years and brings this experience to his workshop delivery. 'I am a facilitator, empowering and enabling young people and adults to achieve their creative and personal potential . My methodology is person centred and inclusive.'

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Michael Fry

Michael Fry is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has worked in the music business since 1985. Michael began his career at Chrysalis music and then went on to work in several top London recording studios. Michael developed an interest in community arts practice in 1995 when he was introduced to the Drake Project, working with disabled musicians using music technology. Since then, he has concentrated his work in the area of inclusive arts and is wholly dedicated to bringing access to music and performing arts to everybody.

Hayley McDonnell

Hayley's life has revolved around music in one form or another for the past 10 years. Since graduating from the University of Southampton with a B.A(Hons) Music degree in 2014, Hayley has worked in music venues, booking, promoting and organising gigs and musical events, she has also led musical group sessions within care home settings, and is currently working with early years children with additional needs. Alongside this, Hayley is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and performs live in several musical projects including alt-folk group Tenderlore and avant-rock quartet A Formal Horse. She loves to sing anything from classical opera, to Gealic folk, to prog rock. Hayley is keen to share her love of music with those in the wider community, encouraging and supporting others to explore their own unique musical creativity!

Andy Halliday

Through the lens of independent music Andy toured Europe DIY before building experimental music agency Phantom Limb Touring focusing exclusively on emerging audiences. Professional roles include theatre, HE Music and IT tech receiving a teaching qualification and a high magnitude of studio and production experience along the way. Currently, Andy techs at Solent University Specialist Facilities, enjoys booking contemporary music at MAST, continues to lead EU live strategy for multiple international artists and creates original sound and mixing for artists from all genres.

Alana Jones

Alana has worked in the arts sector as a project manager, producer and teacher for the past six years for various organisations across Hampshire and Surrey. She has a keen interest and passion for managing projects with a health & wellbeing focus, and working with adults and children with SEN/D and in challenging circumstances. She is also currently the Chair of Trustees for the charity Move Momentum. Alana recently joined to SoCo team as Project Manager for the Changing Tracks project.

Becky Honeycombe-Foster

Becky coordinates the CHAOS Network which aims to provide time and space for creatives and cultural organisations in Southampton to connect. She has worked in arts and heritage learning and participation for the past 9 years and has a particular interest in community engagement. After some time up in London working at the Science Museum, Museum of the Home and Cutty Sark, Becky recently returned to her hometown of Southampton where alongside her work for SOCO she is also a Learning and Engagement Officer at SeaCity Museum, Tudor House and Garden and Southampton City Art Gallery.

Bill Acharjee

Bill works within the Higher-Education sector in multidisciplinary functions that have included; business development and engagement, employability and enterprise, recruitment, project management, and research and innovation. Bill is also an Associate Lecturer on BA (Hons) Popular Music Production, and studied Music Industry Management so has developed extensive network of contacts and vast understanding of the industry. He plays the bass guitar and has been involved in projects including; dead!dead!dead!, Woven Bird and The Diamond Age, where he has played alongside acts such as; The Arctic Monkeys, Ash, The Maccabees to name a few.

Rob Kurn

Rob has worked in the voluntary sector since 1999, initially delivering health promotion projects to young people and later working in a development role with the local voluntary sector, with a specific focus on health. Outside of work Rob enjoys cycling, photography and travel.

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Mac Ince

Mac has worked in the live music and events industry since 2004. He first worked with SoCo on the EjectorSeat Arts Festival back in 2008. He has a keen interest in evaluation, research and data protection.

Stu Elbrow