Tony Davis | FRAes FInstTT FRSA Board Chairman Expand Tony Davis had an early interest in aviation which has led to an airline career spanning more than 30 years. In 2002 he became the founding Managing Director of a low cost airline, Bmibaby and in 2005 he was appointed as President and Chief Executive Office of Tiger Airways, a low cost airline created by Singapore, Australia and South Korea. During his time in Asia, he also served as non-executive director of the Singapore Tourism Board and served on various boards in Singapore, Australia and South Korea. Following his return to the UK in 2012, he became a partner in Irelandia Aviation, a leading airline start-up investment fund with interests in a number of Latin American countries and served as a non-executive director of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. He has had a lifelong interest in music and the arts, having been an enthusiastic schoolboy musician and his partner of more than 20 years being a professional violinist. He is Chairman of 1206 (City of Lichfield) Squadron RAF Air Cadets and a Trustee of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He previously served on the board of New College Nottingham and the Lichfield Festival and has a keen interest in youth, diversity and education issues.
Warrick Matthews Board Member | F&GP Chairman Executive Vice President – Procurement, Rolls-Royce Expand Warrick works at Rolls-Royce as EVP of Procurement in Civil Aerospace. Warrick’s career at Rolls-Royce includes a series of leadership roles in Operations and Customer Business. Warrick leads LGBT inclusion at Rolls-Royce and is the co-sponsor of their network Prism. Warrick joined Rolls-Royce as a commercial graduate in 1998. Warrick has been a Director of Sinfonia Viva since 2015 and also Chairs the Finance and General Purpose Committee. Warrick has an extremely varied taste in music (Opera, Rock, Country, say no more..). He is passionate to support Sinfonia Viva and the huge variety of projects we conduct across the East Midlands. Warrick is married with two amazing daughters, Georgia (8) and Elodie (6), both play piano. Education: BA in International Management and Business Administration – Univerity of Reading/Université de Toulouse Le Mirail
Helen Geary Board Member | Fundraising Committee member Director of Fundraising, Lichfield Cathedral Expand Helen is a fully certified member of the Institute of Fundraising with 20 years experience in development, alumni relations and communications in arts and education.• Shortlisted, Best Use of Innovation and Creative Thinking, Heist Awards 2015• Winner, Best Internal Event, CIPR #insidestory awards, February 2015• Winner, Internal Communications Campaign of the Year, Golden Hedgehog PR Awards 2014• Winner, Best Internal Publication, CIPR Midlands Pride Awards 2013• Shortlisted for Best Alumni/Fundraising Campaign at Heist Awards 2010
Parminder Johal Board Member Head of Discipline for Accounting, University of Derby Expand Combining teaching and learning, research, management and leadership and governance, Parminder's roles are multifaceted. As Head of Accounting she leads a team of passionate and dedicated professionals. They deliver a suite of accounting and finance programmes designed to give students choice, flexibility, opportunity to progress from undergraduate to postgraduate/professional study, and ultimately enjoy a rewarding career in an accounting profession of their choosing. She is a professionally qualified accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA). Prior to joining higher education I worked in industry as a senior financial analyst for BT plc based in London.
Margaret Cookhorn Board Member | Diversity committee member Principal Contrabassoon with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Expand Margaret was born in Birmingham and went to school in Sandwell. She took up the bassoon after her school built a new music block and received a selection of woodwind instruments from the local authority. Margaret later went on to join the Sandwell Youth Orchestra before studying bassoon (with David Chatwin and the late William Waterhouse) and contrabassoon (with the late William Greenlees) at the Royal Northern College of Music. During her postgraduate year at the RNCM she was offered the Principal Contrabassoon role at the CBSO. Margaret’s highlights with the CBSO so far include performing the Contrabassoon concerto ‘Falling Down’ by John Woolrich with the CBSO and Andris Nelsons in July 2009, May 2014 and at the BBC Proms in July 2015.
Marianne Barraclough Education Manager Expand I am Deputy Chief Executive and Education Manager at Sinfonia Viva and before that I worked for a creative arts charity based in London. I have been designing and managing creative education projects for over 15 years and I’m particularly interested in creating opportunities to inspire young and older people alike by working closely and creatively alongside professional artists. During my time at Viva the orchestra has won several awards including the prestigious RPS Music Award for Audiences and Engagement in 2018, the Best Family Event award at the Family Friendly Awards in 2016, a national Arts & Business award for a corporate training partnership with Rolls-Royce plc as well as being shortlisted for many other national awards. In 2016 I became a governor at Tower View Primary School, taking the lead as link for the creative arts and outdoor learning. In 2018 I became Vice Chair of Governors. In 2016 I became a trustee of Tom Dale Company, a creative and innovative contemporary dance company which explores the ways in which dance, electronic music and digital art come together. I became Chair of Tom Dale Company in 2018. When I’m not working, I enjoy baking, playing the flute and having fun with my family.
Matthew Lax Concert Manager Expand I graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2003 where I studied music. Whilst there, I concentrated my studies on trumpet performance and played in many of the University's ensembles including the two Symphony Orchestras, Wind Orchestra, Brass Ensemble and Big Band. When the Sinfonia Viva schedule permits, I continue to play the trumpet in the Nottingham and Derby area. I am currently a member of the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra and Derventio Brass Ensemble and regularly play with other orchestras and ensembles in the area including the Orchestra of the Restoration, Heart of England Orchestra and the orchestras for Music for Everyone and Nottingham Bach Choir. I can also be found in the orchestra pit of several local amateur operatic societies. I also play the Organ for various churches in the Loughborough area. I am also a trustee (and currently the Treasurer) of the Nottingham music-based charity Music for Everyone.
Simone Lennox-Gordon Head of Development Expand I have been working at Viva since May 2013, which I absolutely love. Before Sinfonia Viva I enjoyed a wonderfully varied career in the arts, I have been Audience Development Officer and then Relationship Manager for Engagement and Participation at Arts Council England for 10 years - working across all art forms, Arts Marketing Manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, Marketing Manager at an off-west End theatre, a west country arts centre, a comedy festival and comedy clubs, events and promotion manager for outdoor festivals and technical management on a range of theatre productions. Viva means so much to me and we attend the wonderful concerts as a family. Viva’s education and the community projects are leading in their field of creative music delivery and I have the privilege of talking about all our work to Trust, Foundations, donors and friends of the orchestra and raising money to support all of the wonderful work Viva does.
Tim Jennings Marketing Manager Expand I was delighted to join Sinfonia Viva back in 2016 as Marketing Manager. Having previously worked in audience development and marketing in a range of art forms, it has been great to get a better understanding of the unique way an orchestra is managed and developed into the future. Before working for Sinfonia Viva I managed many large audience development projects, education projects and marketing campaigns for high profile organisations and events across the country, working in the fields of contemporary dance, contemporary art, film and outdoor festivals. I was born and lived down south before moving to Derby to attain a degree in English and Creative Writing. I play music of limited appeal, whenever I get the chance.