Trustees

Mark Ford

Mark Ford trained and qualified as asolicitor at Clifford Chance, the world's largest law firm. Whilstpractising as a lawyer, he specialised in data protection and privacylaw and advised clients on compliance issues in over 80 jurisdictions.He wrote Data Protection and Employment (Industrial Society, 2000) andwas General Editor of Data Protection Laws of the World (Sweet &Maxwell, 1998) for the work’s first ten years. He is now the Directorof the firm’s Knowledge Centre, and has recently returned to the UKfrom seven months living in India, when he established this new unit inthe firm’s Delhi office.

Mark is also an accomplished musician.He trained as an organist with the international recitalist DavidSanger and held an Organ Scholarship at Trinity Hall, CambridgeUniversity. In 1994, he formed The Purcell Singers(www.purcellsingers.org), with whom he has performed extensively inLondon, in venues including St James's Piccadilly, St John’s SmithSquare and Southwark and St Paul's Cathedrals, as well as the Brighton,Hurstpierpoint and Howden Festivals and in Frankfurt. The choir's firstdisc of choral works by Georg Schumann was Gramophone Magazine'sCritics' Choice in January 2002. Mark and the choir are also active insession work and have recorded in all of the major London studios.Their library of more than 100 film trailer cues has been used intrailers for films such as King Kong, The Da Vinci Code, Spider-man 3and War of the Worlds. They can also be heard on the original castalbum of Mary Poppins.
www.purcellsingers.org

Siobhan O'Donnell

Siobhán is currently employed by Live Nation in the role of Deputy General Manager at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Originally from the South-East, she initially began working at the Orchard Theatre (Dartford), The Dominion (London) and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Whilst at university she was also employed by the Manchester Opera House & Palace Theatres. Venue management roles have been with; the Everyman Theatre (Cheltenham), Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Everyman & Playhouse Theatres (Liverpool). Siobhan has recently completed Management Studies at postgraduate level with the Open University, holds various vocational health and safety qualifications and is a member of Merseyside Occupational Health and Safety Group.

Colin Touchin

Colin is a conductor, composer, clarinettist, recorder-player and adjudicator.  During eight years at Chetham's School of Music, two as Head of Composition, and almost fifteen as Director of Music at the University of Warwick, Colin has a distinguished record of conducting, composing for, and encouraging young musicians in orchestras, bands and choirs. With Colin, the University of Warwick's Chamber Choir built an international competition record that is unique for any British university and he commissioned new works for the University's wind ensembles.  He is the conductor of several UK orchestras, wind bands and choirs; Associate Conductor of London Charity Orchestra, founder/conductor of Spires Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus in Coventry and has conducted the National Youth Wind Orchestras of both Britain and Luxembourg.  Composing extensively, he has been broadcast on radio and television and, with his father, founded Tomus Publications.  Colin has founded several ensembles - including Warwick Orchestral Winds, the British Universities Honours Band and the National Youth Recorder Orchestra. He has played a significant role in the activities of the British and International Federation of Festivals during the last decade and is its Vice-Chairman.
spiresmusic.org/conductor.htm

Liz Whitehead - Chairman

Liz Whitehead is the Chief Executive of The British & International Federation of Festivals, the parent body for over 300 festivals of the performing arts and Course Director of European Youth Summer Music.  She is a consultant on safety and risk management in work with young people and has taken undertaken workshops and "health-checks" for organisations all over the UK.  With a degree in Business Studies, Liz was a teacher and lecturer before moving to the arts, working mostly with post-16s and developing courses and qualifications with a number of bodies.  In events management, she has been responsible for a number of concerts, fundraisers and celebrations with up to 4,000 performers, including four Royal events.  Liz has sat on many Boards and working parties, including the Executive Committee of the Music Education Council, the National Youth Music Theatre, the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Arts Network and the Forum of Chairmen of Independent Hospices.


"To work with thecompany is inspiring and uplifting. The creative, administrative and pastoral team members centre every aspect of their work on the young people. With more years of working in the performing arts than I will ever admit, I know that is not always the case - but for thecompany it is about nothing else. The accolades received for their work are a direct result of that dedication."