Hear My Music
Emily Carr-Martin
Emily co-founded Hear My Music in 2010 based on the belief that music is a powerful communicative tool that can change lives. She is a violinist with a long-term fascination and passion about the use of music within the community as a vehicle for change, particularly for people with complex needs and/or autism. This led her to complete her MSc Music in the Community at Edinburgh University and subsequently set up Hear My Music. Emily spends her free time walking, running and cycling around Scotland with her dog Isla.
"Music has the power to unlock, to reawaken, to begin the conversation..."
Freelance Practitioners
Mary Bell
Mary Bell trained in illustration and design at Glasgow School of Art and then gained a PGCE in secondary and primary education at Jordanhill, University of Strathclyde. She also studied voice and guitar at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Mary is also an art and music therapist.
Mary has personal experience in relearning to understand music since losing her hearing when she was 36 due to Meningitis and Meniere's disease. She is fluent in BSL and relies on lip-reading to understand speech. Mary has taught music to Deaf children in Gourock for the last 14 years and hopes to continue this important work; her vision is to expand it to include Deaf accessible music workshops for young people and adults in other areas. She was nominated as BBC's 2015 Unsung Music Hero in Scotland for her work with Deaf children.
Mary is passionate about making music accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability. She firmly believes that music is fun and that all of us should participate in it much more than we do!
Mary is also an enthusiastic wheelchair curler; she has played in national competitions and recently led her teammates to victory in the Highland Wheelchair Curling Triples.
Ollie Hawker
Ollie is currently studying for his Masters in Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. As a music practitioner, he strives to bring the joys and comforts of music and sound to everyone he works with. Outside of work and study he enjoys reading, singing and cycling.
Ruth Mackay
Ruth is a professional musician (Scottish harp) and music teacher. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she completed a Diploma in Music Education and BA Hons Scottish Music. Ruth is passionate about music education and enjoys working on varied projects in school and community settings. She is excited to work with Hear My Music and promote inclusive music-making opportunities.
In her free time, Ruth loves reading, independent cinema, and jigsaw puzzles.
Clea Friend
Clea works as a professional cellist and community musician in as many different places as she can. After studying music in Edinburgh and America she returned to Scotland to complete her MSc Music in the Community which reinforced her passion for using music to enable non-verbal communication for those who prefer not to use words.
Hear My Music is an important component of Clea's working life and has brought her some of her most rewarding moments as a community musician.
Beth Black
Beth is a community music graduate who just will not stop talking about inclusivity issues in the music industry. She's been involved with music for her whole life so far, and plans to keep it that way. She sees her work with Hear My Music's participants (and other staff!) as a privilege and she learns from them as much as she teaches them. Outside of music she loves hillwalking, and her dog Mozart.
Melissa Humphreys
Melissa is originally from a teaching background and has an MSc in Music Therapy. She is excited to be involved with Hear My Music and about using music as a means of communication and expression, in an inclusive way. Outside of HMM, Melissa directs two choirs and teaches instrumental lessons.
Matthew Todd
Matt grew up in a large, musical family of seven siblings. Sharing his love of music with others has always been his passion. This grew all the more as he studied classical singing for six years, initially in Edinburgh College and then at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. Since then he has had a varied career of performing, choral conducting, and community music, as well as writing and composing.
"It has been my privilege to work with Hear My Music over a number of years. I am constantly inspired by their commitment to reaching adults and children with the healing power of music. Hear My Music brings hope and joy to some of Scotland's most vulnerable individuals and I consider it an honour to be a part of that."
Noanie Heffron
Noanie is our part-time administrator and does a lot of non-musical sorting, filing, and emailing. In addition to her HMM role, Noanie is an event organiser, an Equality and Diversity advisor to Scottish Athletics, a welfare officer for a national dog rehoming charity, and is usually fostering at least one dog - in addition to her own three.
Board of Directors/Trustees
Shelly Coyne
Shelly has been a member of the Hear My Music board since the start in 2010, bringing experience and knowledge of setting up and developing another music charity in Glasgow called Givin' it Laldie. Shelly's passion lies in leading community singing groups with vulnerable and disadvantaged singers and she is close to finishing her PhD, looking at choirs for people who have experienced homelessness. Shelly loves dogs and as a puppy walker for the Guide Dog Association, she is currently 'training' dog number four.
Moyra Hawthorn
Moyra has been a member of the Hear My Music board since 2010. Moyra is both a qualified social worker with extensive experience working with traumatised and disabled children and also a qualified Music Therapist, working with a range of children and young people individually and in group settings. She is involved in various community music activities, playing piano, harpsichord, clarinet and concertina, and supports her local community choir. Moyra also loves walking, back-packing, gardening and generally being outdoors.
Angela Barron
Angela has around 17 years experience in the third sector. With a strong background in marketing and communications, she is now CEO of a small charity based in Stirling. Outside of work she is involved in the Scottish ultrarunning community, enjoys advocating for inclusion and equality, and spends most of her free time with her two rescue dogs. Angela freely admits that musical talent is one thing she does not bring to her role at Hear My Music.
David has an MA in politics, an MBE, and is a professionally qualified social worker. His experience is primarily in childcare and he has had a range of management posts in local authority and the voluntary sector. He has undertaken research at Lancaster, Liverpool and Glasgow universities. He worked for Action for Children where he was a senior manager responsible for a range of services focusing on children with learning difficulties. After ceasing permanent full time work in 2009 he undertook various temporary contracts in childcare management until ceasing paid work in 2016. As well as being a Director with Hear My Music, David is also on the Ethics Committee at The University of The West Of Scotland.
Mull Fiddle Week
Glad Spectrum Music Summer Zoom Concert
Time of reflection
Glad Summer Music!
Happy New Term!
We can set up sessions for your charity, community group, school, after-school club, day care centre or community organisation. We also run independent sessions based on individual needs and welcome all enquires.
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Scottish Registered Charity SC048278.
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