The Team

	Mark Davyd, CEO After studying Sound Engineering at college in the early 80s, Mark embarked on a career in the music industry, first as a member of various moderately successful bands, then as a for-hire session player. By the late 80s, he was trading life on the road for more studio and venue orientated pursuits, resulting in the creation in 1993 of Tunbridge Wells Forum, the South East’s leading venue for rising touring acts. Alongside it’s impressive roster of live shows, which includes acts such as Coldplay, Oasis, Libertines, and Green Day, Mark and his partners at The Forum encouraged the development of the venue as a community arts centre, hosting a programme of comedy, drama, film and poetry with supporting projects for young people to encourage their participation through interactive workshops. Shortly after successfully securing Arts Council England support to develop this programme, Mark was appointed Project director for Rhythmix, and has been steering the organisation since 2000. In 2003 he created Outstanding Records and Artist Management, a successful production house company which has to date released 17 albums and manages 11 artists throughout the world. Outstanding has increasingly focused on Latin Alternative artists, and has led the way in developing new Latin music, placing music into films, TV and games, such as Nick and Norah, Beverley Hills Chihuahua, Ugly Betty, Entourage and FIFA 07/08/09.
	Mark Randall, Operations Consultant After leaving Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys in 1978 with one ambition; to be a pop-star, Mark was slowly brought down to earth when after years of being in criminally under-rated , and commercially under-achieving bands, he sadly realised that the job had already been taken. Taking with him golden memories of having supported the original Bay City Rollers at the London Lyceum, and being heckled by 800 skinheads and punks at the Hammersmith Clarendon, Mark then decided to take up gainful employment and became a guitar technician, then later, chief buyer for UK’s leading musical instrument wholesaler. In the meantime Mark was able to fulfil his creative bent by appearing as a singer/dancer in various productions of the musicals; La Cage aux Folles, City of Angels, and Anything Goes. However, ten years and four stone later Mark confines his involvement with the entertainment world by running a comedy club and new band night at a local venue, as well as singing and playing bass in a 60s/country rock band.
	Lucy Stone, Strategic Consultant Lucy has worked in education outreach since 1992 starting work as a youth worker before going to university to study Social Anthropology in 1997. After University Lucy completed a Certificate in Arts and Cultural Management in 2002. Lucy has worked on a wide variety of creative projects across a range of disciplines and with a range of stakeholders. Organisations Lucy has worked with includes Carnival Collective, Brighton Jewish Film Festival, Brighton University, West Kent Arts Partnership, Raft PR, Making Space, All Ways Learning, Brighton & Hove City Council, Brighton & Hove Music Trust and Brighton & Hove Music Arts and Study Support. Lucy worked with Rhythmix whilst at Carnival Collective as General Manager and joined the Rhythmix team as Brighton & Hove Co-ordinator in 2007′
	Jim Pinchen, Workforce Development Manager Jim started playing guitar and piano at the age of 10. Since then he has written and performed in a variety of bands ranging from acoustic duos and rock bands to a 14 piece funk outfit. His projects have received acclaimed reviews both in the US, Europe and UK and highlights include a small US and European tour, gigs at London’s Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scotts, The Astoria and Wembley Arena and being featured as NMEs best unsigned band in the South East in 2004. Jim has also written music for dance, film and television and is presently working with Award Winning International Dance Company StopGap. Alongside his music career Jim has 17 years experience in event management within the Arts Sector working for The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Place Contemporary Dance Theatre, The National Theatre, The Royal Opera House and The English National Opera, Glastonbury Festival and the London Mela among others. He has also toured extensively with such projects. Jim joined Rhythmix in 2007 for a post that “perfectly unites his passion for music, events and education.”
	Jo White, Coast Regional Co-ordinator + Team Leader Having toured and played music professionally for many years, Jo became involved in Community Music in 2001. After graduating from the Goldsmith’s College Workshop Skills course, she freelanced for a number of Arts organisations and orchestras including Rhythmix, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra and Choices for Children. She established her own company 100 Monkeys in 2005, to deliver music to young people in respite care. Jo developed a particular interest in Key Stage 2 creative work and helped to pilot, deliver and co-ordinate Brighton and Hove’s Soundmakers programme. Jo is now working across Kent with the Youth and Music Services to broaden access to music making for young people in the area.
	Emma Dickson – West Regional Co-ordinator Emma has worked in Community Music and Arts since her school days, her first summer job was as a box office assistant at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe . Emma has worked with a wide range of community projects including Red Zebra, Brighton Carnival, Brighton Hip Hop Festival , Artscape and Audioactive, providing administration, project management and fundraising support. Emma is passionate about helping young people to make music and having worked with Rhythmix in the past is excited to now be part of the team. She may not make music herself but still puts in the occasional appearances at her friends weddings as a DJ
	Russ Grooms, East Regional Co-ordinator Russ Grooms’ music life started at school with an unhealthy obsession with the guitar (his teachers words) but after leaving school, ready to set the rock world alight, he quickly realised that their were alot more guitarists in the world than he’d thought possible. Determined not to give up, he quickly swapped to bass and hasn’t looked back since. Along the way, not to be outdone, he’s picked up drums, guitar, singing and piano skills. Russ has worked with homeless people, mental health service users, young people with learning difficulties. Russ learnt sign language and trained as a counsellor before returning full time to the music and arts industry. Russ worked within Arts Development at Kent County Council until 2007. He has a record deal with a label in London playing bass for Lucky Soul – touring Japan, USA, Russia, Europe and the UK. He also continues to play live whenever he can and endorses Ashdown Amps, Italia Basses and Elite strings. His consultancy, MusicHub, has a client list including Gibson, Litestructures and Young Voices. Russ also works as a Rhythmix Tutor.

	Rachael Casoria, Programmes Assistant Rachael started singing in her bedroom with a hairbrush from as early as she can remember (and still does)! Rachael has worked in administration and project management within marketing, publishing and web design as well as promotion and event management. In 2005, Rachael, put on an event called ‘Help’ to raise money for a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma sufferer, raising £5000. It was this sense of achievement that made Rachael want to work within the charity sector, helping others, especially through music.
	Charlotte White, Silent Voices Co-ordinator Charlotte started playing the piano from the age of about 7, followed thereafter by the trombone at age 13 when she wanted to be part of the school band. It wasn’t until Charlotte moved to Brighton about 6 years ago that, having developed a love of ska and reggae, she picked the trombone back up, after 10 years of not playing. In that time she has played with several bands including Carnival Collective, The Resonators, Ska-Kestra, Kalakuta Millionaires and Fat 45, having played at venues, events and festivals all over the UK aswell as having recorded a session at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios for Mark Lammarr’s R2 show God’s Jukebox. Charlotte trained as an artist, gaining a degree from Sheffield Hallam University during which time her work had transformed from thick oil paintings to large-scale sound installations. Her work has been exhibited extensively across the UK, as well as in Europe and Canada, having received funding support from The Arts Council and The British Council. She has worked in various schools and venues delivering creative workshops relating to either sound art, or projects that merge science or maths with art and/or music. Charlotte is hoping to expand this into delivering music workshops through Rhythmix.