Katherine McGillivray's Get a Life Fund
Patron Yo-Yo Ma

Barnaby Robson

Supported by the 'Get a Life Fund', Barnaby will be able to take a six month sabbatical from his job as Principal Clarinet of the Philharmonia Orchestra.

He will be using this valuable time to focus on developing his composing work for TV, film & media. Specifically, creating new pieces for future production music projects, following on from the success of his recent "A Soldier's Story" library album for the Scoring House/West One label.

With this concentrated & uninterrupted few months of composing time ahead, Barnaby is really looking forward to exploring new compositional ideas, developing orchestration techniques & studying the playing methods of specific instruments. Additionally, Barnaby will have the time to learn more of the additional technical skills involved in being a commercial composer, including Pro Tools tuition & studio recording and editing techniques.

During his sabbatical, Barnaby will be able to seek the guidance and advice of composer & arranger Anne Dudley, who has kindly agreed to act as a 'mentor' for Barnaby during this time. We look forward to hearing the results!

Read Barnaby's blog

Briony Greenhill

Briony Greenhill aims to become established as a facilitator, teacher and performer of vocal music based on principles of improvisation, community and play.

Briony originally pursued a career in social change, studying world politics and working with NGOs, think tanks and the Government. Meanwhile she sang in bands, performed as a solo singer-songwriter, worked as a session singer and held community and corporate singing workshops.

A trip to India in 2009 started to change the balance of priorities. She studied Indian classical vocal and fell in love with improvised music. She has since studied with Bobby McFerrin and David Eskenazy, and throughout 2012 is studying with Rhiannon Watson in the US. Meanwhile, Briony is exploring the use of music for contemporary non-religious rituals, from weddings to Wassails.

Originally from Suffolk, Briony is now based in Oakland, California, where she is beginning to run school workshops, forming the San Francisco Bay Area Vocal Improv Collective and developing a new performance repertoire. Katherine McGillivray's Get A Life Fund is making this transition possible.

Read Briony's blog

Susannah Simmons

I am a busy freelance classical violinist living in the north of England. Over the past five years my interest in argentine tango and folk music has developed into a serious passion, and has led me to perform all over Europe with leading tango ensembles such as Silencio and La Mariposa Tango.

Thanks to Katherine McGillivray's Get a Life Fund I will be able to take time out of my busy schedule to develop this side of my life by living in Buenos Aires - the very source of tango argentino. Not only will the fund enable me to take lessons (both music and dance!) but also to hear and perform with some of the greatest tango musicians in the world.

Upon my return the funding will help me to establish my own group back here in the UK which will perform a genuine style of Argentine tango and folk music rarely accessible to audiences in Europe and the UK, and one that is in danger of dying out even in South America.

Read Susannah's blog

Donald Grant

I have played in the Elias String Quartet for 13 years but have also had a passion for traditional music since growing up. It has become more and more difficult to maintain a diverse musicial life and it was time to readdress the balance. Thanks to the Get a Life Fund I will spend my sabbatical immersing myself in the music of my home area (Highlands of Scotland) whilst pursuing experimental and comtemporary styles with a particular focus on improvisation. I have never had the chance to fully explore and create without the pressures of Quartet and upcoming deadlines so am incredibly excited about what this time may bring. My time will be split between working with traditional musicians in Scotland on fiddle and Gaelic song, and also investigating the contemporary music scene in London. I have planned for some time at the end to write some new music with a view to upcoming performances and perhaps a new album...

Read Donald's blog

Michelle Burke

Thanks to the 'Get a Life Fund' Irish singer Michelle Burke will take a sabbatical and spend six months living in Nashville immersed in its vibrant music scene.

Alongside her touring, Michelle has recently worked for the Scots Music Group Inspire project whose aims were to encourage participation and involvement of socially excluded and vulnerable participants in folk music and singing. While working with two projects — a mental health drop-in centre and a charity working with young people affected by homelessness — Michelle was commissioned to compose music inspired by the project for the participants that she was working with. As a traditional/folk singer, writing songs for this commission was a new challenge for Michelle and the experience has inspired her to continue to develop these skills as it will add a whole new dimension to her as a musician.

Since she was small Michelle always wanted to go to Nashville. While touring with Irish/American trad band Cherish the Ladies, Michelle got the opportunity to play concerts in Nashville and attend sessions, and she loved the friendly and heightened musical environment. Initiated by her work with the Inspire project and a new desire to create her own songs, Michelle will spend time focusing on developing her songwriting potential in Nashville's dynamic songwriting culture while collaborating with songwriters and attending workshops.

Read Michelle's blog