Meet the trustees, patrons & team
TRUSTEES
Samir Savant
Samir has been Festival Director of the London Handel Festival since April 2016. He has 20 years’ experience of management in the arts, with a focus on fundraising and marketing, and has worked at Shakespeare’s Globe, English National Opera, Royal Academy of Arts and Royal College of Music. He is on the executive committee of the Institute of Fundraising’s Cultural Sector Network, and is a trustee of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. He is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the creative industries.
Jasper Parrott
Jasper is one of the world’s leading music and artist managers, and HarrisonParrott, the company he founded in 1969 and which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is widely respected as one of the most influential and internationally active businesses in its field today. In recent years, Jasper has taken an increasing interest in the desire for diversity across all company activities, culminating last year in the launch of the HP Foundation, alongside other programmes relating to equal opportunities for all within the arts.
Ruth Minton
A soloist, collaborative pianist and educator, Ruth K. Minton is a Lecturer in Music at the University of Liverpool, leading modules on Classical Performance, historically-informed performance and harmony. After graduating from Oxford with an MA Honours degree in music in 2010, Ruth graduated with a Masters degree in Music Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as an LRSM Diploma in Piano Performance. A sought-after performance coach and academic tutor, Ruth is Head of Academic Studies for the Junior Department of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and a Visiting Lecturer for the Senior Department. Having worked in a range of positions from primary to higher education, Ruth has extensive experience of music education in the UK. She is passionate about supporting the next generation in the arts, and particularly music, creating opportunities for all.
Lydia Connolly
Lydia has been a Director of HarrisonParrott since 1991 and is the worldwide general manager for a prestigious roster of instrumentalists, conductors and composers. She was the first woman to read Music as an undergraduate at New College, Oxford — during which period she also qualified as a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (violin). More recently she completed the Strategic Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, Oxford. She is a Board Member of the International Artist Managers’ Association as well as a long-standing member of the IAMA Broadcasting and Media Committee. She is additionally a Trustee of the HarrisonParrott Foundation and a Governor of The Purcell School. She has been a panellist at various industry conferences including IAMA, ABO, Women in Music, Southbank Centre, Institut Francais, Classical:NEXT — and has also been invited to lead seminars and workshops internationally with a range of industry professionals, including young performers.
Ken Fairbrother
Ken is the elected Student Union President and Student Governor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is keen to shape the arts for the next generation. During his performance degree in violin at the RCS, Ken worked with National Performing Art Organisations on stage and behind the scenes, and with music outreach programs. A recipient of diversity opportunities, Ken looks to use his knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to improve opportunities that make the arts more inclusive to under-represented groups.
Jonathan Kuhles
Jonathan is an Associate Director for Kew Foundation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He has worked in fundraising for 14 years with a specialism in raising philanthropic support from individual donors. Until 2019 he was the Development Director for the Philharmonia Orchestra. During his time in this position he secured a number of landmark sponsorship deals for the Orchestra’s UK and International touring programme.
Lorna Aizlewood
Lorna is HarrisonParrott’s COO & General Counsel. She has over 30 years’ experience in the arts, music, television, film, digital new media, IT and associated industries. Also a solicitor, she has broad commercial and legal knowledge and experience in operational matters such as strategy, branding, budgeting, operations, P&L accountability, business development, HR and the management of teams. Outside her day job she is also Chair of the Board of Directors and Trustees of the Arts Council England NPO the English Folk Dance and Song Society. She is passionate about the ability of the arts to transform lives and opportunity for all.
PATRONS
Jess Gillam
Hailing from Ulverston in Cumbria, Jess Gillam is blazing a trail in the music world with her outstanding talent and infectious personality. A free spirit in style and character, Jess is a trustee of the HarrisonParrott foundation because she is a passionate advocate for the power of music in society, and she often combines her engagements with educational and social projects, in addition to her busy performing, recording and presenting career.
Ollie Howell
Ollie Howell is a multi-award-winning drummer, film/tv composer, instrumentalist, producer and broadcaster. Based in London, Ollie has established a name for himself internationally as a composer and performer. His live shows and recordings impress fans with a punchy blend of creativity, stunning improvisation and critically acclaimed compositions. Legendary producer Quincy Jones calls Ollie“an unbelievable drummer. So creative I couldn’t believe it. He really is a 360-degree beautiful young cat.” Ollie is the first ever jazz recipient of a Sky Academy Arts Scholarship, and his debut album Sutures and Stitches received critical acclaim, with the Guardian hailing it as“a fine debut” and Mojo stating that his music“has delicious dynamic flow and an almost elegiac beauty”. As a composer for Film and Television, Ollie has written scores for many award winning films and tv series, with his work being screened at International Film Festivals all around the world (including earning several‘Best Original Score’ nominations). Alongside multiple recent feature film scores and tv series, Ollie also recently worked as a Musical Arranger/Instrumentalist on‘Dynasties’, the David Attenborough TV series for the BBC, composed by Benji Merrison and Will Slater.
Leia Zhu
Lauded for her musical maturity, expressive interpretations and impressive technical ability, 15 year-old British violinist Leia Zhu is recognised as a star of the future. Appointed Artist-in-Residence with the London Mozart Players in October 2021, she embeds herself within the orchestra, performing as a featured soloist, leading play/direct programmes and in chamber music. Leia also plays a crucial role in the orchestra’s community residencies in Croydon and Hastings, inspiring and motivating her peers through educational projects. In producing her own regular videos, Zhu is a confident communicator and passionate advocate for classical music. She regularly posts videos on her popular YouTube channel, where she shares her joy of music, composers and creativity, which attracts thousands of subscribers and views.
TEAM
Ian Giddons: HP Foundation Secretary
Ian retired from HarrisonParrott in June 2021 following 24 years as CFO. By profession a chartered accountant, Ian has worked in the arts for almost all of his working life and has been involved on a project basis with education initiatives both at HP (as part of its work with London Chamber Orchestra and the Music Junction programme), and previously at English National Opera with the Baylis Programme. A keen amateur church organist, Ian is also deeply committed to the values of HPF
Lissy Kelleher-Clarke: HP Foundation Manager
Lissy is the Manager of the HarrisonParrott Foundation. She graduated with a BA in Music from Nottingham University and then began a career in artist management. Following a decade working in artist management, she recently completed her MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology of Music from the University of London. Lissy’s research interests comprise barriers and enablers to young people’s participatory arts engagement. She believes participatory arts engagement has the power to transcend educational ability, physical disability and socio-economic status whilst affording an array of prosocial and wellbeing benefits to those who engage. However, thousands of young people in the United Kingdom are facing barriers to such engagement. Managing the HP Foundation serves as the ideal opportunity to deliver impact in this vital area of charitable activity, by generating meaningful engagement opportunities. Outside of her work with HarrisonParrott, Lissy continues to conduct action research, and volunteers in her community for arts organisations, such as Deptford X.
Yukiko Shishikura
I’m Yukiko Shishikura, Artist Manager at HarrisonParrott. Before I moved to London to start my career at HP, I was working in the Programming Department at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. in New York City. When I moved to the US at the age of fifteen years old on my own, I did not speak any English but music and arts gave me great encouragement and confidence and helped me connect with people around me. I truly believe in the power of music education and I am thrilled to be part of HP Foundation.
