Songhaven Team & Advisory Board
VIVIEN CONACHER – Founder / Director
Mezzo-soprano Vivien Conacher hails from Sydney, Australia and has been based in London since 2010. Her professional experience spans work as an opera and concert singer, workshop leader, large-scale event producer and programmer, plus numerous years working in outreach and dementia-specific contexts. JAVIER VILARINO – Concert Host
Spanish/Australian baritone Javier Vilarino holds a Bachelor of Music (Vocal major) and an Advanced Diploma of Opera from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In Australia, his performances included Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vaughan-Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, the role of Billy in Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiel and chorus member for Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on the Harbour. For over 10 years Javier also worked as a guest entertainer for several international cruise ship companies. Since relocating to London, he has performed the role of Geronimo in Cimarosa’s Il Matrimonio Segreto with Hampstead Garden Opera, and worked as a singing teacher, workshop facilitator, and choir director. We are thrilled to welcome Javier as a concert host in 2023, and we know our Songhaven audiences will be as charmed by his effervescent personality as we are!
ELEANOR WOOD – Advisor
Australian soprano Eleanor Wood is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she completed a Bachelor of Music Studies (Hons) and Postgraduate Diploma in Voice. Now based in London she works as a freelance singer, voice teacher, and choral director. BOBBY WILLIAMS – Recording Engineer / Film-maker for ‘Songhaven at Home’
Bobby Williams is a freelance recording engineer, filmmaker, and musician. Originally from the Isle of Man, he relocated to “the mainland” to study at at the University of Plymouth where he gained a Bachelor degree in Fine Art with first-class honours.
Bobby has over 20 years of experience making documentaries, promos, art films, and music recordings and is in-demand in both corporate and creative circles for his versatility, keen attention to detail, and high-quality, faithful sound. Bobby has a passion for documenting all forms of acoustic music, recording and filming orchestral performances, opera galas, chamber music concerts, and song recitals in notable classical venues including St John’s Smith Square, St Paul’s Knightsbridge, Holywell Music Room in Oxford, Menuhin Hall, St James’s Church Piccadilly and St Gabriel’s Pimlico.
NAZAN FIKRET – Care Concerts Advisor
Nazan Fikret is an operatic soprano born and based in London. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is a Britten-Pears Scholar, and an International Opera Awards Bursary winner. She is also a former Making Music Young Artist and has been supported by Help Musicians, the Bob Boas Trust, and Talent Unlimited. Nazan entered the opera profession as an adolescent, singing roles such as Flora in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw across Europe. Over 20 years later, she has worked as a principal soprano for companies including English National Opera, The Royal Opera House, Teatro Real, Aix en Provence, Garsington Opera, Nederlandse Reisopera. La Monnaie, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, and Opera Pä Skaret in Sweden. In addition to her life as a professional performer, Nazan’s experience spans performing, teaching, arts administration, producing, and community outreach work. Nazan is a passionate advocate of the Arts and has sung in the care sector since she was child. She says…
SUE HEISER – Advisor & Concert Steward
Sue is a social worker with 30 years’ experience in dementia care. She led a local authority specialist dementia team, which helped develop services, improve practice and change attitudes. She supported families and managers, trained staff by mentoring and working alongside them, creating a more person centred, less stigmatising approach. She also commissioned services for younger people with dementia. Prior to retirement Sue spent eight years as Head of Residential Services in Camden, responsible for four care homes. She maintains a keen interest in dementia care through volunteering with various projects and chairs the Strategic Board of Ageing Better in Camden. Sue says: “Songhaven combines the finest quality of music with an inclusive, warm welcome to its audience, enabling participants to thoroughly enjoy a professional concert with good conversation afterwards in a relaxed atmosphere. I am so pleased to support Vivien – a first class singer and organiser who also understands the demands dementia can bring to a person and those who care about them.”
KATE WHITE – Advisor & Concert Steward
Kate White is an activist, carer, researcher and psychotherapist. After her late partner John was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Kate began to recognise how attachment theory might be applied to increase understanding between people with dementia and their caregivers and provide new ways for them to support, and connect with, each other. Kate says:
TRUDY WHITE – Advisor & Concert Steward
Trudy is an Arts Administrator with over 30 years experience in delivering music projects for a range of organisations. An important part of her professional life has been managing and supporting musicians and for 12 years she worked as Director of the classical music agency, Owen/White Management. In the subsequent 10 years, Trudy was London Director for the outreach charity Live Music Now, focused on using music as an agent for social change, devising innovative participatory music projects in order to bring the proven benefits of live music to those with least access. These projects focused mostly on older people, including those living with dementia. Trudy says: ALISE KIRTLEY – Consultant
Care & Wellbeing Consultant for Social Enterprises Plan With Care and Dementia Home Consultancy Group, Alise works across a range of projects that seek to improve quality of later life for individuals, their families and professional carers, through genuine collaboration with and empowerment of these groups. Alise is also a musician. Alise says “Songhaven embodies all of this – an oasis of excellence, creativity and inclusivity – where both professionally and personally I can joyfully witness the very best example of the power of sharing music.“
Rob comes from a background of supporting corporate client operations using technology to drive efficiencies, as well as an analytical mind to challenge process and ways of working. He has worked as a technology advisor to PwC, helping them achieve their organisational goals by improving processes as well as selecting, implementing and using technology in the best possible way. Rob says: “I am passionate about helping organisations like Songhaven maximise their potential. I hope to help streamline processes to ensure the services offered can remain as exceptional as they are today.”
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