Director and Chief Executive Officer – Nicola Killean
Nicola Killean graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with a degree in music education. She has worked as a nursery teacher, as one of the first cultural coordinators for South Lanarkshire Council, focusing on designing arts projects as social development and intervention models, the Scottish Development Officer for Youth Music, as a music leader for the National Youth Choir of Scotland, and as a freelance project manager and musician specializing in music in the early years.
She believes passionately in the transformative effects the arts can have on individuals and communities, and in complementary and partnership working within and across the sectors.
Musical Director – Francis Cummings
Violinist Francis Cummings is our Director of Music. As a founding member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Francis worked extensively with eminent conductors and soloists including Claudio Abbado, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, George Solti and Lorin Maazel, appearing in festivals throughout Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA.
He has worked regularly with a number of UK orchestras including the BBC SSO, Manchester Camerata, Northern Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, The Hallé, Liverpool Philharmonic and The Orchestra of the Golden Age.
Francis has held teaching posts at the University of Huddersfield, University of Lancaster and Chetham’s School of Music. He is a former leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and was Director of Music at St Mary’s Music School before joining Sistema Scotland in 2011.
Development Officer – Alan Govan
Alan began his career as a workshop leader and administrator for TRASH Music Projects, helping deliver projects in Norway, Poland, Israel and Germany. He originally hails from the Scottish Borders, where he managed several music projects for the charity TJ Arts, and was also involved in the creation of a website for the Scottish Borders Youth Music Forum. In 2008 he graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Music degree, specialising in Composition, Contemporary Music and Sonic Arts. In his spare time Alan enjoys playing the guitar and making music using computers. He is also a comittee member and performer with Glasgow Gamelan Group Naga Mas
Fundraising Manager – Nicky Pritchett-Brown
Nicky has been an senior fundraiser for over 20 years, the last 12 of which as Sponsorship & Development Director of the Edinburgh International Festival. Previously she worked in London for IMG Artists and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently a fundraising consultant. Throughout, Nicky has maintained her enjoyment of making music and is an active chamber musician (‘cello); she is also a Trustee of Scottish Adoption Association
Communications Manager – George Anderson
George handles press and public relations for the organisation. A former journalist, he currently works as a writer and as a PR consultant specialising in the arts and conservation. He has worked for amongst others Scottish Natural Heritage, The Big Lottery Fund and the Edinburgh International Festival.
He has an MLitt in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow.
PA/ Administrator – Lilian Matheson
