OUR GOVERNANCE
Guiding our progress, safeguarding our future
Our executive and management team at the School work closely with the Directors of the St Mary's Music School Trust Ltd to develop the high quality education we provide.
Meetings of the Board of Directors are held regularly and Directors also serve on various committees.
The School's President and Vice-Presidents provide support and guidance to pupils.
Our Board of Directors
KAT HEATHCOTE | CHAIR |
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A passionate advocate for access to the arts, and particularly music, for the children of less privileged households, Kat has been Chair of our Board since 2021 and originally became involved with the School as the parent of an instrumentalist. Her own experience of growing up in Mid Glamorgan in the 1960s and 1970s, when every child was offered instrumental lessons and any glimmer of ability was carefully nurtured and encouraged, has convinced her that the decrease in arts funding in the UK has had a significant and detrimental effect on both attainment and participation. Kat is the owner and Director of the Witherby Publishing Group, a trustee of the WPG Charitable Trust and sits on the Board of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). |
FIONA AKERS | DIRECTOR |
After studying law at the University of Edinburgh, Fiona began her legal career at McGrigor Donald before joining Dickson Minto in 1999 as a partner and head of the firm’s Intellectual Property team. She retired from Dickson Minto in April 2020. Throughout her life, Fiona has been, and still is, a keen amateur singer. She has sung with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Chorus and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) Chorus and she also sings with numerous smaller choirs and groups. |
THE VERY REVEREND JOHN CONWAY | DIRECTOR |
John has been the Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral since 2017. Previously he was the Rector of St Martin of Tours Episcopal Church in Tynecastle, Edinburgh. During his 16 years there, he helped to establish the St Martin’s Community Resource Centre in a re-developed building. Alongside that he had two spells as the Coordinator of Initial Ministerial Education in the Diocese of Edinburgh, with responsibility for clergy training, was co-Convenor of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, and Convenor of the Diocesan Mission and Ministry Committee. |
Ken Fairbrother | DIRECTOR |
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ALISTAIR MACKIE | DIRECTOR |
Alistair was educated here at St Mary’s Music School as well as at Douglas Academy Music School in Milngavie and the University of Surrey. After working as a London-based trumpet player, he returned to Scotland in 2019 to take up the position of CEO with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). As a player, Alistair held principal positions with both the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, recorded several hundred film and television soundtracks and performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist. As a teacher, he served on the staff of the University of Surrey, The Royal College of Music (RCM) and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He has given masterclasses in the UK, Europe and the USA and, in 2017, was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Music. Alistair has served on the Boards of both London Sinfonietta and the Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as multiple terms as Chair of the Philharmonia Orchestra and an extended period as its interim Managing Director. |
JAMIE MUNN | DIRECTOR |
Jamie is the Founder Chief Executive of Nevis Ensemble, having previously been General Manager for Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS). Before returning to Scotland to work for LMNS he spent 10 years working for music organisations in Berlin, Nairobi, Mumbai, Dubai and Hong Kong. As well as sitting on our Board, Jamie sits on the Boards of Drake Music Scotland and SoundWaves - Mendelssohn on Mull. |
JANINE WATSON | DIRECTOR |
With over twenty years’ experience in private equity and law, Janine is a dual qualified lawyer and has worked in Singapore, London, New York, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Her interest in music stems from playing the piano and violin and studying at Chetham’s School of Music. In her free time, Janine DJs and is a two-time Scottish Masters Olympic weightlifting champion! Janine also sits on the Boards of the Benedetti Foundation and Smart Works Scotland. |