Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure that there are no barriers – financial, social, physical or otherwise, that would prevent any person in need from engaging in music therapy.
Our work will aim to meet the social, emotional, communication, learning, physical and mental health needs of our service users. Our focus will be to make meaningful connections through music, to improve well being and quality of life.
We will endeavour to provide the highest standard of music therapy service; delivered by our HCPC registered, experienced, friendly clinicians.
Our Trustees
Kanwaljit is an experienced trustee, having worked with a children’s and young person’s charity for many years. She works as an Assistant Headteacher in a deprived area of West London and is passionate about the power of education and organisations to improve children’s life chances and quality of life. She is a strong believer in the role of inclusion and access to allow all members of society to flourish.
Micki is a Senco leader in Worthing with experience working in mainstream settings with children with complex trauma and attachment issues. Micki joins the Waves Director team with 23 years’ teaching experience and a vast knowledge of children in the area who can and will benefit from music therapy intervention.
Paul is Managing director at AoN , based in Houston, Texas. Originally from East Preston, Paul is the father of Toby Calder- Finnett in whose name Toby’s Fund exists. Paul brings his business knowledge and his commitment to use his son’s memory to improve the lives of teens with complex needs in West Sussex, an area that Toby loved and called home. We are very proud to have Paul on our team and thankful to him, and to his family, for entrusting Toby’s fund to Waves Music Therapy.
Jessica has a PhD in Musicology from the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 2019 with a thesis titled The Women Musicians of South Place Ethical Society, 1887 – 1927. Subsequently, Jessica has worked with the BBC Philharmonic, The British Academy and on EU-funded research projects. Jessica now works as a Research Manager at the University of Sussex and has experience in leading work in equality, diversity and inclusion.
Our Team
Victoria is the founder and CEO of Waves Music Therapy. She qualified in 2005 and spent the subsequent years working in South London and then Denver, Colorado. On returning to the UK and relocating to the south coast she was quickly made aware of the need for music therapy in the county and there being no formal service. She was also acutely aware that music therapy for many is prohibitively expensive and so, along with her long time friend and colleague Kirsten Halliday, established Waves as a CIC in 2013. The aim was to be a vehicle to raise funds to support anyone who seeks music therapy to be able to access sessions. In 2021 Waves became a charity and now supports over 1300 people per year and utilises the skills of around 15 therapists across the county. Victoria and the dedicated team are committed to continuing their mission that music therapy is accessible to all.
Ruth qualified as a music therapist in 1990 from Roehampton, following a degree in music from Nottingham University. She then worked for Autism East Midlands (formerly NORSACA) for 8 years before moving to Sussex. She has many years’ experience working with clients with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs, emotional and behavioural problems and attachment issues. She works with people of all ages, but has most experience working with children and young people aged 0-18.
Anna qualified as a music therapist in 2017, and has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities and adults living with cancer. Anna is passionate about encouraging schools to explore improvisatory music making opportunities as a means of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people; she believes that all children should have the opportunity to raise their voice, to feel heard and to celebrate their creativity and ability through music making
After graduating in 1999, Hazel Child qualified in both music teaching and music therapy before spending 8 years working in a secondary school for young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.
She has since widened her scope to include adult mental health, in particular the challenges arising due to dementia. She now works in a range of settings, including mainstream schools, private and community care facilities, with all ages and abilities.
She has since widened her scope to include adult mental health, in particular the challenges arising due to dementia. She now works in a range of settings, including mainstream schools, private and community care facilities, with all ages and abilities.
James qualified as a music therapist in 2017 from Cambridge, and now works in a special needs college in West Sussex, where clients include non-verbal adolescents with learning disabilities and autism. His previous experience also includes working on an acute adult psychiatric ward, where clients have a wide range of mental health difficulties.
Dominique is a composer & songwriter with a background in performance who studied Music Therapy at Nordoff Robbins in 2014. She enjoys running several choirs including Singing for the Brain with The Alzheimer’s Society and has 8 years’ experience as a music tutor and practitioner within FE, along with her own private practice. She now divides her time between St. Magnus Hospital in Haslemere working within forensics and composing albums in her Worthing studio
Lizzy is passionate about working with children, young people and their families whilst utilising the creative arts to support a holistic approach to care. She has experience working with children with differing emotional and behavioural needs and is currently working at an SEN school for children with complex needs and disabilities. Whilst training, she became interested in the use of symbolic play in Music Therapy and how this can be utilised to support children with developmental trauma. This became the focus of her MA research.
Kitty graduated from Roehampton 2023 and is now based in Brighton. She has experience working in both primary and secondary schools within mainstream settings as well as special educational needs. Kitty has a particular interest in meditative music including guided imagery and the use of Tibetan instruments to create a soothing environment; this is particularly helpful for people dealing with trauma and/ or needing emotional support. Kitty is keen to work with a diverse client base and able to tailor music therapy to each individual.
Ania qualified as a music therapist in her home country of Poland and has since worked in forensic settings and with dementia patients in an in-patient service. She currently runs the music therapy provision at a home in Havant in collaboration with Mencap, for adults with learning difficulties.
Louie is a Rapper, Performer and Practitioner, who adopts several forms of creative writing: spoken word, script writing, poetry and lyric writing, which all serve his artistic output and identity. He also directs music videos and staged performances. Louie trained at The Guildhall and works with Waves delivering spoken word and rap workshops with our therapists, reaching vulnerable children and young people and engaging them in powerful music making.
Ed is a freestyle rap artist and youth worker who worked with Waves during their visit to Downing Street, wowing the team at No.10 with his workshop and freestyle rap skills. You can follow Ed on Instagram on the Gramskionthemic handle, or contact Waves about workshops with Ed.
Lori graduated from Roehampton University with MA in Music Therapy in June 2018. Prior to this Lori completed an undergraduate degree at BIMM, receiving a BA Hons in Professional Musicianship in Vocals. Lori’s first instrument is voice, followed by piano and ukulele.
Lori has experience working within SEND, adult mental health, elderly and dementia settings.
Lori has experience working within SEND, adult mental health, elderly and dementia settings.
Mike is a very experienced music practitioner with a strong track record of delivering powerful and engaging workshops for those with profound and complex needs. Mike joins us for the Immersive Music Project, funded by Worthing CIL, which has already expanded from a 9 week programme to become part of the school curriculum at Oak Grove College, citing the workshop’s power to connect with and give voice to their students with the most complex needs.
Simi qualified as a Music Therapist from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2015 and her clinical work is focused on children and young people with communication difficulties, autism and developmental trauma. Simi has also worked as musician in her local community throughout her career. She is an experienced teacher, pianist and vocalist.
Kerry joins us as our first Art Therapist at Waves Music Therapy. Kerry has over 25 years of experience working with children, young people and families within a
variety of education settings, CAMHs teams, activity groups and residential care. Kerry recognises that we don’t always have the words to attach to our feelings and encourages people to explore their life experiences through engaging with creativity and art materials. There is no need to be good at art – simply a willingness to explore.
variety of education settings, CAMHs teams, activity groups and residential care. Kerry recognises that we don’t always have the words to attach to our feelings and encourages people to explore their life experiences through engaging with creativity and art materials. There is no need to be good at art – simply a willingness to explore.
After a successful career in marketing and in teaching, Gabrielle completed her MA in Music Therapy at Roehampton University. Gabrielle has experience of working with children and adults with a variety of needs including learning disabilities, PMLD, mental health and life-limiting conditions. During training Gabrielle worked in a children’s hospice and became particularly interested in the role of music therapy within palliative care, completing her MA research in this area.
Kirsten works in London with adolescents with emotional and behavioural difficulties. She helped to establish Waves Music Therapy in 2013 and is still involved in a consultancy role.
Our Patrons
Olly is a singer songwriter from West Sussex who has achieved critical acclaim for his work. Olly tours widely, collaborates with world famous artists and believes strongly in the healing power of music making.
