Meet the Team...

Suffolk Music Therapy Services is made up of an amazing team of 17 highly qualified, talented and experienced Music Therapists. All of our therapists have a Masters in Music Therapy and professional registration with the BAMT (British Association for Music Therapy) and HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council). We provide an excellent framework of support for our therapists so that they are able to deliver excellent Music Therapy across the region. All of our therapists receive regular individual 1:1 specialist supervision by an approved and experienced supervisor. We also deliver an excellent training programme that all employed Music therapists in the team have access to. This includes team days, twilight training sessions, online group training and wellbeing days. Recent training includes beat-boxing workshops, piano improvisation, voicework, guitar skills, songwriting and working with challenging behaviour. Our therapists receive up-to-date mandatory training. This includes safeguarding (Children and Adults), health and safety, moving and handling, data protection and eSafety. All of our therapists have DBS certificates and Insurances.

If you are musically skilled, like to be a part of a team, are passionate about music, love working with different people, hard working and want to make the world a better place, come and work with us! Please contact the Director,

Ray Travasso.

Directors

Ray Travasso

Director and Music Therapy Manager

Ray completed his Masters in Music Therapy at Nordoff-Robbins and has been working in East Anglia for over 23 years. Ray is a Co-Director of Suffolk Music Therapy Services and oversees all of the work carried out. He helps to set up Music Therapy posts across the region and and is the clinical director for Suffolk Music Therapy Services. Ray also works part-time at East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

Jenny Travasso

Director, Administrator and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Jenny graduated with a degree in Nursing at Kings College, London. She then gained her Post Graduate Diploma in Health Visiting at South Bank University. She worked in Suffolk as a Health Visitor and has extensive experience in supporting parents, child development and safeguarding. She is also studying counselling. Jenny co-founded Suffolk Music Therapy Services and is the administrator and Designated Safeguarding Lead for the service.

Music Therapy Team

Daisy Williamson

Senior Music Therapist

Daisy graduated with a degree in Music at the University of Newcastle and then continued with a classical music training at Prague Conservatory of Music. Daisy trained at Nordoff-Robbins, London. Daisy is currently working across several adult and child organisations. Daisy was the first music therapist to join the team in 2010 and is now a Senior Music Therapist, supervising members of the team.

Laura Pressney

Senior Music Therapist and Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Laura studied flute and voice at Leeds College of Music and graduated with a degree in Music studies. Laura completed her Masters degree in Music Therapy at Nordoff-Robbins and now works with children and young people at Suffolk Music Therapy Services in Essex. Laura is a Senior Music Therapist and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead in the team.

Iz Needham

Senior Music Therapist

Isobel qualified in 2004 from the Guildhall School of Music and drama and has worked in a variety of settings including NHS, charities and schools. Her main areas of work include: Learning Disability, elderly mental health, PMLD, autism, fostering and adoption and emotional issues and children who have suffered abuse. Isobel has a keen interest in brain development and attachment theory.

Liliana Luongo

Music Therapist

Liliana has worked with people from 1 month to 91 years old. After studying clarinet performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, she worked as a performer, community musician & teacher in East London. Here, she first saw the therapeutic potential of music when working with children with disabilities. Liliana studied music therapy at Guildhall School of Music & Drama & gained clinical experience there in a variety of settings: PMLD School, PRU secondary school & adult community mental health.

Oli Swan

Music Therapist

Oliver is a qualified music therapist with an extensive background working with learning disability and aquired neurological injuries within hospital settings. He also has experience working with children with sensory impairments and neurodevelopmental conditions. After qualifying from Anglia Ruskin University, he was involved in establishing a new music therapy post within the young adults service at The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. He has also completed trainings in Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) and the Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC).

Orla Gardner

Music Therapist

Orla is a qualified music therapist who graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. She has experience supporting individuals from the very beginning of life through to those nearing the end of life. Much of her work has been in mainstream and SEN school settings, supporting children and young people with complex needs, as well as working with older adults living with dementia. She has a particular interest in psychodynamic music therapy and in using songwriting to help individuals explore emotions, process experiences and express themselves in ways that words alone may not allow.

Ruth Ellam

Senior Music Therapist

Ruth graduated with a degree in Music and History from Cardiff University and worked with adults with disabilities before completing her post Graduate Diploma and then MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Ruth has worked as a Music Therapist across Essex for over 15 years and specialises in Palliative care and Special Education. Ruth is also a Supervisor in the team.

Lucy Persiva

Senior Music Therapist

Lucy graduated from the University of Bath with a first class honours degree in education with psychology in 2016, before moving to Cambridge to complete an MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Lucy has had a range of experience in teaching, performing and working with children and adults in a variety of settings and joined the team in 2017.

Davey Crook

Music Therapist

Davey has had a long interest in the effects of music and its therapeutic effect on people which eventually led him to complete his MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Davey joined the team in 2019 and is currently working in a college, special school and the community. Davey is a certified Neurologic Music Therapist and a certified MATADOC assessor (Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness) and has an interest in music's powerful effect on the brain.

Anna Griffiths

Senior Music Therapist

After graduating from Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge with a batchelors in music, Anna began working in a children's centre offering group music sessions to pre-school aged children. It was here she met a qualified music therapist and learned about using music therapeutically. She completed her music therapy masters degree at Anglia Ruskin University & went on to gain experience working with children with moderate & complex special needs, life limiting conditions & palliative care. Currently, Anna works in special schools with children & young adults.

Joyce Lau

Music Therapist

Joyce is committed to facilitating positive changes in peoples lives through music. She completed her Masters in music therapy at Anglia Ruskin University after graduating from a degree in counselling and psychology in Hong Kong. Joyce has clinical experience working with children with additional needs and their families, as well as older adults with dementia.

Anita Thomas

Senior Music Therapist and Deputy Safeguarding Lead

After graduating with a music degree from the University of Surrey, Anita worked in a Special Needs school as well as staffing on playwork and respite weekends for children with various needs. She completed her Music Therapy masters degree at Anglia Ruskin University and now works with children and young people who have learning disabilities and life-threatening conditions. Anita is also a Supervisor and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead in the team.

Oli King

Senior Music Therapist

Oli initially studied at the Royal College of Music and the Malmö Academy of Music before pursuing a career in Music Education & Performance. Latterly, he followed his lifelong interest & studied Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Oli has extensive experience of working in palliative care and working with children and adults with learning disabilities.

Dawn Loombe

Senior Music Therapist

Dawn completed her music therapy training in 2005 and gained her masters qualification from Anglia Ruskin University in 2009. Dawn worked as a music therapist in the NHS for 16 years, in children's services at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. She has also worked with children and adults in a variety of settings including nurseries, schools, children's centres and residential care homes. Dawn has a keen interest in early development, child and family work, autism and dementia. Dawn also plays and teaches the piano accordion.

Mollie Betts Kennedy

Music Therapist

Mollie is a qualified music therapist, who studied at the University of the West of England (UWE). Mollie first learned about the therapeutic use of music during her undergraduate degree in music at Anglia Ruskin University. Mollie has experience working with children and adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), children with social, emotional and mental health needs, in neurological rehabilitation and dementia care.

Jack McKnight

Music Therapist

Jack is a qualified music therapist with clinical experience across special educational needs and disabilities provision and adult psychiatric care. He has a BA in Music from Liverpool Hope University and recently completed his MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. He has also completed training in Neurologic Music Therapy.