Academy Staff
Alan Watt
Alan grew up listening to Academy recordings but never imagined he would one day have the opportunity to lead this incredible organisation. Prior to joining the Academy in September 2016 Alan was the Managing Director of City Music Foundation. He has held senior fundraising roles at the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Sydney Symphony and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He also sang with the Opera Australia chorus. He has a BA and BMus from the University of Melbourne and an MA in Cultural & Creative Industries from King’s College London.
Favourite Academy Recording?
Alison Tedbury
Alison graduated from college with a BA (Hons) in music and went straight into Arts Administration. Before joining the Academy in October 2017 Alison worked at The Royal Opera House where she had been Orchestra Manager; Contracts Manager for the Royal Ballet; and, for the last two years of her time there, managing their Staff Engagement programme. Alison heads up our Concerts and Tours team and is primarily responsible for creating and programming our busy touring schedule. Outside work, Alison is striving to improve her 10K run time to 1 hour, and can be quite frequently found looking rather bewildered at national dance competitions supporting her 10-year-old daughter!
Favourite Academy Recording?
Amy Scott
Amy studied Music at the University of Chichester where she played saxophone in many jazz ensembles. After graduating, she moved back to the West Country and started working at the Wiltshire Music Centre as the Creative Learning Intern. In 2014 Amy moved to London and began her career working in Development for Spitalfields Music before joining the Academy in 2016. In her spare time Amy likes reading and cooking.
Favourite Academy Recording?
David Hills
David studied Accounting and Finance at Middlesex University prior to commencing a career in Insurance Accounting in the City of London. He spent twenty years working for Lloyds of London Underwriting Agencies as a Syndicate Accountant followed by ten years as Head of Finance for an Insurance based Investor and service provider, that was owned by a Bermuda based Investment Hedge Fund. Wanting a change in life experience, David joined the Academy in March 2018 and is enjoying bringing his past financial experience to an entirely new sector. David has a wide musical taste and has enjoyed musical performances around the world including many performances at the Royal Opera House.
Favourite Academy Recording?
David Nagle
After completing a music degree David started his career in the box office at St John’s Smith Square before managing music, arts and education projects for companies including Barclays, Sainsbury’s and the BBC. Since moving into fundraising he has held senior roles at the Science Museum, Brooklands Museum and the London Community Foundation. Away from work he is a frequently adequate second violinist with Kensington Symphony Orchestra and watches football and cricket with varying degrees of enjoyment.
Favourite Academy Recording?
Hard to pick a favourite, but I have a longstanding soft spot for Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concertos with Håkan Hardenberger
Hannah Bache
Hannah studied Music at the University of Surrey where she first began producing live music events. Following internships with London Sinfonietta and Aldeburgh Festival, she went on to work within the Concerts teams at Classical Opera and OAE. Hannah joined the Academy in October 2019 after two years as Concerts and Touring Coordinator at London Sinfonietta. Outside of work Hannah sings with St Martin’s Chorus and enjoys making the most of her National Trust membership, visiting beauty spots around the UK (and their tea rooms!).
Photo coming soon!
Favourite Academy recording?
Aimee Walton
Biography & photo coming soon
Jacob Cohen
Jacob is a violinist from Buffalo, N.Y. After graduating from Cornell University, Jacob began his career as a strategy consultant at Kaiser Associates in Washington, D.C. As Head of U.S. Development, Jacob raises funds to support the Academy’s extensive touring schedule throughout North America.
Favorite Academy Recording?
Lesley Wynne
Lesley studied viola at the Royal Academy of Music, where she won prizes for solo and chamber music playing and was awarded the Recital Diploma.Her career as a musician included a position in the orchestra of the West End Show ‘Les Miserables’. In 2010, Lesley was appointed Orchestra Personnel Manager with London Sinfonietta and joined the Academy in 2018. Lesley also books players for freelance projects including orchestras for performances with Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones, Nigel Kennedy and Joss Stone.
Favourite Academy Recording?
Rose Hall
Biography & photo coming soon