The Team
We need to take care of ordinary people who have extraordinary talents.
We wish to provide a future generation of creative beings from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to our institutions and / or individuals of excellence, in the way of financial assistance. Our wish is that the future generation is given all the opportunities that were given or bequeathed to us from a past and more enlightened generation.
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The trustees of the Graham Vick Foundation aim to stay true and endeavour to uphold the fundamental principle, as set by Graham, of democratisation and service to the Arts. We see ourselves as guardians, and as such will treat these fundamentals as articles of faith. This is where we believe the foundation is unique.
The purpose of the foundation is not only to assist and encourage the Artist. But to create more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds, who then lead productive lives and communicate their thoughts and feelings, in whatever medium or capacity they choose, for the greater public and consequently the greater good.
It's a mission...it's Graham's mission
"I want our work to be part of the solution not the problem. Maybe that way the song will remain..."
The Board
Founder
Ron
Howell
Ron Howell is a British choreographer and movement director, trained at The London School of Contemporary Dance. He is an associate director of Birmingham Opera Company and the Founder of The Graham Vick Foundation.
His Opera career spans over 40 years, and he has worked in almost every prestigious Opera House globally. Which include La Scala Milan, Metropolitan Opera New York, Chicago Lyric, San Francisco, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, The Marinsky St Petersburg, Paris, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Australia ….to name few.
He is best known for his lifelong collaboration with the opera director Graham Vick with whom he has won many awards for outstanding achievements in Opera, and Choreographer which were all cited as ‘ground breaking production.’
Howell’s work is marked by a fusion of contemporary dance and theatre, creating movement that intensifies dramatic storytelling and brings physical immediacy to the operatic stage. He’s specially known for blending dance, movement and the dramatic gesture.
He also has an academic /historical bent: his knowledge of music and dance history is cited as a foundation for his work. This, plus his theatrical training, mixed alongside his study in Classical and Contemporary dance, made him an ideal candidate for the Operatic stage .
In interviews, he identifies as a “modern dance choreographer “who, via the lens of his extensive work with Graham Vick, developed his love, deep passion and knowledge for The Opera Art Form. An art form he continues to work on and in, to this very day.
Trustee
Sally
Groves
Sally Groves was, until June 2014, Creative Director London with Schott Music.
She has always played an active role in British music life, serving as Board member with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music group, Royal Northern College of Music, of which she is an Honary Member., and the Music Publishers Association, which awarded her their Gold Medal in 2014.
Sally now chairs the Vaughan Williams Foundation, Opera Ventures and the Music Libraries Trust, serves on the Michael Trippett Musical Foundation and The Maxwell Davies Trust and is a trustee of the Nash Ensemble, Riot Ensemble and UPROAR.
Sally was given the Lesley Boosey Award, honouring champions of new music, in April 2013. In July 2015 she was awarded an MBE for services to music. In 2016 Sally was given the ABO and IAMA Awards.
Trustee
Alison Hunt
Alison Hunt is an experienced administrator, project manager, consultant and general manager with more than 25 years’ experience across the arts and cultural sector. She holds both an MBA and a BA in music from Southampton University. Currently the Business Manager of Festivals and Events International Ltd (FEI), a cultural consultancy firm, she also provides project management and research for a number of FEI clients, including Fáilte Ireland, the National Poetry Centre and Tourism Northern Ireland.
Alison is an accomplished Festival Producer, with previous roles including General Manager of The Brandenburg Choral Festival of London, and Finance & Administration Director of Spitalfields Music. Prior to that, Alison worked with Graham Vick at Birmingham Opera Company where she was Administration Manager for three years, helping to deliver his ground-breaking, site-specific opera productions.
Alison is a trustee of Leatherhead Choral Society, Leith Hill Music Festival and Leith Hill Music Festival Trust.
Trustee
Liam-Rhys
Jones
Liam has been involved in music since the age of six, when he became a chorister at Durham Cathedral. He later continued his musical education at Chetham’s School of Music before going on to study singing at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
After completing his studies, Liam worked as an executive assistant for a family of actors, before moving into publishing with Opera Now Magazine, where he spent three years. He now works as head of development for Vache Baroque and Pegasus Opera Company, having previously held a variety of roles in development and fundraising across the UK and Europe.
Liam is deeply passionate about opera and firmly believes in its power to transform lives and communities. He is also committed to creating more equal opportunities for careers in the arts.
Administrator
Anna
Gregg
Anna is a UK opera administrator with an extensive career, notably as the current long serving Administrative Director of Tête à Tête.
Her companies have ranged from Grange Park Opera, Pimlico Opera, Covent Garden Festival through to the Early Opera Company. Alongside Tête à Tête she manages a portfolio of clients on projects, currently including Britten Pears Arts & Mahogany Opera.
She is also working with a number of other sector clients such as outdoor arts mavericks Bureau Of Silly Ideas and as a board member of the British Arts Festival Association.
She is very excited to be contributing to the work of the Graham Vick Foundation at this important time.
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Marcomms
Stacey
Howell
Stacey is a senior advertising, brand and marketing leader with extensive international experience across brand strategy, communications, public relations and integrated marketing.
Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership roles in both agency and client-side organisations, leading brand development, repositioning and marketing programmes for global and regional brands across multiple international markets.
Known for combining strategic insight with creative thinking, Stacey has built a reputation for developing compelling brands, engaging audiences and delivering impactful communications. At the Graham Vick Foundation, she leads on brand, marketing and communications, helping to shape the Foundation's identity, positioning and public engagement as it develops and grows.
Alongside her consultancy work, Stacey is also a successful entrepreneur, having built and grown her own business within the pet services industry.
Marcomms
Kate
Walkom
Kate is a marketing and communications professional with over 15 years' experience helping organisations build meaningful connections through strategic storytelling, audience engagement and brand development.
Alongside her role with the Foundation, Kate is a Managing Partner at UM Worldwide (Omnicom), leading global marketing and communications strategies for international brands across more than 40 markets. Her experience in strategic communications, audience insight and innovation enables her to bring a fresh perspective to the Foundation's work, helping connect artistic ambition with meaningful public engagement.
Recognised as one of The Media Leader UK's Future 100 Club – Class of 2025, Kate is committed to advancing the future of marketing and communications through bold thinking, collaboration and innovation. She believes that the most powerful communications do more than inform—they inspire participation, build empathy and create meaningful change, values that sit at the heart of the Graham Vick Foundation.