Meet the Team...

Suffolk Music Therapy Services is made up of an amazing team of 14 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 17 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 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 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

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.

Iz Needham

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.

Regina Legarte

Music Therapist

Regina studied BA Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She discovered music therapy while volunteering at a community charity and went on to complete her MA in Music Therapy at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Through her training, Regina gained clinical experience in a range of settings working with older adults in mental health care as well as children with developmental needs and learning disabilities. Regina is new to the team, joining in September 2023. Her current work is in dementia care and an alternative provision school.

Sophia McCumesty

Music Therapist

Sophia graduated with a degree in Popular Music from the University of Highlands and Islands in 2019. She has recently qualified from Queen Margaret University with a Masters in Music Therapy. Sophia has experience teaching music and working with individuals across various settings and age ranges, children and adults in education, care and summer camp settings.

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

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

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 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.

Orla Gardner

Music Therapist

Orla has always taken a strong interest in the healing aspects of music, especially in how songwriting can be therapeutic. She studied music at Maynooth University in Ireland, before graduating with a Masters in Music Therapy (distinction) from Anglia Ruskin University. Orla has experience in delivering music therapy to older adults with dementia as well as with children with special needs and life changing conditions.

Lam Fong 'Jaris' Yiu

Music Therapist

Having completed a BA Hons Counselling and Psychology Degree in Hong Kong, Jaris has recently qualified from her MA Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Jaris has rich experiences in working with children and adults. Before joining the team, she worked as a counsellor in mainstream schools. Jaris can be found most weekends going to the suburbs for an outing.

Mollie Betts

Music Therapist

Mollie graduated with a degree in Music at Anglia Ruskin University in 2019. Mollie has recently qualified from the University of the West of England with a masters in music therapy. It was during her undergraduate degree that she enrolled in a module in music therapy & learned of applying music in a therapeutic way. Through her training, Mollie gained clinical experience in neurorehab, special educational needs, primary education & early years within the community.