The PRS for Music Foundation Team
Vanessa Reed, Executive Director
Vanessa leads the overall strategic direction of the Foundation and is responsible for our funding policy, partnership initiatives and resource development. Vanessa joined the Foundation in 2008 having worked previously as an independent arts consultant, on Grants strategy at European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam) and at British Music Information Centre. In 2010, Vanessa was selected by the Cultural Leadership Programme as one of fifty "Women to Watch".
Vanessa specialises in contemporary classical and jazz but enjoys attending a wide range of live gigs, site specific performances and cross art form productions including dance, film and music theatre.
Fiona Harvey, Operations Director
Fiona joined PRS for Music Foundation in January 2011 and as is Operations Director and is responsible for managing finance, governance and HR. She also leads on our partnership programmes, Adopt a Composer and Composer in the House. Fiona has her own arts consultancy and has worked with a variety of organisations including Arts Council England, London Sinfonietta and London Symphony Orchestra, BBC, National Music Council, Music Education Council, Sound and Music, and Sound Connections.
James Hannam, Applications Manager
James joined PRS for Music Foundation in August 2008 and manages our applications process, overseeing all grant assessments undertaken by our team and external advisors. James is also responsible for the Beyond Borders and Composer Bursary schemes.
James listens to a wide range of music, but favourites include J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Gustav Mahler, Outkast, Regina Spektor, Four Tet, Joanna Newsom, The Chemical Brothers, Eliades Ochoa, Arvo Pärt, DJ Shadow, Cee Lo Green, Radiohead, Steve Reich, The Prodigy, Pink Martini, Susumu Yokota, Yes, Orbital, Lostprophets, Daft Punk and Rage Against The Machine.
Laura Whitticase, Applications Coordinator / British Music Abroad
Laura joined PRS for Music Foundation in April 2010. She is Applications Co-ordinator for PRSF’s core grant programmes and manages the British Music Abroad fund with external partners UKTI, British Underground and Arts Council England. Prior to working for PRSF, Laura was a grants assessor at National Foundation for Youth Music.
Her musical tastes vary, but she is currently listening to Barn Owl, Pentagram, Big L, Panda Bear, Nirvana, Melvins, Death Grips, Benjamin Britten, Pergolesi, Black Flag, Angel Witch, Glasser, Julianna Barwick, Grouper, Nas, The Cramps, The Gun Club, Diane Cluck, Konono No.1, Aaliyah and SBTRKT.
Sarah Thirtle, Communications and Events Officer
Sarah joined PRS for Music Foundation in September 2011. Responsible for spreading the word about all of PRSF's amazing funding schemes and supported projects, Sarah oversees the website output as well as coordinating press releases, leading on brand management and organising PRSF events. Before joining PRS for Music Foundation Sarah ran her own booking agency, as well as being an artist manager and promoter.
Sarah's music taste covers a spectrum from post-rock to folk to pop. Favourites include A Genuine Freakshow, Mew, Pulp, Simon and Garfunkel and Elliott Smith.
Rachel Collins, Administrator
Rachel provides administrative support for the PRS for Music Foundation team as a whole and is Project Administrator for New Music Incubator. She is first point of contact for general enquiries and is responsible for paying grants. Rachel joined the Foundation in early 2010, first as an intern and then as Administrator. She has previously worked at the Roundhouse, Camden, led "street-teams" to promote upcoming guitar bands and taught English to European summer school students.
Currently on Rachel’s musical radar are Mark McGuire, Hyetal, Arthur Russell, Real Estate, Com Truise, Hauschka, Ariel Pink, Oneohtrix Point Never, Erik Satie and Carly Simon.
Sagar Shah, Communications Intern
Sagar assists Sarah Thirtle in all her many endeavours. Previous to this he found inner peace as label manager at Weekender Records, and lost significant parts of his mind as production co-ordinator on The Camden Crawl festival. He also promotes the music he loves under the banner Bloody Awful Poetry through gigs, clubnights, and the dark arts of music PR.
Sagar's tastes are eclectic but right now he is adoring Francobollo, The Damn Jammage, Owen Pallett, The Mountain Goats, Sam Amidon and Stevie Wonder.
Joe Timlin, Applications Intern
Joe Timlin is working alongside Laura Whitticase and James Hannam, providing administrative support in the processing of funding applications. When he is not travelling between Durham and the PRSF office in London, Joe is usually found spending his time playing guitar in Newcastle-based band Brilliant Mind.
Joe’s taste is somewhat coloured by his being a guitarist, although he has been known to broaden his horizons occasionally. At the moment he is listening to Bill Ryder Jones’ 'If', Felt, Weezer and Eels.