Past Readipop projects
Gavin Lombos
Creative DirectorGavin oversees the on-going strategic and operational development of the charity. Readipop is led by co-founder Gavin Lombos, a leading figure in music education and arts development with 20 years of experience leading arts projects and as an international touring musician. Readipop is an artist led organisation. Readipop’s creative director Gavin Lombos was recently awarded a Pride of Reading award for his cultural contribution to Reading.
Amy Hodder
Programme ManagerAmy coordinates Readipop’s education and workshops programmes, staff, participant referral process and open access programme. She also manages the administration and marketing and leads our online presence, as well as creating promotional material. Amy has an overview of all of Readipop's activity.
Lizzy Bell
Project AssistantLizzy coordinates all aspects of the Reading on Tour cultural heritage project, including running the weekly heritage sessions. She also keeps things ticking over in the office.
Lozza
Events ManagerLoz coordinates our Readipop Studios events programme. He is also the production manager for Caversham Festival.
James Vigurs
Music LeaderJV is a talented multi-instrumentalist and producer, when not gigging on guitar, sax or keys JV leads Tea & Jam, Readipop's ukulele group for older people, he also works on a range of other Readipop projects
Sabrina Findlay
Music LeaderSabrina is vocalist with a strong track record of leading choirs and both one-to-one and group music making workshops. She leads Moving On, Readipop's choir for older people, as well as providing vocal masterclasses on other Readipop projects.
Steve Southall
Music LeaderSteve Southall is a specialist in African Drumming and leads Tankata Drummers, he also helps deliver various one off workshops and taster sessions with Readipop.
Rob Gilmour
Music LeaderRob leads The Small Strings and also helps to deliver ukulele and other outreach projects in schools.
Michael Vidon - AKA Gulliver
Workshop LeaderMichael is a performance poet, he works with Readipop on a range of creative projects often using his poetry skill to help participants with lyric writing. He previously helped create ``Whitley Bingo`` as part of Readipop's Whitfest project with older people.
Will Davey
Music LeaderA music producer, a grade 8 drummer, and a talented keyboard player, when not out performing gigging and recording Will leads a lot of Readipop's one-to-one and small group based studio sessions.
Nathaniel Simpson
Music LeaderNate is a singer/songwriter and when he's not in the studio or gigging he leads our A Cappella choir, Readiophonics. He also runs outreach projects in schools.
Barrie Ramsey
Music LeaderBarrie Ramsey is a singer and ukulele player, he leads our beginners ukulele course and provides workshops at various community festivals and events across Reading.
Matt Foster
Music LeaderAn experienced Music Leader with extensive experience in both FE and HE settings, when not running workshops Matt still can be found performing and sound engineering for a range of artists.
Jamie Howell
Music LeaderJamie Howell is an accomplished guitarist and musician, he gigs and performs regularly. He helps run Get Gigging, Summer Band Academy and several other Readipop projects.
Richard Bentley
Music LeaderMusic educator, musician and sound artist with a research interest in sound in mindfulness practice.
Leo Brown
Music LeaderLeo Brown is a drummer and percussionist, with extensive experienced in further education. Leo works with Readipop on a range of different project.
Michael Reynolds
Studio TechnicianMichael is our studio technician and you will find him running the studios most evenings. He is also a keen bassist!
Tim Greaves
Tour Manager / Personal Assistant for RadioheadIn the 1980s Tim became the manager of a local Reading band who were friends from school. Contacts made during this time led to work with signed bands on tours.
Tim worked as a roadie and van driver and as gigs got bigger became the Tour Manager for many bands such as The Milltown Brothers and Sneaker Pimps.
In 1992 Tim was asked to be Tour Manager for Radiohead, a newly signed band on Parlophone. He continued in this position until 2002. From 2000 Tim has been the Studio manager for Radiohead's private recording studio in Oxfordshire.
Mel Maxwell
Owner/Director SandbagMel Maxwell was born in Thetford Norfolk in 1969 and lived in various UK locations and countries before finishing a degree in Psychology at the University of Reading. Reading remains home. In 1995 Mel started a career in the music industry, making and selling merchandise, touring and creating e-commerce opportunities for bands and artists. This led to a prestigious Grammy award in 2009. Co-owner/director of the company Sandbag Ltd, Mel continues to work within the music industry while also pursuing a great calling to help children who struggle to come to terms with the death of a loved one. This is channeled through her first book The Coat I Wear.
Ian Barks
Youth EngagementIan Barks has been working with young people in the Reading area for the last 10 years. Ian is currently a manager within the Reading Youth Engagement Service, which helps 13 to 19 year olds reach their full potential. Music is one of the many tools used by the service to achieve this. He’s been attempting to play the drums on and off for many years and has found a band that seems to put up with him. Ian is known to Readipop through partnership working over the last few years but also a paying customer of the rehearsal studios.
Rose Williams
Councillor, Reading Borough CouncilFormer Mayor of Reading, Rose Williams is a member of Beatroots - our resident Samba bateria and is a councillor for Katesgrove in Reading.
Chris Bloomfield
Community Development
Kirsti Wilson
Marketing Manager, University of ReadingKirsti Wilson is an experienced Marketer with 20 years’ experience gained in the IT and HE sectors, and is currently Marketing Manager at the University of Reading.
Kirsti has lived in Reading for 24 years, and is a keen supporter of the town’s arts and cultural scene. She is the Cultural lead for, and board member of the Reading Local Strategic Partnership, sits on the Reading Cultural Partnership Board and is currently part of the management team looking to deliver Reading 2016 Year of Culture.