Alphonso Archer – Chair
Alphonso became a trustee of Music Therapy Lambeth in 2024. He is a music therapist with a specialism in autism and mental health, and a longstanding commitment to social justice. Alphonso brings several years of experience developing therapeutic music provision in special education, working with children with autism, selective mutism, and complex needs. He has also worked with adults living with cancer, drawing on his personal experience of recovery from prostate cancer.
A multi-instrumentalist, Alphonso’s core instruments are piano and guitar. He is passionate about songwriting, composing, and free improvisation, often using these approaches to create meaningful connections in his therapeutic work. Before retraining as a therapist, Alphonso had a 25-year career in technology and built a diverse entrepreneurial portfolio. He founded Brazilian Soccer Schools Calne, a technical football coaching programme, and later developed Muso Mirror, a music stand mirror designed to support posture and focus for instrumentalists, which is now evolving into an interactive smart device.
Alphonso is also a dedicated open water swimmer and is currently training to swim the English Channel in support of prostate cancer and autism research. He hopes to become the first Jamaican to complete the crossing. Alphonso holds a Master’s degree in Music Therapy (Distinction), and his practice is informed by trauma-informed, psychodynamic, and culturally aware approaches. He is deeply committed to the power of music to connect, heal, and create new possibilities.
Claire Wratten – Secretary
Claire has been a trustee at MTL since January 2025. Claire trained as a doctor and worked for several years in the NHS before completing a Masters in Medical Law and Ethics and switching career to work for a discretionary mutual organisation that assists medical and dental professionals with medico-legal issues arising from their work. Claire has always been interested in the benefits music brings to children and adults alike and enjoys working with a charity that enables individuals living in her local area to benefit from participating in music therapy.
Erika Dawkins – Communications Officer
Erika has been a trustee at Music Therapy Lambeth since 2009. In 2000, Erika studied History and Education at the University of Roehampton. During her three years at university, Erika trained with the women’s rugby team. However, unfortunately she didn’t get to play in a match. Erika and her husband Chris were previously foster carers for teenage children for 10 years. MTL gives Erika the opportunity to be involved in a part of Education that is interesting and varied. Currently Erika is retired, enjoying spending time with her grandchildren.M/p>
Isaac Shieh – Officer for Fundraising
Isaac Shieh is a New Zealand hornist, collaborator and researcher of minority ethnic Chinese background. Isaac was a Musician in Residence with Paraorchestra for 2024-25, in which he was the creative director and composer for two dance films which explore lived experiences of disability. He also collaborated with Simeon Barclay for “The Ruin” (The Roberts Institute of Art) and Ann Wall for “Fragmented” (ClimArts).
Isaac’s debut solo album, Caprice Reimagined, was released by New Focus Recordings on 11th July, 2025 featuring 12 new commissions for solo natural horn as well as Jacques-François Gallay’s Douze Grands Caprices. He has also appeared as a soloist at the Edinburgh International Festival, Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, and performed as principal horn with Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Chineke! Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and Paraorchestra to name a few.
As a researcher, Isaac’s research areas are in composer-performer collaboration, embodiment in music performance, and disability studies. He has presented at the Royal Musical Association, European Platform for Artistic Research in Music, 12th Biennial International Conference on Music Since 1900, as well as at universities and conservatoires around the world. He was also a panelist and contributor for Society for Dance Research’s upcoming book Dance and Silence, In Conversation.
Outside of music, Isaac is a current England International in the sport of para bowls as a director for visually impaired bowlers, and is a World Bowls Championships bronze medalist.
Revd Alison Kennedy
The Revd Alison Kennedy trained as a music therapist at the Roehampton Institute. She worked as a music therapist with adults and children in a range of settings (including mental health, special education and learning disability). Alison taught on the Roehampton Music Therapy Training as a tutor and guest lecturer and also as Course Leader on the Goldsmiths Introduction to Music Therapy training course. She has a sense of dual vocation both to music therapy and to priesthood. She was ordained in 1999 and served in parish and cathedral ministry and in theological education. She is currently serving as Chaplain to Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. She is interested in the spirituality of music therapy and in the way in which music moves us to prayer. She also has a fascination with fireworks and storytelling.
Andrea McKay
Andrea is a teacher and SENDCo at a maintained early years setting; which applies music therapy as a therapeutic intervention for children and families. Being an avid music fan and salsa dancer, Andrea is personally aware of the power of music to heal and move the spirit. As a newly appointed trustee, Andrea is keen to contribute her years of experience working with children and families to the MTL organisation. Outside of work, Andrea also enjoys cycling and implementing principles of wellness in her day to day life.
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