THE TEAM
Dr Victoria Kinsella
Dr. Victoria Kinsella holds the position of Reader in Arts, Creativity and Education at Birmingham City University. She has served as both principal and co-investigator on a substantial number of research projects, encompassing diverse settings such as schools, prisons, galleries, and arts centres. Her work notably focuses on engaging with young people at risk of educational exclusion, those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as individuals facing Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). Victoria’s research aims to break down barriers and propose more inclusive approaches to teaching and learning.
Victoria's research has gained recognition both nationally and internationally. She presently fulfils the role of co-convenor for the BERA Creativities Special Interest Group and holds positions as a strategic board member within various arts and culture organisations. Victoria also carries the distinction of being titled as a Senior Fellow within the Higher Education Academy.
Victoria's research has gained recognition both nationally and internationally. She presently fulfils the role of co-convenor for the BERA Creativities Special Interest Group and holds positions as a strategic board member within various arts and culture organisations. Victoria also carries the distinction of being titled as a Senior Fellow within the Higher Education Academy.
Professor Andrew McPherson
Andrew McPherson is a computing researcher, composer, electronic engineer, and musical instrument designer. He is Professor of Design Engineering and Music in the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, where he leads the Augmented Instruments Laboratory. Andrew holds undergraduate degrees in both engineering and music from MIT, an MEng in electrical engineering from MIT, and a PhD in music composition from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Imperial in 2023, he has been a professor in the Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London.
Andrew’s musical instruments are widely used by performers and composers across many genres, and his research has led to three successful crowdfunding campaigns and the spinout of Augmented Instruments Ltd, which develops Bela, an open-source audio maker platform. He currently holds two fellowships: a Senior Research Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering on embedded hardware for audio and music, and an ERC/UKRI Consolidator Grant investigating the cultural implications of engineering decisions. He is deeply committed to teaching: Bela is used in the classroom by dozens of universities, and his online course on audio programming has been followed by learners around the globe. He is also a trustee of the OHMI Trust, and his lab works with OHMI and other organisations and individuals on the development of new accessible digital musical instruments.
Andrew’s musical instruments are widely used by performers and composers across many genres, and his research has led to three successful crowdfunding campaigns and the spinout of Augmented Instruments Ltd, which develops Bela, an open-source audio maker platform. He currently holds two fellowships: a Senior Research Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering on embedded hardware for audio and music, and an ERC/UKRI Consolidator Grant investigating the cultural implications of engineering decisions. He is deeply committed to teaching: Bela is used in the classroom by dozens of universities, and his online course on audio programming has been followed by learners around the globe. He is also a trustee of the OHMI Trust, and his lab works with OHMI and other organisations and individuals on the development of new accessible digital musical instruments.
The OHMI Trust
The OHMI Trust works to remove the barriers to music-making faced by people with physical disabilities. Any deficiency in an upper limb makes nearly all musical instruments unplayable to any reasonable standard. As a result, thousands are excluded from music-making, including most disabled children. The OHMI Trust strives for full, undifferentiated, participation in musical life for disabled people, through the creation and provision of adapted musical instruments and enabling apparatus. It also undertakes and commissions research into pedagogic practices, instrument design, and manufacturing methods. The OHMI Trust is based in Birmingham, and has been operating as a registered charity (No.1143623) since 2011.
