Our team

Olivia Furness - EXECUTIVE Director

Olivia brings immense passion and experience to her role at Oi Musica. The driving force behind the company’s vision, Oli is a firm believer in music’s power to make change. As a producer, she has designed and delivered a wide variety of projects and programmes that have brought benefits to the people and communities involved, and she is passionate about working collaboratively, involving those taking part in a project in its design and striving for long term benefit.

As a musician, Oli has two decades' experience in writing, recording and performing live. Having discovered her passion for music as a young adult at the Edinburgh Samba School, she began gigging as a percussionist before picking up clarinet again, which she had learned at school. She went on to co-found Orkestra del Sol in 2004, which would become a critically acclaimed international touring street band. Oli played clarinet and tenor sax, wrote music, co-devised shows and toured extensively with the band until 2011, when she quit the touring life to focus on Oi Musica and to start a family.

Oli’s teaching and community music practice draws on her experience as a performing musician as well as her percussion studies, which include intensive study of Afro-Brazilian percussion with Ravin Jayasurya of One Voice Music (2008-2010) and less formal study of Cuban street music and Afrocuban percussion with Christian Weaver of La Timbala (2018-present). In April 2023 Oli was awarded professional development funding to spend 2.5 weeks in Cuba studying various styles of Aforcuban percussion in Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad and Palmira.

As a musician who came to music via non-formal routes, Oli is passionate about creating effective access opportunities for all ages.

Marcus Britton –CREATIVE DIRECToR

Brass specialist, community music practitioner, composer, band leader and educator, Marcus brings a wealth of specialist knowledge to Oi Musica. As a passionate advocate for inclusive practice within music education, Marcus has developed an approach that is centred on celebrating the individual strengths of each player in any given ensemble, setting players up for success from the outset. He brings over 20 years’ experience as a performing musician to his role, and his enthusiasm for music and creativity is utterly infectious.

Marcus’ first instrument was French horn. He played in orchestras and wind bands through his teens, majoring in performance at Sussex University. He taught himself trumpet and later sousaphone in order to play in a broader range of bands, and has spent time DJing and producing dance music. He caught the bug for street music after joining Brighton’s Carnival Collective in 2000, and moved to Edinburgh in 2003 - becoming a founder member and band leader of Orkestra del Sol. The band recorded 4 studio albums, won critical acclaim, played sell-out runs at festivals including Edinburgh Fringe and Sydney Festival and toured internationally, playing theatres, music venues, festival stages and street events.

Marcus has supported the development of countless street and community bands across the UK, establishing new groups, setting up brass sections for existing groups and creating development opportunities for players and band leaders alike. He is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge of an artform that offers so much potential for creative expression and brings joy to players and audiences alike.

PAULA MORGAN –PROGRAMME MANAGER

Paula is a Programme Manager with over a decade worth of experience of working in the Arts, delivering projects with and for a wide range of people. She has a passion for inclusivity and believes that all people should have access to the Arts. 

Paula began her career working on a film festival for Black History Month when she was 21 years old, raising £10,000 to make it free for anyone to attend and providing access to transport for global majority and displaced people. It was this experience that fuelled her passion to make the arts accessible and which drove who she wanted to work with. In her career so far she has worked with Toonspeak Young People's Theatre, Refuweegee, Glasgow Disability Alliance, Orchestras for All and more. Paula also has over 3 years experience working in complex care as a suppot worker, which gave in invaluable insight into working with people with disabilities.

Growing up in a working class area, Paula found music as a creative release and started playing  keyboard at a young age.  She took music to university but it dropped off to pursue a career in the arts more generally. It wasn't until she was invited to join SambaYaBamba in her 30s that she found a new love in street bands and performing. It was through this that she learned about the great work of Oi Musica.

Paula has a wealth of experience working with people in a person-centred, inclusive way and providing opportunities which she is excited to bring to Oi Musica. She is constantly evolving how she works to respond to the needs of participants and absolutely loves what she does. She jumped at the chance to apply for the role of Programme Manager with Oi Musica and is delighetd to be able to continue her work with communities in this organisation.

 

Fiona McRae – voluntary Co-Director

Fiona works in the renewable sector, currently serving as Chief Operating Officer for international recruitment company Taylor Hopkinson – a company she has played a key role in growing over the past decade. She brings a wealth of experience across finance and operations to Oi Musica, and her experience of corporate HR enables her to provide advice and support across marketing and communications and company policy, as well as building strong teams.

Fiona is a passionate music fan, with experience of promoting gigs and events through her early 20s. She came on board as a company Director when Oi Musica incorporated as a CIC in 2018, having been an admirer of Oi Musica's work prior to this. She shares her knowledge, advice and time generously to support Oi Musica’s vision and aims.

JANE WHITAKEr – voluntary Co-Director

Jane works for Scottish Book Trust, overseeing all things Bookbug as the Early Years Training and Development Manager. Her background is in Early Years education, and she brings sepcialist knoweldge of child develpment and learning. Jane has been in the third sector for 15 years and has a good understanding of the challenges (and benefits) it can present.

Jane’s involvement with Oi Musica goes back many years, having worked on several projects with Marcus and Oli and leading a youth samba band, Pace, supported by Oi Musica in the Scottish Highlands. She was delighted to be asked to come on board as Co-Director in 2024 having seen and appreciated first hand the immense impact that Oi Musica’s work has.