Ali Smith - Chair

Coming from 5 generations of professional musicians Ali’s first instrument is the Cello – studying both in the UK and at the Conservatoire in Prague under Paul Ward, Raphael Wallfisch and Stanislav Apolin.

Ali is also the 3^rd generation of her family to be a member of the Royal Society of Musicians. Founded in 1738 the aims of the founding members whose numbers include Handel remain unchanged today. To provide assistance for those working in the music professional and their dependants when in need because of accident, illness or old age.   

With a passionate belief in social inclusion and a career firmly routed in the third sector Ali believes in the power of music as a tool to regenerate socially deprived areas. Her collaborative skills, enabling style and natural ability to work in partnership are particular strengths,

Since 1999 Ali has been the South West Director of Live Music Now (LMN). A National charity that was founded in 1977 by the legendary violinist, Yehudi Menuhin and his colleague Ian Stoutzker.  Menuhin noticed how music could transcend barriers of experience, language, illness and disability.  He witnessed the pleasure, therapeutic and educational benefits that involvement in live music brought to people he worked with, particularly when faced by challenging or stressful life situations. Over the Ten years Ali has brought the power of music to over Quarter of a million people living in the South West raising in excess of 4 million pounds for the Charity.

Ali is also the founding Director of Superact – a community interest company Superact is involved in social and economic development through the delivery of arts projects. The organization is currently involved in UK wide and European projects. The  client and funding portfolio includes; Grundtvig LLP, Arts Council England (ACE), Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS),  London Olympic Games (LOCOG), Improvement and Development Agency for local Government (IDeA). Superact has recently opened a SE office and is looking to expand internationally over the next 3 years. Opening branches of Superact in the Netherlands and Canada in 2011. With other countries such as Brazil, Senegal and Columbia coming on stream in subsequent years.