About OM Music Sanctuary

OM Music Sanctuary was founded in 2016 in order to bring the benefits of music and the friendships it can facilitate to the wider mental health community in Edinburgh. Following the COVID lockdowns, the project re-opened early in 2022 at Palmerston Place Church, where we have an extensively equipped teaching facility and recording studio. We are run by a great team of volunteers with genuine understanding and lived experience of various mental health challenges, who all share a passion for music and a desire to create a welcoming and accepting environment for everyone who comes in.

For more information about our values and how we operate, please see our policies below.

Who We Are

Ralph

 

Ralph, the founder and director of OM Music Sanctuary, is a multi-instrumentalist with over 40 years' experience as a performing musician. He is also an experienced studio and live sound engineer. Known widely for his friendly and engaging manner and his passion for sharing music with others, he teaches acoustic and electric guitar from beginner to advanced levels and is the lead studio engineer at OM.

 

Liz

 

Classically trained in piano from the age of five, Liz has years of experience playing piano and cello as a soloist, in small chamber groups and large ensembles. She has also sung in several choirs, enjoying international tours and performances in a wide range venues. She loves improvising and expanding her repertoire of styles to include jazz, pop and rock. Passionate about the benefits of music, she is training as a music therapist. At OM, Liz teaches piano and assists Ralph with managing the project. 

 

Donna

 

Donna began singing young, joining the Edinburgh Junior Choir while at primary school. She won prizes in the Edinburgh Musical (Competitive) Festival, Scottish Co-Operative Arts Festival & Gaelic Mod, as a soloist, duet partner and choir member; she also performed with amateur operatic groups in her teens. As an adult she trained with a teacher who sang with the English National Opera, and performed at a semi-professional level for a time. Donna gives singing lessons at OM, and while classically trained, her technique and teaching methods can be applied to any singing style or musical genre.

 

Ady

Ady's main instrument is the guitar, both acoustic and electric, but he also enjoys playing drums, bass guitar, and keyboards. At OM, his main focus is on collaboration through group music sessions, exploring songs, creating original songs and compositions, and recording these. He also teaches guitar and bass guitar, and likes to throw a little bit of music theory into the mix as well.

Sven

Sven has been playing instruments and using recording equipment for decades. He can produce music from electronica to acoustic, and brings his considerable skills to OM Music Sanctuary to help members create their own tracks.

Our Policies

At OM Music Sanctuary, we take the wellbeing of our members seriously. We therefore have some policies in place which may be read here: