Play the Bigger Game

Sarah Alexander OBE has evolved the 71-year-old NYO to respond to the needs of 21st Century young musicians. Sarah’s biggest impact on NYO has been the creation of NYO Inspire, a social action programme which reaches 10,000 teenagers annually, simultaneously developing the orchestra’s musicians as young leaders, while tackling the sector’s diversity challenges.

Shelly has worked in music education for over 30 years as a musician, teacher and choir leader. As Sing Up’s Head of Learning she has extensive experience in developing music curricular and singing within schools, designing and delivering training for teachers and leads on the development of Sing Up’s content which includes songs and teaching resources for Primary and Secondary schools.

Amy McGann is Head of National Programmes at the Royal Opera House, overseeing the work of ROH Bridge, ROH Learning and Participation in Thurrock, the 3 National Schools Programmes; Create and Dance, Create and Sing and Design and Make and also the school matinee programme. Last year ROH worked with over 35,000 school children.

Keyboard player, composer and vocalist. John has a “unique and flavoursome” style that sits in a harmonic dimension of its own. John is also an educator and manages a Rock School accredited music course for 16-24 year olds

Composer, performer and choral leader, Emily works with a variety of organisations, including Sing Up, Trinity College, Snape Maltings, West Sussex Music. Emily runs several Community Choirs under the umbrella of West Sussex Sings, and provides vocal consultancy to schools and vocal groups. She runs workshops and courses for singers and training sessions for teachers and people working with young people.

Catherine Barker is the Head of Music and Performing Arts in United Learning. Alongside supporting and advising teachers in the Group, she also leads Group-wide performance events, such as ‘Zimbe’ and ‘Wassail!’ – recently recognised at the Music Teachers Awards as ‘Best Classical Music Education Initiative 2018’. Catherine has played a leading role in developing the groupwide cultural festival and the groupwide KS3 curriculum for music.

As Head of Leicestershire Music, Sarah leads on the delivery of The National Plan for Music Education and the strategic oversight of music education across Leicester and Leicestershire. Sarah has spent many years building meaningful partnerships to enable equity of access to music education. She is delighted to be on the Leicester Music Board to help lead the way in bridging the gap between education and industry, and supporting progression into and through a career in music.

Stuart joined Services For Education in 1991 as a brass teacher and was appointed Head of Service in May 2019. Stuart is passionate about inclusion, diversity and supporting children who would not normally be able to access a quality music education.

Tim Brain is Interim Music Hub Manager of Norfolk Music Hub. He oversaw the delivery of the phenomenally successful Virtual Big Sing 2021 and has managed numerous online and in person music performances, events and workshops for the Hub, and works to deliver the Hub’s mission of giving every child in Norfolk the opportunity of learning and making music. Tim is also the founding director of Music in Education company Louder Than Life.

Matt Brombley is the Inclusion Lead for South Coast Music Partnership and a Lecturer in Popular Music Production and Digital Music at Solent University. He is a steering group member for the Southampton Cultural Education Partnership and chairs the Music Mark South West EDI Working Group. He is also an electronic musician and producer.

Teaching and Learning Manager at ArtForms and LMEP. Paula leads on Music Connect, the LMEP support and CPD programme for Leeds schools and academies.

Teaching instrumental music for over 25 years, Phillip Brunton combines his conducting and saxophone performance skills with an interest in accelerated learning systems to engage students, including publications, delivering teacher training and co-foundering MyMusicPB, the online, interactive music practice book.

As CEO, Ian has grown Nottingham Music Service from serving 650 to more than 8300 young people, now matching the city’s diverse profile. A nationally respected conductor, composer, arranger, examiner and author, he champions diverse, inclusive musical education, breaking down barriers between different musical genres, styles and ways of working

Ruth has a wide experience of managing music programmes and opportunities for children and young people. A varied background across the arts, heritage and cultural sectors has given her a broad knowledge of youth arts, education, and the health and well-being sectors. Ruth took over as Chief Executive & Artistic Director in 2018.

Alison Corfield is currently the Head of Norfolk Music Service and leads Norfolk Music Hub after having spent the last 17 years working in a Music Service capacity. This year she has become Regional Representative (Eastern Region) for Music Mark.

Dr Graham Cox is Principal of Jersey Music Service. Graham graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire before furthering his studies at The National Centre for Orchestral Studies, Loughborough University and Huddersfield University. As well as his duties as Head of Jersey Music Service he is also active as a trombonist, composer and arranger.

Toby began his career as a successful session musician, which included both studio and live performance work. Toby has had a varied teaching career, working as a peripatetic teacher and classroom music teacher. Toby is currently in position as the National Adviser for Rock and Pop at Trinity College London.

Xenia Davis is Youth Engagement Manager at Making Music, encouraging and supporting adult leisure time music groups to engage more with under 35 year olds. She is an experienced choir leader with a passion for making singing accessible to all. Aside from music, her professional background is in participation and youth/community work.

Tanya Derham has been the Service Manager for SIPS Music and Arts Service in Sandwell since 2018. She has over 23 years’ experience delivering music in Sandwell schools. Before working for the music service, Tanya was a KS2 Primary teacher.

Tanya is passionate about music and the arts and the role these subjects play in enhancing the lives of children and young people across the region and community.

Dr. Kirsty Devaney is a Birmingham-based composer, educator and researcher. After graduating from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2013, she established the ‘Young Composers Project’, which aims to offer a space for young music-creators to explore ideas and receive regular personalised support.

Paul Douglas is the Deputy Head of Music Service at Services for Education in Birmingham and currently the Head of the SFE Music School, having been Head of Ensembles for the previous 5 years. Paul is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, conductor, songwriter and author.

Susanna has been Chief Executive of Sound and Music since 2012. Previous roles include Director, Music at Arts Council England and Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

She is Chair of Orchestras for All and a Trustee of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. In 2018 she received an MBE, whilst in 2017 she was awarded a Gold Badge Award by the Ivors Academy in recognition of her support for composers.

Dominic is renown throughout the world as an inspirational conductor, chorus master, author and education specialist. He is Chief Conductor of Chamber Choir of London, a Guest Conductor for London Mozart Players, Guest Chorus Master for The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Associate Principal Conductor of The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and Visiting Artist at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Debbie Fawcett joined Severn Arts in September 1993 as an Instrumental Music Teacher and was promoted to the management team in 2006. In 2014 Debbie became Director for Learning with responsibility for Severn Arts music offer to schools, the organisation of large-scale music events, training for teachers and a wide variety of projects with inclusion, in the widest sense, being at the heart of everything. Debbie is passionate about the ability of music and the arts to transform and enrich lives.

Jacky Fisher has played cello for 20 years with Nottingham’s Djanogly Community Orchestra, a friendly non auditioning group with ambitions to perform great music who are privileged to have played concertos with 6 of the local Kanneh-Mason family.

Kelly-Jo Foster-Peters is a secondary school music teacher with 20 years experience in both mainstream and SEND schools. Kelly-Jo is the SEND music teacher representative on the DfE Music Hubs Advisory Board and the SEND Music Advisor for Southampton Music Hub.

Dan has over 20 years experience in Music Education, having worked as a classroom teacher, Head of Faculty, Assistant Headteacher, Head of Music Service. He has extensive experience of curriculum design and development, from KS2 to KS5 and is currently UK Education Strategy Manager for RSL Awards (Rockschool Ltd).

Claire is Head of L&P for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, a charity which aims to ‘Level the Playing Field in Jazz Education’. She’s responsible for developing partnerships with MEHs and venues, creating inspirational musical opportunities for young people.

Callum Given is Producer in Snape Maltings’ Learning and Inclusion team, leading the international Friday Afternoons project alongside the organisation’s work in Suffolk with young people, schools, carers and cared-for and in criminal justice settings.

Andy Gleadhill has over 35 years experience as a professional musician and teacher playing with some of the leading recording artists and orchestras in the world. As a teacher he was a Head of Service and MEH and is a tutor at Bath Spa University on the specialist music PGCE courses.

Matt is the CEO of Youth Music. Matt was a professional musician and music educator for ten years. This work included leading workshops and projects in prisons, young offender institutions, special schools and mental health settings. Matt saw first-hand the significant personal, social and musical benefits of music-making for people facing challenges in their lives. It has been the focus of his career ever since.

Maureen is a research student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she also teaches on the PGCert Certificate in Performance Pedagogy. She leads the ESTA CME course and is a CPD & Training Leader & Advisor for Charanga. She is a trustee of Music Mark.

Andy is a Music Leader with Sheffield Music Hub specialising in brass. Andy is currently leading the Modulo project in Sheffield, trying to bring orchestral music to as many young people as possible.

Sally Hobbs is the Head Strings for Servives For Education Music Service in Birmingham, joining the Service in 2002 following a playing career in South Africa. Sally continues to perform regularly with a professional string quartet based in the Midlands.

Xenia Horne initiates and delivers projects in educational, informal and community settings, with people of all ages and backgrounds. She works collaboratively, developing skills, community cohesion, action research, creating performances and events. Xenia sits on the Executive Committee of the Musicians Union, is a Director on the board of SoundSense and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

A trusted and well respected figure in Music Education, Debbie has 15 years leadership experience in representing Music Education across the South West. She also has 20 years experience of the commercial music industry, as vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and singer-songwriter.

Gabriel has worked as a SEND music specialist for 10 years, primarily based at QE2 Jubilee School, which is part of the federation of Westminster Special Schools. He has a varied teaching portfolio working with SEND pupils and adults, as well as running ensembles for the Tri-borough Music Hub.

Julia Lent is Head of Business Development at Cambridgeshire Music, the lead organisation for Cambridgeshire’s Music Education Hub. She has 25 years of experience in the arts and education sectors, bringing strategic management and money to unlock mission.

Tim joined OHMI Trust as Assistant Manager in 2017 from his previous role as Head of Solihull Music Service where he worked for 17 years. OHMI’s mission is to remove the barriers to music making faced by physically disabled people, and to enable undifferentiated participation in musical life, whether at school, home or in a professional ensemble.

Camille Maalawy is a mezzo soprano, encompassing classical, Arabic and world music. She is also a passionate educator, working with organisations such as Voices Foundation, the ROH, Spitalfields Music, Mahogany Opera and Hertfordshire and Tower Hamlets Music Services.

Magid Magid is a British-Somali activist who is the youngest, the first Somali refugee, and the first Green Party councillor to serve as the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, and has subsequently been elected as the first Green Party Member of European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Throughout his career Magid has made waves for his creative ways of campaigning and engaging with people while being unapologetically himself. He is an anti-racist, environmental campaigner and champions young people. Magid currently sits on the LIBE and CULT Committees in the European Parliament, is on the Delegation for relations with the USA as well as being Co-President of the European Parliament Anti-Racism & Diversity Intergroup.

Magid was named one of the top European Young Leaders (Friends of Europe) 2019 and was part of the top 100 Future Leaders (apolitical.co) as well as recently winning ‘One Young World’ politician of the year. Magid is also a custard connoisseur.

Holly joined Creative United in 2014 managing the ‘Take it away’ interest free loan scheme for the purchase of musical instruments. She became Project Consultant on their accessible music work in 2018. She previously worked as a theatre director and facilitator specialising in inclusive work with and for young people.

Clair McColl has worked in music education since 2003, with ten years as a manager in Devon, and now leads the music hub for Dorset. She champions access to the arts across rural communities, and now advocates for better understanding of neurodiversity in education after her own ADHD diagnosis came later in life.

Paul has spent 14 years working in the field of SEND and co-authored the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto and coordinates the West London Inclusive Arts Festival. He is Lead Practitioner of the Creative Arts at Westminster Special Schools.

Phil is one of the world’s leading Community Music trainers, regularly running workshops and seminars in Europe, North America and Asia. He has trained community musicians at Goldsmiths College, London since 1990.Phil was national advisor for Sing Up UK’s “Beyond the Mainstream” programme from 2008 to 2011, which worked with vulnerable primary age children in special schools and other settings. He works in pupil referral units for children who cannot be in mainstream school and runs training programmes on working with children in challenging circumstances. Phil is a former board member of the International Society for Music Education (ISME).

Helen Murray, a team leader and lead Woodwind teacher for Nottingham Music Service, leads on Whole Class Instrumental programmes, progression and curriculum development. Helen has pursued a passion for music education in a wide range of settings, holding instrumental and classroom teaching posts in several schools and Music services.

Ian is Head of Music Education at Sheffield Music Service. Previously his portfolio career included working extensively as a cello teacher, Head of Sheffield Music School, freelance cellist and orchestral director. Ian is a multi-award winning director of youth orchestras.

Faye Oakland is the Music-Maker Manager at the OHMI Trust, a pioneering charity that champions musical inclusion for individuals with physical disabilities. Through her leadership, she works to ensure disabled children and adults have access to adapted instruments and enabling equipment, giving them the exact tools they need to participate fully in musical education.

She trained at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music. Before joining OHMI, she built extensive practical experience as a class music teacher and a brass instrumental teacher. She later served as a senior leader at a music hub where she first experienced the profound, transformative impact of OHMI’s programs.

In her role as Music-Maker Manager, Faye spearheads efforts to collaborate directly with music hubs and educational facilities across the UK. She is passionate about proactive inclusion. Her primary focus is assessing a disabled child’s musical requirements well before the new school term begins, ensuring that teachers are completely prepared and tailored solutions are already in place. By bridging the gap between music services, charities, and the students themselves, Faye ensures that making music is a seamless, natural process for disabled musicians rather than an afterthought.

In addition to her core responsibilities, Faye represents the charity in wider academic and community networks. She has presented at conferences discussing adaptive music methodologies and advocating for better accessibility in the classroom. Faye is a central figure in championing a future where physical impairments no longer dictate a student’s ability to engage with music.

Emily Penn is Digital Projects Manager for NYMAZ, a youth music development charity championing the transformative potential of music for children and young people, she manages the Connect: Resound project, working with Music Education Hubs and arts organisations across the country to broaden access to music through online technology.

Janice is responsible for ensuring that the Hub commissions high quality service providers to deliver Music Education in schools across Warrington and Halton. She works closely with various funding providers to ensure that the Hub continues to expand and respond to the needs of stakeholders in an increasingly competitive environment and supports the development of a broad curriculum through her support of cross-arts projects and international work.

Holly Radford-James joined Soundabout as Chief Executive Officer in September 2022 where she is responsible for leading the organisation to push boundaries in the world of Learning Disability and Music. Holly’s appointment at Soundabout follows a lifelong interest that began when growing up as a family carer and in first jobs in the care sector. Over the past 8 years, Holly has developed expertise in musical inclusion and community music while working with professional orchestras and arts centres, and while on the board of Sound Sense.

Jon is Deputy Head of Croydon Music & Arts, the lead organisation in Croydon’s Music Education Hub. He leads on secondary school projects and promotes inclusive music activity. Previously, he worked as a freelance musician and secondary school music teacher.

Jim Reiss (founder of DJ School UK) is currently focussing on training teachers to apply DJ activities in music education.

He has seen excellent results nationwide where music teachers have engaged pupils in culturally relevant music education by using DJ activities. Jim recognises that DJing is not “culturally relevant” because it is currently contemporary. DJing is culturally relevant because every pupil can choose music that represents them, wether that be electronic, indie, folk, pop or even traditional western classical. DJing allows access to every piece of recorded music. This is why it is so successful as an engagement tool.

Jim consulted with AQA on the specification for DJ Skills in GCSE music, has contributed to multiple books on the topic of inclusion in music (Routledge, OUP), is a member of the West Yorkshire Music Network and works tirelessly to advocate for, while absolutely recognising the value of, the inclusion of DJing in music education.

Krista has delivered music sessions to children for over twenty years and currently works as Area Manager for Norfolk Music Service. Her passion is engaging children affected by emotional, behavioural, and communication problems who would otherwise not be making music.

Partnership and Development Manager at ArtForms and LMEP. Jo has a strategic role in overseeing and implementing the Hub activity plan and brokers collaborations between Hub partners.

Susan Robertson is the Manager of the Tees Valley Music Service, the Lead Partner in the Music Education Hub for Tees Valley. The Hub works in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. She is a qualified teacher and has taught for 29 years.

Judith Robinson has extensive experience of working in music education settings over the last 30 years, ranging from teaching in primary and SEND schools to delivering education programmes for leading UK arts organisations. She is currently Head of Education at Sound and Music.

Learning & Engagement Director at Leeds International Piano Competition. She creates programmes, projects and events to enable the widest audience to embrace and celebrate the piano. She has previously worked in heritage, galleries and museums and for children’s charities.

Cath is part of the leadership team at Lancashire Music Hub, leading on pathways and partnerships such as NYJO and Jazz Camp for Girls, alongside establishing their youth leadership group, Amplify. Cath trained as a jazz musician at LCoM and her belief in the value of creative music making and improvisation has been reflected throughout her career.

Toby has worked in Music Education for 20 years both in the FE sector and more recently with Music Hubs. He is an active performing musician working in the rock and pop world and has a passion for inclusion and accessibility in music.

Liz Stafford is Director of the consultancy company Music Education Solutions, Editor of Primary Music Magazine and Music Hubs and Services Magazine, and author of The Primary Music Leader’s Handbook.

Mark Steele has been the Lead for Coventry Music since September 2017, having previously worked in Sheffield and Wakefield Music Services and at the charity Orchestra’s for All. Mark has developed the redesigned offer in Coventry to work with a broader and more diverse group of young people including work in all alternative provision sites in the city, including transformative music programmes enabling young people to return to mainstream settings through the power of music and use music as a tool to support personal and social development. As the consortium lead for Heart of England Music the newly established Music Hub for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire he is committed to developing new and exciting ways to ensure music education is available for all young people across genres, styles and communities.

Emily is a SEND Music specialist who has been working for 9 years through the federation of Westminster Special Schools. Emily is also the Musical Director for West London Inclusive Arts Festival Music, and directs a contemporary choir for the Tri-borough Music Hub.

A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Helena Summerfield has extensive experience of working in music education. Now part of the Jazz North team, she is passionate about introducing children to the genre. Helena’s work has been recognised at the 2021 ‘Will Michael Jazz Education Awards’ and the 2022 ‘Parliamentary Jazz Awards’.

Nigel is an honours graduate of Durham University and gained a Master’s from Manchester University. After teaching music in schools he was appointed Head of Bolton Music Service aged twenty-eight and, five years later, became Shropshire’s County Music Adviser providing professional development for school teachers, leading the county’s music service and working as an accredited OFSTED inspector. He joined Staffordshire County Council as Music and Performing Arts Inspector, then becoming Head of Staffordshire Performing Arts (now Entrust’s Music and Performing Arts Services). He held concurrent roles of deputy head of the council’s school improvement service, and subsequently head of its cultural development division.

Nigel led the consortium of organisations, that established “Make Some Noise” the Youth Music Action Zone for Staffordshire/Stoke on Trent and was Chair of its Board 2003 – 2010. He headed the government funded Staffordshire Music Partnership in 2008 in which SPA was principal partner. In 2012 Nigel led the successful bid to Arts Council England for DfE funding to create the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Partnership, one of the 123 music education hubs in England.First elected as the West Midlands representative of the Federation of Music Services (FMS) in 2010 Nigel became FMS Chair in 2012. He worked closely with colleagues from FMS and the National Association of Music Educators to merge the two organisations to form “The UK Association for Music Education – Music Mark” in March 2013 and is its inaugural Chair of Trustees. He has also served on the board of trustees/directors of Manchester Camerata, Sound It Out Community Music, Birmingham and Blythe Bridge Music Foundation Trust School. Nigel’s reputation as an innovative conductor is well known, working with professional, amateur and youth orchestras, bands and choirs around the UK and abroad. He was founder conductor of the first International Youth Philharmonic with colleagues from Germany and France and has premiered new works by composers such as Bedford, Gregson, Horovitz, Stanhope, Vine and Woolfenden. He is now in great demand as a freelance music education consultant and guest conductor here and overseas.

Nick is responsible for NYO’s nationwide reach and impact by developing, activating and nurturing collaborative partnerships across the music education and youth sectors to ensure that NYO delivers relevant, accessible and empowering projects nationwide. He previously had leadership roles at Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Dorset Music Hub.

Jo Towler is the Director of Classical Sheffield and Create Sheffield, Sheffield’s Cultural Education Partnership. She is also Executive Director of Music in the Round, the leading national promoter of chamber music. She sits on the advisory board of Sheffield Music Education Hub.

Currently working at a secondary school in Basildon, Essex called Woodlands School as Head of Music, Tom has been a teacher of music since 2010 and leading the music department since 2016. He has integrated the Trinity Rock and Pop syllabus into his school’s KS4 curriculum within the last two years to help students with their composition skills.

Jacques Verhearen is a co-founder of B Sharp and one of their principal Music Leaders. He delivers early years, primary and secondary music making both in and out of school.

A vocalist and music teacher who grew up in the North East of England, gaining much experience working with the Young Musicians Programme and Sage Gateshead whilst completing her BA in Community Music. Ellie has a PGCE in Secondary Music and a passion for making music accessible for all.

Stuart has been Head of the Tri-borough Music Hub since 2014 and is committed to developing high-quality music education for all pupils across all school settings. With a background as a professional musician and as a qualified teacher, Stuart has brought both these areas of experience together to focus on all pupils accessing first-rate and outstanding music education.

Bridget Whyte became CEO of Music Mark in 2017. She started her career at Arts Council England before going freelance, working with over 50 music & music education organisations. Key clients included Youth Music, the Department for Education (DfE), and she was a Strategic Advisor to the British Council, setting up and managing their World Voice Programme which supported the use of singing as a tool for learning in over 20 countries. As Music Mark’s CEO, Bridget is in demand as a keynote speaker, advocate and advisor at a national and international level. Most recently she supported the Welsh Government on writing its National Plan for Music Education which was published in May 2022, was part of the Department for Education’s English National Plan for Music Education Expert Panel, and has now joined its Hub Monitoring Board.

Head of Music at ArtForms, the lead organisation of Leeds Music Education Partnership. Stephen is a teacher, French horn player, accordionist and composer, and is passionate about there being more music, for more people, done to the highest possible standard.

Anna is Head of Programmes for Orchestras for All, a charity supporting young people with complex lives to access inclusive ensemble music-making opportunities. Previously, Anna taught classroom music for eight years across a range of primary and secondary contexts.