MAKING MUSIC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Deputy CEO and Manager, Scotland
In her Deputy CEO role, Alison leads on access and inclusion and supports lobbying and advocacy. She has been our Manager in Scotland (from Edinburgh) since 2016, and also delivers UK online events. She plays the fiddle, mostly for ceilidh dancing.
Alyssia joined the team in November 2020, with marketing and production experience in video and film, education and virtual world technology.
Andrew retired from the IT industry and provides assistance on implementation projects. He is a member of Crystal Palace Brass Band and North London Sinfonia. He also occasionally plays with Pangbourne Silver Band in Berkshire.
Andy manages Finance and IT for Teesside Music Society, a promoter group based in rural North Yorkshire. Before retiring early, Andy worked for a global IT consultancy in service and project management. Andy is a very active leisure-time musician playing the organ, playing saxophone in big bands and double bass in Saint Cecilia Orchestra, Cleveland Philharmonic and Orchestra North East and, when time permits, singing in or accompanying choirs.
Barbara is responsible for Making Music's overall direction and acts as an ambassador for Making Music, meeting with key personnel from local and national government, music, voluntary and education sectors. She also plays cornet in a member group!
Job Titles:
- Membership & Operations Director
Ben oversees Making Music's online services and is always looking for ways to improve existing services and develop new ones to meet members' needs.
Benoît joined the Membership Team in 2022 and is responsible for looking after the Making Music Platform. Outside of the office he is a composer and sound designer, and loves a spot of football.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder and Managing Director of Black Voices
Carol is the founder and managing director of Black Voices, the UK's foremost female a cappella quintet. In her spare time, she enjoys playing alto saxophone and supporting a range of community choirs across the UK, exploring singing in the black oral tradition.
Catherine has belonged to over 15 choirs and orchestras of wildly varying shapes and sizes over the last two decades. She is passionate about how music-making at every level and of every kind lifts the spirit, forges connections and enriches life. Currently, she sings with the London Philharmonic Choir and plays flute with the St Neots Sinfonia. Beyond music, she works in publishing, with a particular focus on online learning.
Job Titles:
- Director
- INSIGHT & EVALUATION OFFICER
Job Titles:
- Director
- MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Assistant
Corina joined Making Music in November 2021 and supports the marketing and communication sides. She is a classically-trained pianist and a lover of the arts.
The Philip and Dorothy Green Trust was established by prolific film and television composer and conductor Philip Green (1911-1982), along with his wife, Dorothy, to help young musicians and composers.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair of the Board
Formerly CEO and Artistic Director of MAC Birmingham and member of Arts Council England's National Council and Chair of its West Midlands Council, Dorothy now runs her own consultancy practice. She is a singer, voice coach, violist and violinist. She is also Chair of The Redditch Orchestra and a playing/singing member of several Making Music member orchestras and choirs.
Edward is a proud Welsh speaker, composer, author and conductor of various choral groups, including the Making Music member groups Harlow Chorus, London Welsh Chorale, London Welsh Male Voice Choir and The Harry Ensemble. Edward was also the artistic director of Llangollen International Musical Festival, which brought him in contact with musicians from all over the world.
Job Titles:
- Inclusion Focus Programme Manager
Elizabeth joined Making Music in 2023 as the Inclusion Focus Programme Manager. Outside of work, she enjoys playing the flute, singing, and knitting jumpers for friends and family.
The Making Music Kirby Collection has been created thanks to a generous legacy donation of £135,000 from Making Music's first Chairman Alan Kirby, who was a leading figure in choral singing in Surrey in the mid-20th century. He and his wife Ethel were keen to ensure the continued success of choral singing in Surrey.
Harriet works in the Membership Team and assists with PDGYA and Adopt a Music Creator. She is a keen violinist and is in one of our member groups.
Helen joined Making Music's senior management team in 2020 to oversee the financial aspects of the charity. She is treasurer of a member group and enjoys playing jazz double bass.
Kathy is Music Director of Godalming Community Gospel Choir and a member of Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir. She has been in, and run, numerous choirs and music groups for over 20 years and is passionate about singing being accessible and enjoyed by all. She works as the Governance and People Management Officer at the Institute for Human Rights and Business.
Job Titles:
- Membership & Services Manager
Lily joined Making Music in 2017 and became Membership & Services Manager in 2020. She is an aspiring author who enjoys dancing, reading, playing piano and watching live music and theatre shows.
Marek is responsible for the organisation's transactional finance, handling the processing and filing of Orchestra Tax Relief. In his spare time, he actively engages in nature conservation efforts by supporting various habitat restoration programmes.
Miranda has lots of experience working in the charity sector in Canada and the UK, across a broad range of topics. Her interests include theatre, canoeing, camping, playing piano and bass guitar, and being the musical director of a choir.
Natalie joined in 2017, oversees Making Music's marketing and communications and production of Highnotes magazine. She enjoys hiking and playing the violin.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Officer
Nazia joined Making Music in 2022 and works in the marketing and communications team. She has a keen interest in making digital communication more accessible. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and gardening.
Neil Weir is Chair of the music education and inclusion charity, Love Music, based in Edinburgh. He sings with and is a trustee of the Edinburgh Bach Choir. Neil is also involved in the theatre world and is currently Chair of Grid Iron Theatre Company and a Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the the Rhondda Symphony Orchestra
Nick James has been a committee member for the Rhondda Symphony Orchestra in Wales for many years in a variety of roles, including publicity, IT and finance. He also has a wealth of experience in the business software and corporate world. Nick is passionate about giving people the chance to play and perform music in their community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Library Manager and Programming Associate of the Ulster Orchestra
Paul is Library Manager and Programming Associate of the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, a role which provides ample opportunity to work with not just the Orchestra's professional musicians, but many amateur and community-based groups across Northern Ireland. A lapsed horn player, Paul's hope is that he might, once again, be able to play well enough so that he'll be allowed to be heard in public!
Pete has a wealth of experience working in and with the charitable sector. He jointly runs Singing In, a community music business based in Sheffield. Pete sings bass in Romulus Singers, a chamber choir in Altrincham (Greater Manchester).
Rhiannon is a freelance musician, and their time is split between performing on trombone, teaching brass, and conducting the Worsley Concert Band. Rhiannon's main passion is musical theatre, and they spend most of their time in pits, accompanying both amateur and professional productions.
Sally joined Making Music in 2013 and co-ordinates our projects including Adopt a Music Creator, PDGYA and the Making Music Awards. She is also part of the Membership Team.
Sharon has a wealth of experience from within amateur music groups. She manages our busy events schedule, looks after our Recommended Artists directory and our volunteers, and oversees the smooth running of our London office.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Northern Ireland
Based in the Mid Ulster area, Stephen joined us in October 2019 and works with our member groups and partner organisations across Northern Ireland.
Valerie directs the award-wining women's a cappella choir, Vocal Dimension, based in Redhill, Surrey. She is also a music judge with an international women's singing organisation and travels regularly to judge competitions all over the world. By day, Valerie is a lawyer specialising in data protection and privacy.