Meet the Musical Futures Team

How long have you been involved with Musical Futures?

19 years – initially as a project manager for the original Paul Hamlyn Pathfinder project (2003-2008), then in many other roles from national co-ordinator to secondary programme manager and now CEO.

Running alongside my work with Musical Futures, my work for ArtForms (the lead organisation for the music hub in Leeds) between 2005 – 2021 gave me a unique opportunity to work with young people across the city using Musical Futures models and in supporting classroom teachers at both primary and secondary level.

What do you do?

Manage the day to day running of the organisation, work with the team to establish our programmes of work and new developments as well as lead on consultancy, training and conference presentations.

Training, presentations and consultancy include:

• Representing Musical Futures – selected as one of 100 innovative education projects across the world – 2017 Innovation Summit hosted by HundrEd Helsinki, October 2017
• Workshop session for 175 delegates at the Music and Drama Education Expo – London, February 2018
• Association for  Popular Music Education “Shaping the Future of Popular Music Education” – Nashville, June 2018
• Bradford Music Service – Schools Music Education Conference, March 2019
• International seminar “Learning Music Through Play in Out-of-School Context”, April 2019, at the Faculty of Music of Laval University in Québec City, Canada
• Norfolk Music Service – workshop for instrumental teachers , September 2020
• FÉILTE 2020 ‘Collaborating to Connect: Empathy with our Communities’, October 2020
• [RE]LEARN 2020: The Learning Innovation Festival, November 2020
• United Learning MAT – workshop for secondary music teachers, February 2021
• Gateshead Music Service – workshop for instrumental teachers , September 2021
• BEAT Barnet Education Arts Trust – primary music leaders workshop and resources to support the use of music technology in primary schools, November 2021
• Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI) Annual Conference, November 4th-6th 2021
• Tempo 2022 – Manitoba Music Educators’ Conference, 21st October 2022
• United Learning MAT – workshop for secondary music teachers, February 2021
• Harris Federation MAT – workshop for secondary music teachers, February 2022
• Ormiston Academies Trust – workshop for secondary music teachers March 2022
• ArtForms – primary and secondary music teachers workshop and resources to support transition, May 2022
• Teach First – sessions for trainee secondary music teacher cohort, October 2022 to present
• Every Copy Counts Consultant – for the Schools Printed Music Licence, September 2021 – May 2024
• Workshops sessions for students and teachers: Surrey Arts Music conference 2023
• Panel: Contemporary Urban Music for Inclusion Network
• Contribution to: Music for Inclusion and Healing in Schools and Beyond: Hip Hop, Techno, Grime and More (via Oxford University Press)

What is your background?

• I studied music at Chetham’s School of Music before going on to the University of Nottingham to study music and then to complete a PGCE at Bretton Hall (Uni of Leeds)
• I have worked as both an instrumental teacher teaching cello, but spent the majority of my career teaching music in both primary and high schools before joining ArtForms (the Leeds Pathfinder) to work on the PHF Musical Futures special initiative in 2005.
• Alongside my role as Managing Director of Musical Futures I was also Head of Extended Learning Development for ArtForms (Leeds Music Education Partnership) until March 2021
• Project Manager, National Co-ordinator, Secondary Programme Manager, Head of Strategic Partnerships for Musical Futures
• Lead cellist for Harrogate Symphony Orchestra

Five words that sum up Musical Futures:

Engaging, positive, imaginative, reflective, changing

What music are you listening to at the moment?

The Killers, David Gray and loads of tracks as inspiration for a Just Play playalong!

How long have you been working for Musical Futures:
I started as a ‘Champion Schools Teacher’ in 2008, and have been working with Musical Futures since then.

What do you do:
I am Director of Creative Learning at Fred Longworth High School where I have responsibility for the arts (art & design, dance, drama & music), careers education and vocational learning.  As a music teacher I deliver RSL Music Performance, GCSE and NCFE Music Technology at Key Stage Four. I’m also an SLE (Specialist Leader of Education) in Music so I offer support & leadership training for teachers in other schools.

What is your background:
I studied Music at Salford University and worked as a professional musician for a while, working on board cruise ships and travelling abroad before starting teaching at Fred Longworth in 2007.  I also worked in the Optical Industry for a few years, working in Australia and the UK.  I completed an MSc in Educational Leadership & Management in 2011, and have led training internationally around developing creativity in education.

Five words that sum up Musical Futures:
Engaging, Relevant, Kids, Informal, Doing

What music are you listening to at the moment:
Morrisey, Elbow & Jamiroquai!

How long have you been working for Musical Futures:
After initially experiencing the Musical Futures programme as a pupil, I’ve been working with the team since 2016.

What do you do:
I’m responsible for making pretty much every resource you’ll find at Musical Futures Online. We use a lot of well-known music in our resources so it’s my task to recreate this music from scratch through the use of software instruments, original samples, live-recordings and often getting the help of professional vocalists. As well as audio production, I create the visual assets that go with it. These range from the tutorial-style playalongs to chord diagrams and much more.

What is your background:
I met Martin Ainscough in 2007 (“Sir” back then!) at Fred Longworth High School where I was a Year 8 pupil. I was introduced to the Musical Futures programme and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. Going to London with my band at the time, aged 12, will always be one of the highlights of my youth. Fast-forward 15 years (*gulp*) and I’ve graduated with a music degree from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) where I was fortunate enough to receive a one-to-one songwriting session with Sir Paul McCartney.

Five words that sum up Musical Futures:
Practical, Inclusive, Inspiring, Stimulating, Fresh.

What music are you listening to at the moment:
Rüfüs Du Sol, Nat King Cole, Everything Everything.

How long have you been working with Musical Futures?
15 years

What do you do?
I am a freelance music education consultant working closely with schools to shape and develop high-quality music curriculum, support preparation for OFSTED, and provide strategic guidance through the ever-evolving education landscape. My consultancy work allows me to collaborate with a wide range of schools and educators to improve music teaching and learning at all levels. Alongside this, I teach A level Music at an FE college, bringing current classroom experience to my consultancy practice. I also lead the choirs for Sistema in Norwich, where I’m involved in delivering inclusive, community-based music education.

Previously, I was Lead Practitioner (Music) for a large multi-academy trust and Head of Music at a high school in Norfolk, teaching students aged 11 to 16.

What is your background?
I studied mainly classical music at university before training to become a teacher. I’m a violinist and regularly perform in orchestras, quartets, and any ensemble in need of a violinist! I also love singing and try to fit it in wherever I can, even though I’m not currently part of a regular choir or group. When I’m not playing music, I’m thinking about it—especially how informal learning takes place in the classroom. In 2014, I completed an MEd, with research focused on what makes learning informal and how that plays out in music education.

Five words that sum up Musical Futures:
Inclusive, musical, engaging, exciting, relevant

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Gigspanner Band, The Blossoms, and quite a lot of A level set works!

How long have you been working for Musical Futures?
Since Summer 2016

What do you do?
I am Director of Music and an SLE at Hayes School in Bromley

What is your background?
I am a classically trained singer but have more recently branched out into rocxk and pop, and learning new instruments such as trumpet and accordion.

Five words that sum up Musical Futures:
Inspiring, optimistic, exciting, inclusive, hands-on

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Rizzle Kicks, and John Foulds’ World Requiem