Freddie Aitken

Freddie works in Membership and EDI at London Youth Choirs. He also runs a diy electronic music record label, hosts monthly radio shows, and DJs in his home city of London and around the UK.

Alongside this, he is a member of the first European Music Business Task Force and podcast show host for the Music Cities Network's "Music Industry Voices" podcast.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite album Tongue by Anenon
Favourite biscuit Lemon Puffs
Favourite book The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes

Guvna B

Guvna B is a triple MOBO Award winning rapper, author and broadcaster from London. His album, The Village is On Fire (2023) debuted at number 1 on the Official Hip-Hop and R&B Charts and his sophomore book Unspoken: Toxic Masculinity and How I Faced the Man Within the Man (2021) became an Amazon bestseller. 

He has presented many documentaries across radio and TV including BBC's Gospel Meets Hip-Hop, and regularly appears on The Zoe Ball Breakfast show (BBC Radio 4) and Fighting Talk (BBC 5 Live). He also works as a presenter for his beloved West Ham United. Guvna B is widely considered an influential and important voice within British rap music because of his uplifting lyricism and passion to see every young person reach their full potential.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite film Cool Runnings
Favourite album Kano - Hoodies All Summer

Hanna Chalmers

Hanna Chalmers is a senior research practitioner who has spent her career working in, and around the media, tech, music and entertainment industries. She spent nearly a decade at the BBC working with a wide research remit across the youth brands from Cbeebies to BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. She then moved to Universal Music where she established and led the research and insights practice in the UK. In 2020 Hanna set up CultureStudio Research, a 'culture first' insights practice and collective operating out of London but working internationally.

Favourite place Millport, Scotland
Favourite thing Discovering amazing new artists
Favourite way to relax Reading in a hammock

Hannah Crompton

I help organise our flagship events such as the Youth Music Awards and Give a Gig Week. I lead on guest management for the awards and coordinate other logistics to make sure the event is a great experience for our guests. I liaise with artists and their managers for our Give a Gig campaign and help support our funded projects and other organisations with their fundraising activities. I work closely with our supporters and I really enjoy getting to know them and learning about why they chose to support Youth Music. If you'd like to fundraise for us or need some advice on how to organise your fundraising event, please feel free to email me!

Pronouns she/her
Favourite gigs Eminem at Wembley Arena, Charli XCX at The Jazz Café, Collard at OMEARA
Favourite place The beach – I’m a typical Pisces!
Favourite Netflix series Prison Break. Stressful, but worth it!

Ife Okonkwo

As Partnerships Manager, my role is to lead the Partnership and Fundraising Strategy growing Youth Music’s ability to shape a better future of music. Having a background in the wider creative space, I’m also focused on creating opportunities that embed Youth Music into the wider cultural landscape.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite album Kissland - The Weeknd
Favourite TV show Two and a Half Men
Favourite drink Peach Soju
Favourite book The Examined Life by Stephen Grosz

Jana Jammal

Born and bred in Beirut, I'm currently based in London.

I'm the Trailblazer and Cataylser Fund Lead, driving the funds refresh process. I’m also the Youth Music contact for funded partners based in the South East, supporting them from the initial application stage to delivery and reporting. 

I have led on both the Recharge Fund and IDEA project and I continue to be interested in supporting funded partners with their organisational development, sustainability, and inclusion practices. 

Pronouns she/her

Favourite book Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Favourite animal CATS

Favourite podcast Pod fanatic – but will always want to listen to episodes of ‘How did this get made?’

Jess Iszatt

Jess Iszatt is the host of Radio 1’s flagship BBC Introducing show; where she champions and showcases the talents of unknown and emerging music artists. Jess is at the very cutting edge of music, always looking for that rising star. 

“I am excited to be joining Youth Music as an Ambassador. Music is at the centre of my life and brings me so much happiness and escapism. Music can influence children and adults in so many ways and everyone should have the ability to access it. I can’t wait to start working with Youth Music and the young people they help every day.”

Jessica Richards

I am the Grants & Learning Officer for East of England and the North West. I look after a portfolio of around 80 funded partners across these two regions, giving guidance and support through their programmes, from initial application through to their reporting.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite festival Shambala Festival
Favourite gig M83 at The Roundhouse
Favourite theatre experience Punchdrunk - The Burnt City

Kaitlan Samuels

I am an Engagement team intern, gaining the opportunity to assist in planning, organising and executing various events such as NextGen Community events and the Youth Music awards, allow me to connect with other young creatives. I have also been working on sponsorships and funding.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite music genre I love and appreciate all music genres!
Hobbies Screen writing, music videos and painting
Favourite animal Dogs (I own a Frenchie)
Favourite TV show Manifest

Mahal de Man

I support Youth Music through administration of our grants database (CC Grant Tracker). I am part of the Insights Team and work closely with the Grants & Learning Team.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite animal Cat
Favourite theatre show The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Favourite book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer

Matt Griffiths

I’ve been here since June 2012. My role includes vision, strategy, innovation and partnership development. I’m also our main spokesperson, which includes briefings with the media and commenting on social media. I love this job, being the CEO here is an absolute privilege.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite album Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
Favourite animal Dog
Favourite book Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux

Michelle Myrie

I am the Grants and Learning Officer for Yorkshire and the Humber, giving guidance and support to my grant holders as well as to new applicants on their projects. My role also involves monitoring evaluation reports from grant holders, and assessing applications. I’m a drummer with over 20 years experience performing and touring with various bands and artists. I also like to keep fit and I run a lot!

Pronouns she/her
Favourite place to party Ibiza
Favourite book Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway – Susan Jeffers
Favourite instrument Drums

Miri Buac

Miri is a brand strategist and Head of Communications for a not-for-profit membership organisation. She has worked with an array of consumer brands and charities leading on creative and behaviour change projects. She’s passionate about youth culture, helping people share their lived experiences to influence societal change or help increase opportunities available to individuals and communities.

Over the years, Miri has worked on the launch of Apple Music, implementing programmes with Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, and national governing bodies, and even whipped up a media storm(zy) about Youth Music.

Pronouns She/her
Favourite album Dave, Psychodrama
Favourite food Pickles
Happy place Glastonbury

MNEK

Grammy award winning, BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated artist/producer/writer MNEK, has clocked up an astonishing fifteen years in the music business. With over 4 BILLION streams on MNEK written, featured and produced tracks, he has grown to become a true powerhouse within the British pop world.

"Very excited to announce that I’m a 2024 Youth Music Ambassador. I went to last year’s awards and from that moment, being able to see the talent that was there, and what Youth Music were doing for young talent, I knew instantly that I wanted to be an ambassador for this year.

As someone who has been working in the industry since I was 14, I know how important it is to acknowledge talent from a young age, hone in on it, sharpen your knife, and it’s great there are charities like this that can advocate for that and I’m happy to be involved.”

Molly Graham

I assist the Engagement Team primarily with the NextGen programme, collating opportunities for young people and publishing them on our newsletters and website. I also assist with the research and logistics of events such as Give a Gig Week and the Youth Music Awards.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite film When Harry Met Sally
Favourite artists Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder
Favourite pastimes Gigging with my jazz band and cooking new recipes

Nathifa Jordan

Nathifa Jordan is the Business Director at CultureMix Arts, a not-for-profit music and carnival arts organisation based in Berkshire. She is an experienced creative with a demonstrated history of working with young people in music related activities.

Nathifa has a degree in Sociology from the University of Surrey and is passionate about education and personal development. She leads the facilitation of business training, work experience, careers advice and mentoring making a positive difference to the lives and futures of many young people. Through her work her mission is to help empower young people to achieve their ambitions and further develop prospects for careers in the music and creative industry.

Pronouns She/her
Favourite instrument Steel pan
Favourite fruit Red grapes
Favourite season Summer
Favourite book Animal Farm - George Orwell

Nelly

Friend of Youth Music Head of Communications/Marketing, Abbi.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite sport Football (ideally on a beach)
Favourite food Cheese
Best trick Her side smile

Paul Bonham

With a background in public funding, diversity and inclusion, music management and professional development, one of Paul’s first paid jobs in the industry was running a Youth Music funded DJ and Rap project in his hometown of Oxford. Paul currently leads the Music Manager Forum's ground-breaking Accelerator supported by YouTube Music.

Favourite superhero Batman
Favourite food Cheese
Favourite plants Cacti

Phoebe Cross

I work in the Grants and Learning team, coordinating the running of our grants programme as well as scheduling our Exchanging Notes learning sessions. I also work on a lot of funded partner comms. I absolutely love working for an organisation that makes such a tangible positive impact and is so relevant to my interests. I have previously mentored young people and run inclusive drum workshops. I also play in way too many bands!

Pronouns she/her - they/them
Favourite album Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee
Favourite recent film Everything Everywhere All At Once
Favourite gig Tyler The Creator at Wireless 2022

Rachel Sears

I am the Grants & Learning Officer for the West Midlands and South West of England. I support grant holders in these regions from the application stage through to delivery and reporting. I also advise and support potential applicants.

Pronouns she/her - they/them
Favourite tea Earl Grey
Favourite karaoke song Believe by Cher
Favourite pastime Watching cosy murder mysteries