Trustees

Award Winning YolanDa Brown is the premier female saxophonist in the UK, known for her delicious fusion of reggae, jazz and soul. YolanDa has toured with Diana Krall and The Temptations to name a few.

A broadcaster too – presenting numerous shows for the BBC including her eponymous series for CBeebies, "YolanDa’s Band Jam", which won the Royal Television Society NW Awards in the Best Children’s category. She recently announced her new radio show on Jazz Fm which airs every Saturday.

YolanDa was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London.  A champion for the importance of music education, she strives to bring access to the power of music and joy it emits to young people across the country. A real renaissance woman, set to reach new heights.

• Pronouns she/her
• Favourite film Pay it Forward
• Favourite book Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
• Favourite album Marvin Gaye - What’s going on

Recently named as an international ‘Top Talent under 25’ by Gen*ZEO, Sophia is the Partnerships Manager for the music streaming service, Vialma. As the first care experienced person to graduate from the University of Oxford with a degree in Music, she understands first-hand how music can shape a life.

• Pronouns She/her
• Favourite song Don't be a Fool by Gregory Porter
• Favourite game Mario Kart 8 (Switch)
• Favourite fruit Strawberries

Freddie works in Operations and Finance at Brighter Sound, a music charity based in the North West. Alongside this, he runs an electronic music record label, hosts monthly radio shows, and DJs in his home city of Manchester and around the UK. He is also a keen vinyl collector.

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

As Head of Music for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Chris is the creative and editorial lead for the world’s most influential radio playlists, as well as iconic live music brands such as Live Lounge, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and 1Xtra Live. A music strategist with nearly twenty years’ success in music discovery roles for internationally renowned radio, TV and streaming services, he has established a global reputation as a champion for new music. Chris is a Trustee of Youth Music.

• Pronouns he/him
• Favourite book The Plague by Albert Camus
• Favourite podcast Making Sense with Sam Harris
• Favourite instrument my beloved Martin D35 acoustic guitar

Rachel is Director of Music Publishing at Oxford University Press, the largest university press in the world and one of the longest-established music publishers, overseeing its classical, choral and educational catalogue. Rachel has a wealth of experience in the printed music, choral/vocal and music education sectors, having also worked as Head of Education for Bloomsbury Publishing plc, launching music education platforms, in artist management, and singing professionally. She also sits on the board of the MPA and PMLL.

• Pronouns She/her
• Favourite place The Yorkshire Dales
• Favourite album Motivated Music for the Syncopated Soul by Cory Wong
• Favourite piece Howells Requiem

Rachel’s 20+ years in the creative sector have included work with many high-profile and grassroots arts organisations designing, developing and running creative programmes for communities, developing artists, producing events and shows and working with strategic music funders, including setting up and developing the PRS Foundation for New Music in 1999.

Rachel is currently CEO for Brixton-based community music organisation Raw Material Music and Media which supports young people and adults at risk with creative and digital skills development. Recent senior roles in the performing arts include Head of Creative Programmes at The Albany in Deptford and Senior Producer at the Roundhouse in Camden.

In 2008 Rachel developed the ArtsTrain programme offering creative music making opportunities to young people across South East London. Rachel is an advisor for Help Musicians UK and the PRS Foundation. She is an avid reader, mum to two lively and opinionated teen daughters and a musician in her own right, currently honing her jazz cello skills!

• Pronouns She/her
• Favourite album Homogenic – Bjork
• Favourite place Music festivals
• Favourite Book The Great Divorce – CS Lewis

As Director of HarrisonParrott, an international artist management company, he is known for finding and growing new talent and building international strategies and tours for artists and institutions. To date he has delivered over 2500 performances in over 50 countries. Rafi is a firm believer in the power of arts and culture to build bridges and to be a catalyst for social development. He is a singer and guitarist who is currently trying to learn fingerstyle guitar picking techniques!  

• Pronouns He/him
• Favourite movie The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman
• Favourite album Speak No Evil - Wayne Shorter
• Favourite food Lahmacun (aka Turkish style pizza!)

Richard runs his own PR company, RPPR Ltd, after working as a Director of Communications for organisations ranging from Ofcom and Camelot to the Audit Commission and the England and Wales Cricket Board. He was also Controller of Communications for BBC News for 10 years. In his spare-time he plays drums, guitar – for self-entertainment – and listens to blues and roots music from his own collection and at venues and festivals. He’s also an avid reader of contemporary fiction, biographies and history, a keen walker, golfer and cricket spectator.

• Pronouns He/him
• Favourite album Blues of the Month Club – Joe Louis Walker
• Favourite animal Blue Whale
• Favourite book On the Black Hill – Bruce Chatwin

Sam is Associate Director and Head of Subscription Services at Stephenson Law, an alternative law firm that provides unstuffy advice to fast-scaling tech companies.  He was previously an in-house General Counsel at ComplyAdvantage, a provider of digital anti-money laundering checks, and WorldRemit, an online money transfer company that helps migrants send money home quickly without paying exorbitant fees. Sam initially trained at City Firm Olswang (known for its experience in media and music law) and then moved to Barclays to support its global operations and technology function.  

• Favourite singer Donny Hathaway
• Favourite album Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales
• Favourite football team Watford FC

Tim’s role is to keep an eye on governance and the money – ensuring that the  Charity adopts best practice wherever possible and supporting the exec team in achieving this. An accountant by training, he has in the past sold Sooty, analysed Motley Crue  Agatha Christie and Mr Men, and ensured the safekeeping of a rare collection of Bach manuscripts in the City of Leipzig library. He is now COO of the Lord’s Taverners, using cricket to enhance the opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled young people, and is also chair of a foundation focussed on supporting contemporary classical performance.

• Pronouns He/him
• Favourite album Michael Wollny Trio – Live
• Favourite Animal Warthog
• Favourite Book Ben Arranovitch, Rivers of London