Meet the team

CHAIR

Steve is an experienced musician and music educator working in formal and informal musical settings. He has a background in youth work and a particular expertise in musical inclusion, ensuring children and young people who experience challenging circumstances are able to have equitable access, and fully participate in, a relevant music education offer.

As the former Head of Musical Inclusion at The Glasshouse, Steve is highly skilled in the strategic development of musically inclusive practices, including supporting the workforce, safeguarding and the wider network of music education organisations both regionally and nationally.

Steve is currently a freelance music education consultant working across communities in Newcastle and the North East and contributing to national discourse on inclusive music practices. He also delivers safeguarding training for TDI, a national charity that works to prevent and tackle issues around sexual offending and sexual harm. He is a governor for Hawthorn primary school in Newcastle and a member of the Regional Executive Committee for The Musicians Union.

As a working songwriter and performer Steve regularly tours across the UK.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHUMBRIA

Amélie Addison was appointed Lecturer in Music at Northumbria University in 2024 and teaches on modules in Music History, Music Theory, Performance and Music Education. One of her current priorities is co-ordinating placements for music students in collaboration with NEMH, the Glasshouse, Nordoff-Robbins and other local providers.

Amélie studied cello at Royal Conservatoire Scotland and TrinityLaban Conservatoire, specialising in historically-informed performance of eighteenth-century chamber and sacred music, community music and music education. Amélie enjoyed a varied career as a freelance performer and was an instrumental, ensemble and musicianship tutor in Glasgow, London, and Leeds. 

Amélie completed her doctorate (Leeds, 2023) and a British Society for Eighteenth Century Studies / Northumbria University Fellowship (2024) on eighteenth-century Tyneside-born theatre composer William Shield.

Amélie was also a postdoctoral fellow and BeCurious Associate of Leeds Arts & Humanities Research Institute (2023/24), focused on studying the repertoire and experiences of Victorian travelling circus musicians, and delivered activities inspired by her research during family events at Leeds Industrial Museum.

NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR

Anne Besford is Chief Executive of National Youth Choir, where she leads its strategic and business development and oversees the operational team and governance. Under her leadership NYC has expanded its reach across the UK and enhanced its focus on access, equity and impact. As part of a national network of youth music organisations, Anne works to advocate for inclusive music and creative education policy and practice. 

Prior to her current role, she was senior strategic lead for Cultural Development at Middlesbrough Council, experience that grounded her in local arts policy, youth cultural provision and regional community engagement. Previous governance experience includes work as Trustee and Chair of  the Board at Theatre Hullabaloo a leading children’s theatre charity, championing the importance of creativity in childhood and  producing high-quality theatre and creative play for young audiences across the North East.

A County Durham native, Anne draws on personal experiences in youth arts as foundational to a lifelong belief in the power of arts to inspire young lives. Beyond National Youth Choir, Anne contributes to the cultural life of the North East through her roles on the County Durham Cultural Education Partnership and on the Advisory Board of the Music Hub. Through those roles and other partnerships she works to strengthen regional singing, music education and creative opportunities for young people.

MUSIC MARK

Chris has had a varied career in many finance and operations roles, from working in the private sector and in the third sector and working with several organisations with the music and cultural education sectors. Chris is currently the Membership and Operations Director for Music Mark, working at the heart of the UK music education. Alongside this, Chris sits on the board of the North and South of Tyne Music Hub and is the Chair of Gateshead Music Trust. 

Chris puts his degree in jazz to terrible use by playing pop, punk and alternative folk, though not in the same bands. He is very often to be found in the pubs of the North East on weekends and evenings playing with one of his many bands.

NORTHERN ROOTS

Leila d’Aronville is a strategic cultural leader working at the intersection of art, education, and activism. Her career spans over two decades, with roles in national and regional programmes including Sing Up – the National Singing Campaign, Bridge North East (the original iteration of Culture Bridge North East), and Mongrel UK – Music Theatre that Bites, a pioneering company which amplified newly arrived young voices.

Leila is the Director of Northern Roots, a community-led cultural organisation committed to equity and representation, with a particular focus on Black and Global Majority artists, audiences, and young people. Through Northern Roots, she leads inclusive programming, artist development, and school-based creative projects across the North East.

She is also the Founder of North East Cultural Freelancers (NECF), a resilient network supporting thousands of freelance creatives. Leila’s work is rooted in collaboration, systemic change, and a deep commitment to cultural justice. NECF works at a regional and national level. 

Leila is also a governor of Brighton Avenue Primary School in Gateshead, on the Board of Directors for Konnect Music, sits on the NECA Cultural Advisory Group, What Next? UK Leadership Group and The Freelancer Circle for Arts Council England. 

TUNESCRIBERS

Sam James is a Newcastle-based musician, composer and notation specialist whose work spans jazz, folk, classical and rock. As the director and owner of Tunescribers, he leads a team providing clear, professional music engraving and custom transcription services for artists and organisations—from album projects and musicals to full-scale shows.

Raised in the North East, Sam benefitted from the region’s music services in Durham, Northumberland, Gateshead and Newcastle, and studied on the Young Musicians Programme at The Glasshouse (formerly Sage Gateshead). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Composition from Birmingham Conservatoire. After many years working as a professional musician in London, he has recently returned to the region.

Sam brings expertise in music literacy, notation software and digital tools to his role on the advisory board, with a particular interest in supporting clear and confident music‑reading and creation in young musicians. He also performs with the London‑based band The Amber Bugs, playing guitar, piano, trumpet and accordion.

NEMH LEAD SCHOOL - SECONDARY

Elizabeth is Curriculum Team Leader for Music, Arts and Design at Kings Priory School in Tynemouth. An all through school, Elizabeth is responsible for music from EYFS to KS5 and for ensuring that music is the beating heart of the school.

Elizabeth is Trustee of MO4Y North Tyneside and a former Trustee of the North Tyneside Music Education Hub. As a teacher trainer, she delivers primary CPD for trainee teachers and also hosts secondary placement teachers. Elizabeth is Chair of the Woodard Education Trust Music Network and also works as a coach and mentor for colleagues both within Kings Priory School and across the Academy Trust.  

Elizabeth has formally worked for The Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland where she managed, amongst other programs, Sunday for Sammy, The Alun Hull Award and the Young Musicians Fund and The Drake Music Project supporting children and young people with physical disabilities to access and participate in meaningful music education. Prior to this, as a graduate of RNCM, Elizabeth worked as a freelance string player in London and Manchester before relocating to Philadelphia, PA where she completed her MA in Education focusing her research on the role of imitation, demonstration and silence in music teaching.

Elizabeth has dedicated her career to musical education and is committed to continuing to seek every opportunity to widen access and musical opportunity for all children and young people.  

MANPOWER

NEMH LEAD SCHOOL - PRIMARY

Lucy is the Music Lead at Westgate Hill Primary Academy, the largest primary school in Newcastle, spread across two sites and serving a richly diverse community with 98% EAL learners. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience, she has ensured that music remains an integral, vibrant and accessible part of school life.

A passionate advocate for inclusive music education, Lucy firmly believes that music is for all. She is committed to creating opportunities for every child to experience joy, confidence and expression through music, regardless of background, language or ability.

Her expertise extends well beyond music. Lucy has contributed to the development of multiple areas of the curriculum, drawing on a deep understanding of effective teaching and learning. She has worked across several schools in the North East, London and Wales, gaining a rich breadth of experience in diverse educational settings.

Lucy has also supported schools across the region and nationwide, helping them to enhance classroom practice and implement inclusive, creative approaches.

Lucy is also an experienced coach and mentor, having guided teachers at all stages of their careers and supported university students and trainees.

GLOW NEWCASTLE

Bex is a musician, facilitator and founding Director of GLOW Newcastle, a charity that has grown out of Newcastle’s Cultural Education Partnership. With 30 years of experience working within Community Music, Higher Education, performance and Arts leadership, her work has focused predominantly on inclusion, diversity, equity and access. Previous roles have included: Associate Programme Leader BA (Hons) Community Music programme; Director of the N.E. Youth Music Action Zone; Head of Youth and Community Programme at The Glasshouse (then Sage Gateshead), as well as research, evaluation and artistic-practice roles. Bex is a trustee of Northern Roots.

NEMH LEAD SCHOOL - SEND

FORMER HEADTEACHER

Miles has three decades of experience as a teacher; initially a secondary music teacher he has worked in a Durham residential secondary special school and primaries – with twenty years as a headteacher which included two terms as a secondary associate head. His last post was sixteen years as head of Hotspur Primary in Heaton; a school with a rich cultural focus.

During his headship Miles chaired the Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership and was a board member of Culture Bridge North East and Schools North East. He also led the Concordia project with funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation which worked with 75 teachers and support staff to develop singing in primary schools.

Currently Miles, and his husband Gary, run Palladio Education which supports schools with school improvement, management development and cultural learning. He is also a civil celebrant of funerals and weddings.

Miles has a great passion for singing in choirs – he chairs the Trustees of Sing for Pleasure and coordinates much singing activity in the region, in addition to conducting and singing in choirs.

FREELANCE ARTS LEADER

With over 25 years’ experience in music performance, education, and organisational leadership, Craig has held senior roles with leading orchestras and concert halls including the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Sage Gateshead (now Glasshouse ICM), RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, and London Sinfonietta.

As former Programmes Director at the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Craig led the design and delivery of inclusive, high-impact music programmes for teenage musicians, creating accessible pathways into orchestral music. With a deep commitment to embedding learning and personal development within music-making, he pioneered the development of a leadership and creativity curriculum, placing young people’s voice, agency, and growth at the heart of the NYO experience.

Craig now works independently through his consultancy, Blank Page Arts, supporting organisations to develop strategy, empower their people, and bring ideas to fruition. His work is grounded in a strong belief in the power of creativity and culture to drive change, and in the role of nurturing leadership to empower individuals and teams to succeed.

Craig lives in Gateshead and also serves as Trustee and Secretary of the Music Education Council, where he continues to advocate for an equitable music education landscape.