Kwame is from a traditional drumming family in Northern Ghana and he learnt to talk using call and response song. The best possible introduction to call and response song without getting on a plane! African Activities CIC are proud to be making outstanding, authentic African music widely accessible.

David has a background in drama, dance and languages. He has taught drama in England and France at primary, secondary and further education level, and has performed and directed in England, France and Italy. This experience has allowed him to work with individuals who have different levels of performance experience.

Coaching Lead at Guildhall Innovation (GSMD), Jane Booth is an international clarinettist, Executive Coach, and Coach Trainer. With nearly 20 years’ experience supporting artistic and career development in Higher Education in the UK and France, Jane has a track record for delivering individual and team growth, personal transformation and accountability.

Part of the newly appointed Friday Afternoons Ambassador team Charlotte Brosnan and Charles MacDougall have a vast amount of experience directing, work-shopping, teaching and coaching singing with a wide variety of young people and their leaders.

Kay Charlton is a composer and educator alongside playing the trumpet with Bollywood Brass Band for over 20 years. She co-founded the Bollywood Brass Academy in 2017 with a focus on progression from WCET/beginners to playing with Hub ensembles and beyond. Publications include ‘Bollywood Blast!’ tutor books for brass/wind.

Barbara Eifler leads the UK's association for leisure-time music, which represents over 3,600 music groups comprising around 200,000 hobby musicians. Having started on the cornet rather late in life and being part of a brass (training) band, she has experienced for herself the challenges facing adult music learners, and the personal and community rewards.

Jane Emmanuel has been excited by the challenge and logic of music theory for over 40 years.  Alongside her work as a professional session singer she has taught singing, theory and musicianship in schools, universities and privately, in both individual and group lessons, to students aged from 4 to 80.

David Farmer inspires, motivates and educates teachers about the power of drama to transform learning through live and online training. Following a stand-out career as a theatre director and producer of shows and workshops for children and young people across the world, he is an in-demand speaker, trainer and writer.

David Guinane and Hanh Doan have been the driving force behind the Beaumont School Music Department for ten years. Together they have built a thriving department, with an authentic music education at its heart. They are co-authors of How to teach Secondary Music and the OCR GCSE Study Guide.

Dr Erika Hughes is Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead for Performance at the University of Portsmouth. She studied directing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Her directing work has been seen on stages in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Israel, and Pakistan.

Inspire-works lead world-music and dance workshops with 70,000 children per year and a member of Youth Music’s funded Tri-Music-Together programme. They hold two Guinness World Records (largest drumming lesson & largest samba band), are three times finalists in the Music Teacher Awards and winners in the Primary Music Magazine Awards.

Malcolm Jennings is drama practitioner and lead Teacher/Actor at The Play House Theatre in Education Charity in Birmingham. Malcolm has 15 years’ experience creating and delivering participatory drama programmes for Birmingham primary schools and has worked with teachers nationally and internationally. He was head of drama at St Paul’s Special Needs school in Birmingham and Lecturer in the Performing Arts at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. He has worked with many of the Midlands’ leading Theatre in Education companies over the past 30 years as a performer, storyteller and deviser.

Andy was a stand-up comedian, actor/director and part of a BAFTA winning team and has had EdFringe Firsts. He has taught, taken masterclasses and directed at many institutions such as the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His book The Excellent Audition Guide is a best seller. He has helped 400+ people into drama schools, and coaches actors including Vanessa Kirby, Viveik Kalra and Maxim Baldry.

A trusted and well respected figure in Music Education, Debbie has 18 years leadership experience in representing Music Education across the South West and an extensive track record of delivering successful high quality vocal programmes for; Devon Music Service, Devon Music Education Hub, Babcock LDP and the BBC Concert Orchestra. She has worked alongside the Military Wives Choir, London Community Gospel Choir and colleagues from the Royal Opera House. In addition, she has over 22 years experience working in the music industry as professional musician; vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and singer-songwriter

Performer, composer, director and teacher, Frances M Lynch has pursued an international career at the forefront of contemporary vocal music, specialising in Music-Theatre, Electronic Music, Opera, and Chamber Music.

Part of the newly appointed Friday Afternoons Ambassador team Charlotte Brosnan and Charles MacDougall have a vast amount of experience directing, work-shopping, teaching and coaching singing with a wide variety of young people and their leaders.

Adam Milford is a stage actor, director, West End collaborator, and educator who has been working in theatre since 1993. His credits include UK tours, classical and contemporary productions, and international projects, and for the past 13 years he has run Theatre Workout, the leading producer of theatre workshops in London's West End.

Kjartan Ólafsson has PhD from the Sibelius Academy. Since 1988, Kjartan has been developing a composing system based on Artificial Intelligence technique called CALMUS. From 2005- 2014 Kjartan was Professor of Composition at the Iceland Academy of the Arts. Now he is CEO and head of research at ErkiTónlist sf.

As a pracademic, Clare has been both working and studying children’s musical development in the Early Years throughout her professional career. In her role as Director of Musicbuds, she has recently composed for the BBC, publishes EYs musical resources, and offers training for teachers and musicians working within this exciting and challenging field.

Annalisa is the National coordinator for the Ministry of Education’s National Committee for Practical Music Learning for all students, chaired by Prof. Luigi Berlinguer. She is also a national contact person for training activities for music teachers of all types of schools. A professional musician and former instrument teacher, she has for years combined her activity as a musician and that as a researcher and trainer.

Annabel Thomas is Arts Development Manager for Trinity College London, supporting schools and arts organisations across the UK and Ireland to successfully deliver Trinity’s suite of arts qualifications. Annabel is also a school governor and is passionate about equal access to the arts for all young people. Holly Barradell is Head of Expressive Arts at Skinners' Kent Academy and one of the founders of Open Drama UK.

Award-winning Head of Department/Youth Leader Benjamin Turner started Rap Club after a detention. Now a youth-led community/company, they have performed at Wembley Arena, Royal Albert Hall and been featured by BBC. Benjamin is now a Home Office #knifefree advocate, recognised for his work against knife cultures.

Dr Elizabeth Stafford is the Director of Music Education Solutions®, and Senior Lecturer in Music Business and Professional Studies at Leeds College of Music.

Lottie Brook is the Learning and Participation Manager at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), programming year round music education projects for children and young people, particularly working to reduce barriers to music making for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Alongside this, Lottie works as a community musician leading a well-being choir for Aviva in York and has experience in leading inter-generational music workshops, youth ensembles and is an instrumental teacher.

Melanie Bowes is a Secondary Head of Music-turned early stages group piano teacher. Having experienced the huge gap in opportunities for early years learners and piano, and with her experience as a classroom music teacher, Melanie is passionate about providing opportunities for all learners to access creative piano lessons.

Mike Simpson is the Musical Director of Inspire-works, a Trinity College London examiner and author of Rhinegold Education’s Teach & Play world-music series. He is also a trained REMO HealthRHYTHMS facilitator, Rhythm2Recovery facilitator, Mental Health First Aider and an Associate of the Royal Society of Public Health.

Nathaniel is the Music Leader at Nelson Primary School in Newham and conducts nine regularly rehearsing ensembles, including the Barking Concert Band, Pavilion Brass Band, Newham Music Jazz Collective and a flourishing school orchestra of more than 60 children, most of whom are pre-Grade 1 standard.

Patrice Baldwin is an international freelance Drama for Learning specialist, having been Chair of National Drama and President of the International Drama Theatre and Education Association (IDEA). She has published several books, was a Primary Headteacher, Ofsted Inspector, Arts Education Adviser and Drama Editorial Expert for Rose’s proposed National Curriculum.

Paul Harris is one of the UK’s most influential music educationalists. He studied the clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music, where he now teaches. He is in great demand as a teacher, composer, and writer (he has written over 600 books); and his inspirational masterclasses and workshops continue to influence thousands of young musicians and teachers all over the world in both the principles and practice of musical performance and education.

Paul Tierney is a lecturer in music at North East Scotland College in Aberdeen.  He gained his PhD in composition from the University of Aberdeen and is musical director of the Haddo House Choral and Operatic Society and the Inverurie Orchestra.

Rebecca Berkley is a lecturer in Music Education at the University of Reading. She leads the BA Primary Education with Music Specialism (QTS), the leading undergraduate programme in the UK for training primary music subject leaders. She is the Artistic Director of Music at Reading www.reading.ac.uk/music

Cambridge graduate Stephen Marquiss journeyed from prize-winning piano scholar through struggles with physical injury and mental health to Piano Portals, a holistic route to piano mastery and radical substitute for conventional exercises. Stephen performs and speaks internationally, pioneering a healthy, fresh approach to playing and teaching.

Samantha Coates is an internationally regarded pedagogue and presenter. She is the creator of BlitzBooks, the series that has brought laughter and creativity to music theory, sight reading and rote repertoire. Samantha’s lighthearted approach is reflected in her ongoing dedication to making all areas of music accessible, enjoyable and memorable.

Sue Nicholls has published several resource books for non-specialists with Collins and OUP and has contributed material to many other publications. She works as an independent music education consultant delivering courses, seminars, workshops and teacher training modules. Sue also leads the ‘Fast-Track’ Trinity CME programme at Northampton University.

Head of Steel Pans/Steel Pan Development Officer at Leeds ArtForms, and vice-chair of YAMSEN:SpeciallyMusic. Victoria is authority on behaviour management and inclusion with children in challenging circumstances. She also works freelance setting up steel pans and giving workshops on behaviour management and inclusion in Music education.

Anna is Head of Programmes for Orchestras for All, a music education charity supporting young people with complex lives to access inclusive ensemble music-making opportunities. Anna oversees work across OFA's three programmes: the National Orchestras for All, the schools and communities Modulo Programme and ensemble leadership development programme, Conductors for Change. Prior to this role, Anna taught and led classroom music for eight years across a range of primary and secondary age groups and contexts.

Emma is Artistic Associate at Orchestras for All, a music education charity supporting young people with complex lives to access inclusive ensemble music-making opportunities. Emma develops OFA's artistic programme, and supports with pedagogical delivery across the three OFA programmes, conducting OFA ensembles, creating large-scale inclusive orchestral arrangements, and leading conducting training for music leaders. Emma previously taught secondary music for eight years and continues to conduct a diverse range of amateur and professional ensembles.

Keyboard player, composer and vocalist. John has a "unique and flavoursome" style that sits in a harmonic dimension of its own. John has worked as a gigging musician for 15 years, playing with bands of many different styles and genres. John is also an educator and manages a Rock School accredited music course for 16-24 year olds.

Neyire Ashworth is a coach and Clarinet Professor at the Junior Guildhall School. Towards a More Flexible Musician of the Future (Neyire’s professional motto) inspires her students to engage with the world around, whilst developing a form in which instrumental playing and theatre can marry seamlessly and meaningfully.

Dr Alison Daubney is a qualified teacher and researcher. She’s been involved in projects considering the health and well-being of young musicians; worked with the University of Cambridge International Examinations on international curriculum and assessment development and works with the University of Sussex. She is the co-author of Performance Anxiety.

Gregory Daubney is a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society. Greg has worked extensively across performance psychology domains since 2008. He has developed a thorough understanding of the psychological impact of performance on individuals and groups, with a particular interest and specialism in sport and other performance settings.

National Youth Theatre Associates are trained to deliver fun and informative workshops to both educators and young people.

Gareth Malone OBE is well known in the UK and around the world as a choral animateur, singer, composer and workshop leader.

Catherine de Sybel is a composer, pianist and music educator. Her teaching career, spanning over twenty years, has encompassed work in mainstream, private and specialist schools, always driving inclusive music education to the forefront of the curriculum.

Emma’s career spans nearly 30 years of music teaching, training, research and developing resources in early childhood. Emma’s life, studies and work confirms multimodal approaches combined with pedagogical know-how in communication and learning is positive. She founded Music House for Children to nurture early development and wellbeing through music. Emma’s deafness is a secret but useful to know in the context of her passion for nurturing communication through music and imaginative play.

Zeena has been a teacher for over 20 years, in roles from the classroom to pastoral to SLT and back again and in a range of schools. She has taught primary, secondary and post-16, and delivered GCSE, BTEC, GNVQ, NCFE and A Level. Zeena contributes to National Drama as Vice Chair and Reviews Editor, and through the Drama Matters campaign. She has enjoyed delivering well received sessions at regional TeachMeets, ND sessions, the Music & Drama Education Expo | London, and BSME Music and Drama 2017. Zeena studied at Bretton Hall, Homerton and Central School, and achieved AST and Leadership certification.

Alison Warren & Catherine Nash collectively have 50 years Drama teaching experience. Alison is currently subject leader at Clarendon Academy in Trowbridge, teaching AQA GCSE Technical Award in Performing Arts & BTEC Performing Arts whilst Catherine is Head of Drama at Kingswood School in Bath teaching AQA GCSE and A Level Drama. They are two of the five co founders of ‘Open Drama’ - a new organisation which seeks to create Drama networks across the educational and theatre sectors. Together they are No Nonsense Drama’, creating written resources and offering support to UK Drama teachers. They have been involved in delivering ‘The Clarenwood Project’ - a collaborative venture to students at their respective schools for three years.

Jo Lock Smith has passionately led the PGCE Drama at Plymouth University since 2006 and has been a 14-19 Coordinator of Expressive Arts, Head of Drama, AQA Examiner and Drama teacher for the last 20 years across schools in the South West of England.

Judith McAuslan BA Music, MA Education is a Conservatoire trained singer, violinist and Kodaly teacher. She has 14 years of experience teaching in primary and preschools and is currently a music specialist teacher in a school in Warrington, providing class music, choir training, strings programme, and CPD for teachers

Francesca is Head of Music at Trinity College London. She trained as a singer at Music College, then moved into secondary teaching after doing her PGCE. She worked with The Open University on the Music PGCE programme, and joined TCL in 2008. She is studying for her PhD at BCU.

Jane Cook has 25 years of mentoring, coaching and leadership experience in education and the arts, including as a headteacher and national education adviser. As Senior Associate and Specialist Adviser to the Guildhall School, Jane devised GSMD’s training programme 'The Coaching Approach', an EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) accredited course available at Foundation and Practitioner levels.

Jennifer Cohen is the project manager for I Can Play! in York and Hull. Alongside this role, she enjoys leading music workshops (for the National Centre for Early Music and for Music and the Deaf), lecturing and researching in music education, performance and musicology at the University of York, teaching her private instrumental students, and performing as a professional flautist.

Rachel Hawker is Head of Academy at Rocksteady Music School, a nationwide independent music service teaching over 30,000 primary school children each week. With a plethora of experience teaching music, Rachel is responsible for the learning and development. She regularly hosts Inset days in primary schools throughout the UK, helping teachers introduce music education across the curriculum. Rachel is an experienced speaker and passionately believes in teaching children life skills which build the whole person.

Holly Barradell is currently the Head of Expressive Arts Faculty at an all ability Academy in Tunbridge Wells. Holly trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Stage Management and worked in industry before re-training to be a teacher. She has been teaching for over a decade, won a teaching award as an NQT and recently was nominated and granted an FRSA. Holly has been a moderator/examiner for several exam boards and is currently a critical friend for the Action for Children’s Arts as well as an external subject expert for OFQUAL. Holly is a co-founder of Open Drama UK and is at present working as a co-author on a teacher textbook for HarperCollins Publishers.

James is the Director of Music for Windsor Learning Partnership. He works with students from Year 1-13 and leads a number of school based choirs, orchestra, bands and ensembles.

Douglas Noble works at a strategic level nationally for Drake Music, as Programme Lead on the Youth Music Fund C Programme, Think 22. He manages the Drake Music training programme, offering a range of courses in the use of Assistive Music Technology to overcome disabling barriers to music making, and leads on bespoke consultancy activity, including working closely with Music Education Hubs.

James Rae is one of Europe’s most published writers of educational wind music, having at present over 250 publications to his credit. His music includes instrumental jazz study books, tutors, five musicals, transcriptions and many volumes of duets along with sonatinas and chamber works for all woodwinds and saxophones. Many of his publications are to be found on all the major wind examination syllabuses worldwide. As a freelance clarinettist and saxophonist, James Rae has worked professionally in nearly every possible musical situation from West End musicals to engagements with some of the country’s major orchestras. As well as writing and performing, James Rae has tutored and conducted on many courses over the last 35 years including the highly popular Northern Saxophone Course, Ace Foundation Courses (Cambridge) and Jazz Zone. James Rae lives in Carshalton Beeches in Surrey with his wife Sue and two sons Andrew and Stephen. His interests are food, drink and anything at all to do with railways!

British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) is the UK’s leading music theatre company for young people aged 11-21. BYMT is a youth theatre like no other putting young people at the centre of the creative process to produce vibrant, innovative and original works in some of the UK's top venues and festivals. We work with leading industry professionals to offer our young participants unique opportunities and high-quality training. Since 2003 we have trained over 8,000 young people, many of whom have successfully entered the creative industries such as Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Lauren Samuels, Charlotte Ritchie, Jack Bence, Lucy Griffiths and many more. We've also created over 100 brand new musicals, including Loserville the Musical, which went on to be produced professionally at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and in the West End and was nominated for Best New Musical at the Olivier, Whatsonstage and BroadwayWorldUK awards.

Keith Burt has been working in Drama Education for 20 years. Graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, he went on to get a Masters in Drama and Education at Middlesex University. An experienced and established Head of Drama and former Artistic Director of a Theatre Company, he is also the author of the website Burt’s Drama. Keith delivers CPD and one-to-one support, both direct in schools and in venues, across the country. As an author, Keith regularly contributes to Teaching Drama and Drama & Theatre Magazines and is currently publishing a book “Next Stages: Building and Assessing a Knowledge Rich Drama Curriculum”.

David's groups have won "Outstanding Performance Awards" at the National Festival of Music for Youth, and a Guinness World Record in the Royal Albert Hall. His music and teaching methods have been recognised on Radio 2 by Chris Evans and in Parliament by the then Education Secretary Ed Balls.

Jo Franklin is Head of Technical Theatre Arts at Guildford School of Acting (GSA), part of the University of Surrey, where she is responsible for the BA Theatre Production and MA Stage and Production Management. She has a BA in Drama from Aberystwyth University and trained in stage management at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Having worked as a professional stage manager in a variety of companies, she then moved into teaching at GSA. She has recently completed an MA in Higher Education at Surrey, focusing on the pedagogy of training in stage management and technical theatre, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is also a secondary school governor and has recently worked as a stage manager on two large scale community opera commissions for Surrey Arts.

Teachers Rock® Youth Choir - the core mission behind Teachers Rock® - to inspire, develop, educate and empower young people. Discover how this new learning community of young people can help support the development of music education across your school or setting.

Since its founding in 1965, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra Ltd (NYJO) has grown from one jazz orchestra of emerging professionals to a multi-faceted organisation working in jazz education at all levels. The Orchestra remains the gateway to the profession for many; alumni include Guy Barker, Laura Jurd, and Amy Winehouse. NYJO is now working in partnership with over 100 music education organisations to ‘Level the Playing Field in Jazz Education’, creating and supporting jazz education infrastructure in cold spots so that every young person has the opportunity to reach their potential in jazz, no matter their background or postcode.

Rocksteady Music School deliver in-school peri rock band lessons that allow children to learn and perform songs as a band which increases confidence, resilience, teamwork and listening skills. Teaching over 27,000 children in more than 1,300 schools across the UK.

The Icelandic classical guitarist Pétur Jónasson has given numerous solo performances in all the Nordic countries, Great Britain, Continental Europe, North America, Australasia and the Far East. His CDs include a number of works written especially for him. He is principal artist for the critically acclaimed London-based Riot Ensemble and a PhD candidate at the Royal College of Music´s Centre for Performance Science, focusing on the memorization of complex musical material. In addition to development work on CALMUS, ongoing research projects include studies on distance performance over broadband, and investigations into embodied cognition at London´s V&A Research Institute.

David Ward has spent a lifetime in the Music Industry, as a club and concert promoter, 15 years as a professional singer and comedian and 25 years as a recording studio owner/manager/sound and live-sound engineer, some of these concurrently. He founded Gateway Studios in 1976 and was also the founder of the Gateway School of Recording, Music Technology and Music Business Studies. Gateway was the first independent music industry school in Europe and pioneered many new learning methods and areas of study. David’s lifelong commitment to education continues with his work as a founder and Executive Director of JAMES and co-founder of the new organisation TiME Technology in Music Education. He was also the Director of APRS and is Chair of the Music Education Council Music Technology group. He writes qualifications for awarding bodies and travels widely as a consultant to education authorities, government departments and institutions in course design, listening skills and education facility design. One of his greatest delights is explaining the world of sound and recording to people and organisations outside the music industry and has recently been involved with designing courses for a major manufacturer of PA equipment. David trained as a therapist in Psychosynthesis and Positive Psychology and uses this work in an education context, researching and developing learning skills. Over the last 10 years he has developed a system of Stress Relief and Resilience called Dynamic Calm © which he is now bringing to the Music Industry in the UK.

Sarah leads on content marketing and project management for MusicGurus. Sarah has held key content marketing roles for companies including ITV and Smooth radio. Sarah is also a professional singer, and a contestant on this year's The Voice UK.

Tom has a background as a musician having studied Jazz guitar in Leeds and then business and entrepreneurship in France. He co-founded MusicGurus in 2014 when he and his co-founders became frustrated with the variable quality fragmentation of online music learning websites. Tom is passionate about E-Learning, technology startups and the enjoyment and fulfilment that comes from the lifelong learning of music.

Dan has over 20 years’ experience in Music Education, having worked as a classroom teacher, Assistant Headteacher, Head of Service, Consultant and Senior Leader in Education. He has driven an array of curricular and extra-curricular initiatives and supported specialist and non-specialist teachers and musicians working in both primary and secondary schools. He has extensive experience of curriculum design and development, from KS2 to KS5, leading developments in assessment and progression and has strong experience of change management both within School and Music Service contexts. He firmly believes in the importance of close collaboration between classroom and instrumental tutors to create a co-ordinated approach to musical learning and progression.

Alex has played drums for over 45 years. In 2009, following a long and varied career which saw him playing with bands all around the world, Alex added ‘Music Educator’ to his musical portfolio career. Alex completed his Professional Certificate in Education (PCE) in 2015 through the University of Greenwich, receiving the Garnett Undergraduate Award for Outstanding Achievement. Alex’s time now is divided between acting as a consultant for Music Education Providers, providing CPD for future music educators and leading drum workshops.

Cheryl Stapleton is Artistic Director of Learning Through Theatre, a theatre education company specialising in commedia dell’arte. Cheryl began her career in theatre as a dancer, actress and producer, subsequently going on to produce and direct in TV for many years. She holds a BA in Drama from Brunel University, trained as an actress at École Philippe Gaulier and, in 2005, qualified as a secondary drama teacher. Cheryl has honed her practice in commedia dell’arte across twenty-five years, working with many leading mask and mime practitioners including Antonio Fava, Marcello Magni, John Rudlin, Dr. Olly Crick and Michael Chase. Cheryl has performed and taught internationally, teaching in secondaries and at a sixth form college for eight years, before going solo and founding Learning Through Theatre in 2013. Cheryl now performs, directs and teaches through her company, working with students of all ages, with teachers, corporate clients and professional actors nationwide.

Dale trained as a piano accompanist, harpsichordist and organist at Chetham’s School of Music, University of Oxford, where he held the Repetiteur Scholarship with New Chamber Opera, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a repetiteur he has worked English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Scottish Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, and English National Opera. Dale subsequently qualified as a Solicitor, and has held positions with Warner Music, Boosey & Hawkes, and Universal Studios. He undertook ITT with Reigate College, teaching Music and Music Technology A levels, and BTEC Music Performance and Musical Theatre. He currently works as Accompanist and Music Technology teacher at Marlborough College, Wiltshire.

21 year old singer Jaz Karis originates from South London, emerging from a Gospel background at such an early age, Jaz continues to make her mark on the UK scene. Growing up playing piano and singing in the church choir, Jaz cites artists such as Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys & Etta James as some of her influences which you are able to recognise through her free, powerful vocals. Selling out her first Headline show shortly after the release of her first EP, ‘Into The Wilderness’, Jaz followed up by releasing her song ‘Petty Lover’ which caught the attention of many, including Berlin’s popular online show COLORS. After the song began to spread like wildfire, the demand for new music from Karis was very high. After releasing a live EP of her favourite songs, a new single was then released last February through singer Nao’s label ‘Little Tokyo’. The last couple of years Jaz’s music has enabled her to travel to places across the world from Berlin to Paris & Japan just to name a few. Jaz also dropped her 3rd EP and sold out her second Headline show in London’s Omeara last year. Currently finalising new music to release, this is a very exciting year for Jaz, you are sure to hear her if you haven’t already.

Helen has worked on the West End, national and international tours and site specific projects. She spent three years at the National Theatre and has company managed shows including Wicked and Avenue Q. Helen worked on the 2012 Olympics and production coordinated the 25th anniversary concerts for Les Miserables (O2) and Phantom (Royal Albert Hall).

Beverley Heard is the Music Ensembles Lead Officer for Essex Music Education Hub responsible for providing a wide range of Music Groups and Music Centres for all children across Essex. When not working for the Hub, she is busy singing solos with choral societies; having enjoyed covering the majority of choral works including Poulenc Gloria, Bach St John Passion, Jenkins Stella Natalis, Elgar Spirit of England, Mendelssohn Elijah, Brahms Requiem, Beethoven Mass in C, Rutter Mass for the Children and Gloria, Mozart Requiem, Vivaldi Gloria, Handel Dixit Dominus & Messiah and many more. Beverley gained her Degree in Music from the Colchester Institute majoring in Music for People with Special Needs, she has a Diploma in Opera Performance from Birkbeck College, London and took part in English National Opera’s course, The Knack run by Mary King.

Jak Berry is a Manager of Instrumental and Vocal Music at Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Education Service (THAMES), the lead organisation for the Music Education Hub in both Tower Hamlets and The City of London. As well as working with schools to develop their curriculum and instrumental offer to pupils, Jak leads the borough’s Saturday Music Centre and Youth Orchestra programmes. Jak studied flute at Trinity College of Music before working at THAMES and has a broad range of musical interests having performed concertos with orchestras (Ibert’s Flute Concerto, Honegger’s Concerto da Camera) to live BBC Radio 1 sessions at Maida Vale. Outside of his work with THAMES, Jak is also a trustee of LEAN (Lewisham Education Arts Network), a membership organisation and charity that champions arts education in Lewisham fostering high quality creative opportunities for children and young people.

Nathan is a theatre director and practitioner working across new writing, devised work and classical texts, specialising in work with young people and work with lyricism and movement. He is Associate Director for Hydrocracker Theatre, a National Theatre a Connections Mentor Director, an Associate Teacher and Research Associate for LAMDA and Associate Artist for National Youth Theatre. He runs the youth justice project tipping point.

Oliver is a folk musician, photographer and film maker who lives in Preston. He is also a Drake Music Associate Musician, freelance Music Educator and Inclusive Music Leader. Oliver plays harmonica and synth with the National Open Youth Orchestra.

Cassie Gurling is the Musical Inclusion Practitioner for Drake Music and an experienced project manager, facilitator and music educator. She is an Inclusive Technology specialist working within the sector and training music educators within inclusive practice and technology.

Emmy Award winning and twice-BAFTA nominated British actor Christopher Eccleston trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has starred as Macbeth at the RSC and in Antigone and Bent at the National Theatre, in A Doll’s House at the Donmar Warehouse, in Hamlet at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Miss Julie at the Haymarket Theatre. His illustrious television career has included Come Home, King Lear, The A-Word, Brian Pern: A Life in Rock, The League of Gentlemen, The Second Coming, Doctor Who and The Sarah Silverman Show, and film has included Where Hands Touch, Legend, 24 Hour Party People, The Others and Dead in a Week (or your money back).

Is a drama and education specialist with an international reputation. She has had a twenty-year relationship with the Play House first as a Teacher/Actor and now as Associate Director. She has led the creation of many projects, most recently the ground breaking “Daughters of Invention” that pairs PHD biomedical engineers with young women in Birmingham in a drama programme that runs over half a term.

Gethin Anthony is an actor who trained at LAMDA, studied at Oxford University and attended Tiffin Boys Grammar School in Kingston-Upon-Thames. He worked as the Actor-in-Residence at Tiffin in 2006. His film and television credits include Manhunt (Spectrum Originals), Kodachrome (Netflix), Aquarius (NBC), Game of Thrones (HBO), and Copenhagen (Fidelio). His theatre credits include A Lie of the Mind (Southwark Playhouse), In The Vale of Health Cycle (Hampstead), The Hotel Plays (Defibrilator),and Boris Godunov (RSC). He owes his entire career and craft to the passionate, committed educators who selflessly shared their love of theatre and drama with him, for which he will be ever grateful.