James Redwood

Composer and Workshop Leader

James Redwood is an award-winning composer and music leader whose practice thrives on collaboration and partnership.  He has a hugely varied career, working with orchestras, opera companies and arts organisations to create new music with and for non-professional groups.  He has a special interest in writing music which incorporates material composed by participants and his flexible style always seeks out musical material which is both challenging and engaging to perform. 

In 2009 he orchestrated material for Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach whose title track was nominated for a Grammy. In 2013 he won a BASCA award for Pass the Torch – An Olympic Symphony, a commission for the RPO which was devised and performed by 350 young instrumentalists and sung by 3500 young singers from across North London.  

In addition to composition and creative music leading, James has a range of experience leading training and CPD for school teachers, Hub musicians, orchestral players and emerging music leaders.  He has a long-standing relationship with Spitalfields Music, delivering training on their Skills Lab programme.

Emma Collins

Create Music, Future Creators
Deputy Director and Strategic Lead: Quality and Inclusion

Emma is an experienced music educator, performer, teacher and facilitator having worked in creative education for the past 15 years. Emma has led education projects across the UK, in Finland and Tanzania working in primary, secondary and special schools and in adult education. 

In her role as Deputy Director of Create Music the Music Hub for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, Emma works with young people, schools and partners from the creative, cultural, education and health sectors to co-develop, produce and evaluate music and cultural experiences; with a particular focus on increasing engagement, supporting progression and enhancing well-being of young people experiencing challenging circumstances and/or with Special Educational Needs/Disabilities. Emma is also Deputy Director of Future Creators, the Local Cultural Education Partnership.