I am of British and Afro Caribbean heritage, and a parent of two children who are of mixed Afro Caribbean, British and African descent. My sons are both on the Autistic Spectrum, but with differing abilities. As a former medical professional working with special needs children and adults, and also as a parent, I am passionately concerned about access to music. I have personal experience of how beneficial music is to the progress and well being of both mainstream and special needs children and adults.
As a Secondary School Headteacher, I see firsthand the benefits of music and creativity to all students. As someone involved in education and governance across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex for over 20 years, I have always championed music and will continue to be an advocate for music for all.
Stewart is director and CEO of the De La Warr Pavilion (DLWP) Charitable Trust, with a 30 year career in cultural organisations, including the Museum of London and Crafts Council. He has established DLWP as a major music venue on the live circuit, with appearances by Kae Tempest, Jah Shaka, Wyes Blood, Napalm Death, Pixies, John Grant, Cat Power, Patti Smith and Goldfrapp, amongst many others. Stewart also played a key part in the establishment of OUTLANDS, the national experimental music network representing diverse organisations – from ‘NPO to DIY’, including Fat Out, Supersonic Festival, Fuse, KARST and MK Gallery. The network is now an Arts Council England funded client in its own right. Recently, DLWP entered into a partnership with Eastbourne to extend the music programme along the coast - launching with a Blur Wembley warm up show, and Peaches alongside the launch of Turner Prize in 2023.
Dr Marusa Levstek holds a PhD titled “Social Change Through Marginalised Young People’s Engagement with Inclusive Group Music-Making”, which was supported by Create Music (Brighton and Hove Music & Arts at the time of completion). Marusa's expertise lies in music education sector, EDI, community engagement and project evaluation. Marusa currently holds a role as a post-doctorate researcher with StoryFutures, Royal Holloway, University of London, applying her expertise to the development of new creative technologies.
Phil has been an Artist Manager since 1988 managing first The Levellers who achieved 1 Platinum and 5 Gold records with Phil and headlined the Glastonbury Festival before starting their own Beautiful Days Festival. He went on to manage The Longpigs, and current clients include Grammy and Ivor Novello winning Matt Hales/Aqualung, Duke Special and Sweet Billy Pilgrim. Phil worked for the Society for the Promotion of New Music (SPNM) where he ran NMC Recordings, and EMAS, which he renamed Sonic Arts Network (this and SPNM have now been folded into Sound & Music). Phil was the Vice Chair of the Music Managers’ Forum from 1997-2007. He co-founded The Great Escape Festival and now runs the Education conference at TGE and Pathways Into Music with Chris Cooke. Phil is Principal Lecturer for the MA in Popular Music Practice at BIMM University, London. He is a lapsed bassoonist.
After graduating with an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths College (University of London) Lucy started her career in arts education as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Connect Director. She has been Head of Learning & Engagement at Glyndebourne since 2012. The award-winning programme supports people to discover opera, co-create new work, and provide opportunities to those who may not otherwise have them to develop their talent. During that time Lucy has also been Chair of RESEO (European Network of Opera, Music and Dance Education) and a governor of Ringmer Primary School.
Imogen studied Music at the University of Manchester before embarking on a career in arts administration, initially within orchestras before moving into opera. In March 2025 she joined Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, heading up all their collaborative productions, co-productions, and co-commissions working with partners and opera companies both the Netherlands and internationally. Prior to moving to Amsterdam, Imogen spent 6 years living in Brighton whilst working as a Producer for Opera Holland Park.
Chris Stones is currently Director of Community and Education at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a Create Music Board Member. He has extensive experience in learning and engagement in the fields of music and opera, not least from his various roles at Glyndebourne between 2013 and 2023.
Erin is an undergraduate student reading Music at Oxford University and former student of Create Music. She received music lessons through the hub from aged 6 and participated in ensembles, music tours and many concerts during her time there, as well as volunteering at ensembles for younger students. She led Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra and was a Student Leader, providing valuable feedback to staff on the student experience of the hub during and moving out of the pandemic. She is interested in all aspects of (mainly classical) music performance at university, from violin or clarinet playing to singing and conducting, though she also enjoys coming back to sit on the board for Create Music. There she learns a lot about education policy in line with her academic interests in community music and social justice, and provides the board with an invaluable student perspective. Erin doesn't know exactly what she will do with her career yet, but thinks the next step will probably be a postgraduate degree in either musicology or music therapy.
Ebou Touray is the CEO of African Night Fever, He has a passion for disseminating and increasing the awareness of African & African Caribbean cultures and heritage in the UK, with a focus on music. Ebou’s passion for African Music led him to co-found ANF 20 years ago. The organisation, which has a niche practice within the UK of increasing exposure for music and musicians of African and African Caribbean influenced, has Ebou at its helm. African Night Fever is one of the leading contributors and programmers within the world music sector in the UK.
I am a parent to twin daughters who both play in the West Sussex Youth Orchestras and Urban brass. I play brass instruments (Eflat Bass/cornet) in Chichester City Band. I am a committee member and have completed BandSafe courses to be involved with children performing and joining the band. My daughters also play in CCB. I am a nurse and work as a Clinical Services Lead for the Community at St Wilfrid's Hospice in Chichester. Through my job in the charitable sector I understand governance, fundraising, overseeing budgets, grant applications, networking and working collaboratively with community services. I enjoy keeping fit by running and paddle boarding. I love camping and being outdoors exploring. I believe music should be available equitably for all children. It offers a lifelong skill, promotes confidence, encourages friendships and helps bring the community together. I am thrilled to be part of the Hub Board to help move forward the exciting projects in music planned for children in Sussex.
Duncan led the PGCE in Secondary Music at the University of Sussex for twenty-one years and prior to this was a secondary classroom music teacher in West Sussex. In 2005 he was awarded a Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellowship. He was a member of the Department for Education National Curriculum Expert Subject Advisory Group for Music and his research with Dr. Ally Daubney into changes in Secondary Music curriculum provision in schools in England has been widely cited. Though he has now retired from University, he continues to be active in Music Education (including Jazz in Education UK) and is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Education. Musically, he plays trumpet in a big band and sings in Brighton Festival Chorus.
Emily currently works with a variety of organisations, leading workshops, projects and composing and co-creating large scale works that have been performed by thousands of young people. These include Sing Up, Trinity College, BrittenPears Arts, West Sussex Music, Norfolk Music Hub, The Philharmonia Orchestra, ABRSM, Blackheath Prep School, The Benedetti Foundation and many other Music Education Hubs and establishments around the country. A love of harmony singing and a desire to bring contemporary, accessible choral singing to the masses has led Emily to establish several community choirs under the umbrella of West Sussex Sings. Emily also sings as part of acapella quartet Oaken, who are regularly running workshops and performing at gigs and festivals across the UK. Emily runs workshops and courses for singers/songwriters as well as composition and song-writing training sessions for teachers, choral leaders and people working with young voices. Helping unlock the creativity of others and inspiring young people to find their own compositional voice is one of Emily’s greatest joys.
