Our Team

Our team is made up of amazing people with all different backgrounds and experiences.

We have a core team, a freelance crew and a board of trustees all who work tirelessly to help us achieve our mission. We’re very proud that our team reflects the communities that we serve, as 50% of our team identify as Disabled or neurodivergent. 

Core Team

EJ is passionate about supporting individuals and organisations to reach their full potential.

Starting at the grassroots as a community theatre practitioner, EJ has worked in the Arts and Cultural sector, both in the UK and internationally, moving from programme delivery to leadership.

EJ was formerly Executive Director of the Manchester Jazz Festival, London Programme Manager for Creative & Cultural Skills, UK Programme Director for The School of Life and Director of Projects for Almeida Theatre.

Most recently EJ has been dedicated to supporting creative organisations to be more entrepreneurial, sustainable, and resilient in the face of challenging financial times. As a creative business coach, consultant and mentor, she supports organisations to grow and change in a number of ways.

As the parent of a child with additional needs, she is excited to join the OmniMusic team and bring the benefits of our work to more families like her own.

Pronouns: she/her

Molly loves working with teams of creatives to create exciting and inclusive projects for people who wouldn’t usually access them; as she understands the wealth of benefits that quality creative programmes have on an individual’s wellbeing and growth.

Molly has worked as project coordinator and has volunteered in arts organisations across Greater Manchester and is excited to be working with OmniMusic to help realise the organisation’s programmes and contribute to creating wonderful music making experiences with participants.

Pronouns: she/her

Chris Ball is a Manchester-based freelance creative technologist. He works to facilitate the use of technology within the arts, and has completed projects with both local and international artists requiring skills in electronics, programming, interaction, design and fabrication.

He began his professional journey making new and unusual MIDI interfaces for musical performance – mostly in his spare time.

Pronouns: he/him

Sam uses her creativity and love of words to help bring the joy of OmniMusic’s work to life on social media and other comms channels.

Sam has worked with small businesses on their social media and marketing for the last 5 years, prior to which she worked in the civil service both overseas and in the UK.

Sam lives in Sale, Greater Manchester with her two children. She loves to knit and garden as well as travelling and watching live music.

Pronouns: she/her

Sarah is a freelance finance manager with over thirty years’ experience. She helps a range of charities and small businesses with their bookkeeping, payroll and finance admin.

Pronouns: she/her

Practitioners

Alan Wells is a music therapist with a keen interest in songwriting, improvisation and music technology. He has experience working with adults and children in a wide range of settings including SEN schools, care homes and mental health units. He advocates for the use of music to establish meaningful connections with those affected by illness, disability, poverty and exclusion.

Pronouns: he/him

Alice is a bassist, singer and animateur from Manchester. She performs solo as ‘Phellotape’ and with ensembles including The Untold, Kaleidoscope and Northern Film Orchestras. As an animateur Alice has delivered community projects for some of the UK’s leading orchestras. She works for Live Music Now and directs The Bradford Friendship Choir, a community choir for people seeking sanctuary.

Beth Bishop

Practitioner

G is a music teacher specialising in electronics.

Pronouns: he/him

Grace is a clarinettist, graduating from the RNCM in 2023. She is passionate about sharing music in accessible ways and her experience includes playing and facilitation in hospitals, care homes, schools and other community settings.

Holly, an Artist, Arts Facilitator, and Creative Producer, is fuelled by creativity, inclusivity, and ambition. Operating globally, Holly is committed to creating safe spaces and advocating for equal arts access. Collaborating with organisations like Brighter Sound and the Roundhouse, Holly has received support from the PRS Foundation and Arts Council and is eager to contribute to Omni’s work.

Joe is a musician, facilitator, consultant and qualified music therapist with 20 years experience of working with music and people. In recent years Joe’s work has specialised in working with people with additional needs around the UK and in Sweden, as well as in a variety of mental health settings with music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins.

John Diver

Practitioner

Kris Gjerstad is a professional turntablist and workshop leader with many years of experience. He specialises in delivering high quality workshop sessions to groups of any age and ability using music technology.

Pronouns: he/him

Leila is a flautist based in Manchester. A graduate of the RNCM, she enjoys a varied career splitting her time between performing, teaching, and inclusive music facilitation.

She works for Live Music Now and is passionate about using music as a therapeutic means for creative expression.

Trustees

Adrian has been in education since the mid eighties starting as a music teacher at inner city schools in Leeds. His specialism in music technology led to stints as an advisory teacher, FE and HE lecturer, examiner and FE head of department in the North East.

Breaking from teaching in 2000 Adrian then concentrated on qualification design, education policy, management and skills, working for both large and small awarding bodies and for a sector skills council. He continues to advocate the benefits of the wider curriculum and the opportunities that can be brought through technology.

Pronouns: he/him

Isabel has been supporting social organisations for over ten years. She specialises in organisational and business development with a special focus on social impact and financial sustainability. An amateur musician, Isabel loves working with groups and organisations using arts and culture to drive social change.

Pronouns: she/her

Mark is a businessman in the legal, medical technology and education technology sectors. As a solicitor and entrepreneur, Mark brings considerable business and corporate governance experience to the Board of Trustees at OmniMusic.

Mark’s late brother, Daniel, had additional needs. One of the joys of Daniel’s life was to perform music and dance in a group. Mark will strive always to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to play, sing, dance and be merry.

Mark Rowland is a graduate from the University of Chester. He is a musician, DJ and advocate of Assistive Music Technology.

He has worked on collaborative projects using innovative music technology with artists and projects including Jools Holland and Bonnie Tyler through the Drake Music project, DJ Fresh, Smirnoff Mindtunes and musician development at Valley Community Theatre.

Pronouns: he/him

Phill Howley is a professional musician, arts consultant, and facilitator with 25 years of experience. He specialises in working a diverse range of settings, utilising music as a tool for empowerment and expression. As the Director of Howley Creative Development, he champions inclusivity and creativity, partnering with organisations like Youth Music and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic to nurture the next generation of creatives.

Pronouns: he/him

Sarah Denman is a pianist, music therapist and local resident in Stockport. She has worked with the charity Nordoff and Robbins for over 10 years, currently supporting service development and national project management, as well as providing music therapy to young people with additional needs in Manchester. Sarah loves walking, her dog and young daughter, and the odd bit of crossfit!

Tom Northey is an experienced arts consultant. He works with artists and arts organisations on fundraising and development projects.

Pronouns: he/him

With thanks to our funders