Music Mavericks

Amy Webber, amongst other things is a musical comedian, using song writing and satire to create a new way of performing that is currently serving her and her audiences very well. Amy originally trained as an opera singer, however, not quite finding her niche in this 'strange environment' she didn't give up. Ten years on she went back to music college to do a masters in pop music where she found a...

Jo Yee Chung, is the founder and Chief Executive of Olympias Music Foundation (OMF), a community-based charity, which amongst other things, offers free and sustained music lessons to children who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. Jo, started out as a pianist and academic, undergoing both university and music college, and experiencing different types of music education, however, what really...

Michael Betteridge is a composer, working in many environments but mainly has a focus on high quality community music making. He is also the founder and musical director of The Sunday Boys, a low-voiced choir routed in the queer community. This ground-breaking choir are involved in projects that use music to create conversations about many 21st century issues as well as interesting ideas about how...

Nadia Eskandari, although didn’t leave music college very long ago, is forging a career on her own terms. She is the co-creator and viola player of string quartet Vulva Voce, platforming music written by women to live music venues in which you might be more used to seeing an indie, pop or rock band. Nadia chats with inspiring honesty, bringing to life the human side of music-making. She has an unu...

Michelle Phillips is a Music Psychologist currently working as a senior lecturer at the Royal Northern College of Music. Michelle wears numerous interesting and diverse hats, with a thirst for knowledge that has taken her an unusual route to where she currently sits in the music world. Her main aim is to empower all those with whom she comes into contact through research, ideas and creativity, wit...

Linton Stephens is becoming a household name in classical music circles. Amongst other things, a bassoonist for Chineke, and the Aurora orchestra, Chair of the Musician’s Union equality, diversity and inclusion committee, Broadcaster, known for BBC Radio 3s Classical Fix, illustrator and speaker of his own mind. In this conversation, Miche and Linton deep dive into the problematic term of success...