Our team

Annette Burghes is the Executive Director of Evolve Music, bringing over 25 years of experience in managing arts and community organisations. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the College of Law and a Master’s in Research from Edge Hill University. Throughout her career, Annette has held senior executive positions at Collective Encounters, Highgate Newtown, Actiontrack, Windows Project, Graeae, and Merlin Theatre.

At Evolve Music, she leads on strategy, governance, and organisational development, driving forward the charity’s mission to make music accessible to all. Annette is passionate about the power of music to bring joy, connection and a sense of belonging to people’s lives.

Beth has been part of Evolve Music since it first began and currently manages Evolve Music’s Devon Hub. Beth enjoys being involved in all aspects of the project; from organisation, to hands on music making as well as working closely with staff and parents to develop skills and confidence to support little ones. Beth gets so much joy from music making with young children and their caregivers. Beth is a Music Therapist and Music Leader specialising in Early Years Music Making. Beth is passionate about making music accessible and demonstration the versatility and power of musical play. Beth is experienced in using music to support children and adults facing challenges such as attachment, trauma, bereavement, mental health and disability. Beth is a Bassoonist, Singer, Pianist and since working on this project has taught herself 3 Ukulele chords!

Mark joined the Evolve team in 2019 to support the coordination of our Early Years and Young People’s programmes and now looks after all of our delivery programmes, and is a Music Leader for Sound Lab Yeovil and Flow Music Club.

Mark has a passion for supporting others to discover the many benefits of music. Having worked in the community arts sector for over 15 years, both as a Project Manager and Music Leader, he has seen first hand the incredible difference music can make to those most vulnerable in our communities.

Mark’s own musical journey began with classical training in woodwind and studying music at university before leading community music programmes in Southampton for SoCo Music Project. Mark enjoys playing guitar and drums and exploring various music-making technologies and ways to make music more accessible.

Emma joined Evolve Music at the end of 2023 to support the rollout of the Dads Rock programme in Bristol and oversee Dads Rock across seven locations. Emma first connected with Evolve Music as a participant of the Explorers early years sessions in Radstock and was blown away by the quality of this amazing service.

Emma has a passion for using music as a tool for social change and for many years has been supporting and managing the delivery of Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘Singing for the Brain’ across South Gloucestershire and Bristol, as well as other community based services.

Being a Mum to two young children, Emma truly understands the benefits of music in early years and is committed to making Dads in Bristol and elsewhere aware of the fabulous Dads Rock service.

Amy has an MSc in Culture and Society, a multi-disciplinary degree that explored the intersection of sociology, design and cultural theory.  Amy joined Evolve Music in 2024 and is excited to be running all things digital marketing for the organisation.

After graduating from Dartington College of Arts in 1993, Claire continued her studies with David Campbell and embarked on a career as a freelance clarinetist, teacher.

As well as playing with many orchestras across the South West she plays clarinet with the Roaring Forks Wind Quintet, Bass Clarinet with the Wessex Clarinet Quartet and has also worked with Opera Project, Bath Philharmonia and Chroma Chamber Ensemble. Claire regularly gives recitals and enjoys her clarinet teaching at Bath Spa University where she also runs a clarinet ensemble. She established and leads the Community Clarinet Choir Ebonite for the Wiltshire Rural Music School, often giving concerts for charity. Claire is Associate Lecturer teaching the Community Music Programme at Bath Spa University and as a music leader, enjoys delivering creative music workshops in schools, with the elderly and with children and adults who have additional needs.

Mark retired to Somerset in 2019 after nearly 50 years in the publishing industry. He has experience as a director of both large corporates and SMTs and latterly was a non-executive chairman in collective copyright management. Over the last 25 years, he served as a trustee of several different music charities, including as chair of the Wimbledon International Music Festival. He has a particular interest in issues of good governance and management.

Thea grew up immersed in music, playing violin and picking up flute as well as performing with various youth choirs, orchestras and theatre companies. As singing, strictly amateur, is still where she finds her own release and a sense of well being, Thea completely appreciates how much music can offer in terms of well being and community and she is delighted to be contributing to expanding Evolve Music’s work in the community. In a professional capacity, Thea has more than 15 years’ of communications and marketing experience in both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors, and has a keen interest in diversity and inclusion, working to be representative in marketing and communications and to use her own voice to support others.

Jamel C Campbell is an Early year Educator, Ey Consultant and Children’s Author. He has been in the industry for over 20 years. Early years is his speciality but he has worked in youth clubs, schools, been a mentor too many and supported children with SEND. Jamel  is one of the U.k’s Men in the Early Years champions/ ambassadors. He has been featured in the media due to extensive experience and knowledge of the Early years and quirky but effective practice. He has stood on numerous platforms and prestigious establishments as a Keynote speaker; St Mary’s University, University of East London, Bath University to name a few. He has written articles for local newspaper the (Catford Chronicle) and for well known education and Early year’s magazines such as; (Optimus education) TES, Famly, FSF/Tapestry and (Early years well-being) magazine. Jamel has featured on CBeebies “Tiny happy people ” as an Early years advisor which has been backed by the Duchess of Cambridge and the BBC’s Bitesize giving transition tips to parents and professionals alike. He has collaborated with many well respected Ey professionals and consultants.

Jamel is passionate about the early years, he stresses the importance of having men in the early years and the importance of having a balanced diverse inclusive workforce, curriculum and pedagogy. He has partnered with MITEY (Men in the Early years) which is associated with the Fatherhood Institute and has assisted L.E.Y.F with Extensive research About the effect of having men as part of the Early years workforce.

He offers training workshops for EY teams and settings based around approaches to Practice, representation (anti-racist practice) and staff wellbeing.

Sheena is a 25 year old independent artist/producer and post-graduate from the University of Leeds. Having studied Music and Management, Sheena is currently dividing her time between Evolve, and another position as an A&R Representative for InHouse Records; a small independent record label delivering music education and musical opportunities to incarcerated men. Sheena’s role is primarily within the prisons, teaching musical practises, before providing record deals and other musical opportunities to those who show promise. Aside from her current career, Sheena is in the process of pursuing research opportunities, before she aims to commence a PhD within the next year.

Stephen is Head of Tax and Trusts at Helen Starkie Solicitors, specialising in estate planning with a particular focus on clients with significant property investments and family-run businesses, including farms. A keen musician, he actively participates in Evolve Music’s Dads Rock programme and joined Evolve’s trustee board in 2024.

 

Charlie is a musician and songwriter based in Bristol. He is married with 3 grown-up children. He leads music sessions in many varied contexts and enjoys cooking, cycling, guitar gadgets and walking the dog in his spare time.

Ellie is a music leader and singer-songwriter who grew up by the sea in Dorset. She plays the piano, bass and flute. Whilst studying Popular Music at Falmouth University, Ellie became interested in the power of music in child development and the significant impact on well-being for those with autism or dementia. 

Ellie trained to be a music leader through the Daisi Arts mentoring scheme and worked with the youth music charity B Sharp. She delivers music sessions for 0-18 year olds and teaches piano. 

She has recently completed the Certificate for Music Educators, specialising in Early Childhood Music and works in children’s centres, libraries, schools and community centres. 

Ellie also loves cooking and enjoys sewing, using these skills to make props for early years music sessions.

Georgia started off as a primary school teacher, leading music and literacy across the school as well as being part of the senior leadership team, before taking a side step to focus on early years music. She completed the CME:EC (course for music educators : early childhood) and began leading music groups in South Devon as well as leading musical play projects with SoundWaves and teaching the Ukulele to children with special needs for the Devon Music Education Hub. Georgia enjoys singing, playing the oboe and Ukulele as well as encouraging children to explore sounds with everyday objects. Outside of her work Georgia enjoys spending time at the beach with her husband and 3 children, going for long walks with her 2 dogs and travelling to far away places!

Sadie is a Community Musician based in Bristol. She works with a range of organisations to bring the joy of live music to schools, hospitals, care homes and community settings across the South West. She has a warm, positive, inclusive and creative approach, and currently facilitates music making workshops for those aged from 3 months to over 100. Sadie sings and plays the guitar, keyboard and ukulele.

She is passionate about enriching and empowering lives through music, and has recently completed a PGCert in Sounds of Intent. This now underpins much of her practice, along with a deep understanding that everyone is uniquely musical. Sadie has a Masters in Songwriting and has written, recorded and produced two albums and an EP, touring these at gigs and festivals across the UK. Her songs have been played on local, national and international radio stations, including BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sadie loves exploring improvisation and co-creation of music with others, as well as supporting development in and through music. Sadie has recently had her first baby, and is really looking forward to facilitating the weekly Dads Rock sessions in Bath.

Luke is a community musician with years of experience performing and teaching. He has worked as an accompanist for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and supported samba, rumba, and belly dancers as well as drumming for a wide range of projects from world, folk, funk, soul, and reggae to a pyro circus rave massive!

Luke is also a qualified state registered (HCPC) music therapist and has worked in education, special needs and mental health settings, as well as early years, dementia and end of life care. He works with individuals and groups to support their psychological, emotional, physical, communicative and social needs.

Luke has run percussion workshops across the UK to thousands of people and loves sharing his passion for music, bringing along his weird and wonderful collection of percussion for others to enjoy.

Singer songwriter and ukulele musician, Kitty Stewart performs regularly across the south west to a range of audiences from festival goers at Glastonbury Festival to hospital patients and school children.

Since starting out as a self-taught musician Kitty has made music her full-time career and she now runs a music teaching business and works for various organisations and charities within the community. 

Renowned for her playful and engaging performance skills, alongside a good dose of humour, Kitty is passionate about using music as a tool to promote positive wellbeing, social change, community and connection.

Alice is a musician, music tutor, community musician as well as a community development worker with a Human Rights Charity. Her background has been in a variety of contexts such as teaching in SEND and Inclusion Departments in secondary schools, a Refugee camp in Athens, 1:1 music tuition, and music workshops.

Alice also performs as a musician and has previously worked with BBC NOW at the BBC Proms as well as performing at Glastonbury Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Sofar Sounds and Priddy Folk Festival as a singer-songwriter in her own right.

Alice is passionate about music accessibility and inclusivity. In 2023, Alice graduated from Goldsmiths University with a 1st class degree in MA Applied Anthropology & Community Arts where she worked and studied with music charities The Choir With No Name and Fairbeats. This has driven Alice’s practice to see music as a tool for social change as well as for therapeutic outcomes.

Alice is interested in co-creation and co-production in community settings and looks forward to pursuing this with future work. She has just begun supporting with Dad’s Rock sessions and has really enjoyed the beginning of her time with Evolve.

Lucy has been working as an early years musician for 20 years, cutting her teeth in the West Midlands with projects for Make Some Noise, Stoke Music Service and the Hive.  A variety of programmes, notably  Soundpots, took her into countless early years settings in Shropshire, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.  Since moving to the south west, Lucy has worked on two musical play projects for the Soundwaves Network, run family music sessions at Dorchester Library and Dorchester Children’s Centre, and is now enjoying being part of Evolve Music’s Dads Rock programme.

In a previous life she was a journalist, and her writing and research skills are occasionally used by the folk she works for in a musical capacity!

When she isn’t working with early years, Lucy delivers activities at a residential care home in Frome.  And when she isn’t doing that, she’s playing the Cajun accordion in her Cajun band, Joli Blon, who are an all-women outfit and take their name from a much-loved Cajun waltz.

Roly is a music therapist in training (University of West of England – 2023). He is a classically trained singer and self taught folk songwriter. He treasures music in all forms and is enjoying learning about how it can be used in the process of therapy.

As a member of the Bristol Improv Theatre, Roly enjoys approaching sessions reactively by letting those involved set the pace and supporting their creative ideas. Through improvisation, Roly enjoys tailoring and creating songs that are inclusive and personally relevant. As a musician Roly loves singing in harmony and crunchy/clashy chords. In his spare time Roly enjoys live music, running, cooking, yoga and outdoor swimming.

Roly released his debut album of his own songs ‘Full Spiral’ in 2023 and is a member of percussion and vocal ensemble Tryani Collective. He is also a member of opera cabaret ensemble All That Malarkey and light opera company Forbear! Theatre. Roly can often be found cycling around Bristol playing an eclectic range of music from his minirig (at an appropriate volume).

Casey is a composer, performer, producer and researcher based in Bristol, UK. He plays guitar and sings, and can get by on percussion and keyboards as well as a range of other instruments. He has a decade of experience teaching in higher education, and is currently on staff at BIMM Institute Bristol.

More recently, he has turned to working with school-aged children and early years education, and in addition to leading sessions with Evolve Music he runs the Handmade Electronic Music Club at the Bristol Steiner School and at Bridge Farm Bristol.

He is the father of two, aged 7 and 11, and has always loved making music and playing games with children. He is passionate about inclusive, relational, experiential approaches to education, and wants to empower children and adults through improvisation, invention and creative play.

I’m Willow. I work on the Dads Rock programme in Radstock. I am based in Frome, and am a mother to two young children. Having grown up in a musical family myself, music plays a very big role in my life. I love to sing, play guitar and the drums.  When I am not running children’s workshops you will find me playing Timbal in a Samba band. I have a BA (Hons) in Early Years Education and over 20 years of experience in working with young children in a creative capacity. I am passionate about inspiring creativity in young children and have delivered music workshops in various schools and nurseries across the South West as well as at Glastonbury Festival and regular gigs across the South West. I am a big advocate of intergenerational music and run a group taking children in to care homes. I love working for Evolve because I get to see first-hand the great impact music can have on children and their carers.

Hannah-Jasmine works with families and organisations to strengthen connections and development through music and movement. Hannah-Jasmine is also the director of an organisation that nurtures community well-being through taiko drumming, empowering to unlock their potential through rhythm, movement, and joy. HJ enjoys working in early years settings, with childminders and families with young children, and recently completed the CME (Certificate of Music Educators) with a special interest in early years, She loves connecting people of all ages with their innate musicality.

Rhiannon is a violinist who loves exploring music with new people. She plays in string quartets and orchestras, and teaches violin to people of all ages. She enjoys supporting music education and community music projects. Rhiannon grew up in Bristol and studied an undergraduate degree in Music at the University of Manchester, and a masters in performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She is currently a Creative Learning Ambassador with the Benedetti Foundation and is a member of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s NEXT ensemble for early career musicians.

Will is a composer and music practitioner. He was part of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s ‘Listen Imagine Compose Primary’ project researching how primary schools can embed composition into classroom teaching. He currently runs a range of music workshops for Arts Active, Music in the Round, and Bristol Beacon including delivering whole class ensemble tuition in primary schools around Bristol. As a composer Will has written music for orchestras and chamber groups including BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has wide musical interests including playing with Bristol Community Gamelan , studying the Indian Sitar, and is a member of Bristol Laptop Orchestra.

Lily has been supporting the Sound Lab Radstock programme as an Access & Inclusion Worker for the past 2 years and brings a love of art, comedy, music and yoga to the sessions. Lily has been working with children and young people for the past 17 years through Play and Youth work and currently supports families through her Early Years work at Brightstart Children’s Centres. Lily has also been a support worker for adults with SEN and ran a youth club for SWALLOW Charity.

Beth has been part of Evolve Music since it first began and currently manages Evolve Music’s Devon Hub. Beth enjoys being involved in all aspects of the project; from organisation, to hands on music making as well as working closely with staff and parents to develop skills and confidence to support little ones. Beth gets so much joy from music making with young children and their caregivers. Beth is a Music Therapist and Music Leader specialising in Early Years Music Making. Beth is passionate about making music accessible and demonstration the versatility and power of musical play. Beth is experienced in using music to support children and adults facing challenges such as attachment, trauma, bereavement, mental health and disability. Beth is a Bassoonist, Singer, Pianist and since working on this project has taught herself 3 Ukulele chords!

Alex is a practicing musician with over 20 years of experience as a performer, composer, and producer.

Alex has been working as a community musician for over 18 years, working with a wide range of organisations from all over the UK. As an advocate for inclusive music education Alex has worked with Drake Music, Live Music Now, Bristol Beacon, Bath Philharmonia, Open Up Music, the Music Works, the Wiltshire Music Centre, MusicSpace, and others over the course of many years.

Alex is also a qualified and state registered (HCPC) music therapist. Alex currently works as a music therapist in a setting for young people with exceptionally complex behavioural needs, and also has experience of working in a number of SEN/D and SEMH settings, as well as in early years, and end of life care.

Dunya Lamrhari is a DJ, musician and sound healer based in Glastonbury.She mixes North African sounds with big bass, and her sets include a variety of genres like dub and amapiano. She also hosts the Dunya Rising podcast.

Danny Tryani is a seasoned musician, based in Bristol. After his training at Trinity College of Music, he toured the world with various theatre companies and bands. He is also the curator of the popular Bristol vocal ensemble, Tryani Collective, which has garnered rave reviews in the local music scene. The collective features multi-part vocal arrangements, along with percussion, synthesisers, and drums. He has 15 years teaching and workshop leading experience.

Stephen Ives is a sound artist, audio producer and curator who has worked internationally on projects for film, live performances, music releases and exhibitions.

He creates unique hand-built instruments, combining found objects and bespoke electronic-circuits.  He has developed numerous audio electronic kits and regularly delivers workshops at festivals, art spaces and educational establishments.

He is director of Eastville Project Space, an independent art space in Yeovil, Somerset that provides a creative hub for local artists, musicians, designers and hackers.

Dawn Handy is a visual artist, art tutor and youth worker, with decades of tandem experience as an inclusive specialist support worker and currently supports our Sound Lab Yeovil and Flow Music Club programmes as an Access & Inclusion Worker.

With an ethos and practice centred on inclusivity and celebrating diversity, Dawn’s positive way of working, supports our sessions and participants with adaptable and flexible processes. Dawn is also the Education and Outreach Director at Guggleton Farm Arts, the resident artist at the Yeovil Art Space Creative Hub and exhibits extensively across the UK. Her work is held in private collections worldwide.