Our People

One of the world’s leading conductors and passionate about music education, Sir Simon Rattle was born in Liverpool and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He is Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. Sir Simon is also Principal Artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and was Principal Conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 2002 to 2018. We are thrilled to have Simon as our Patron.

A satirist, writer, director and producer. Armando’s credits span radio, film and television and include BAFTA award-winning The Thick of It, Oscar-nominated screenplay In The Loop, and the Emmy award-winning Veep. In 2017 he published Hear Me Out, a new book on classical music, and released his critically acclaimed film The Death of Stalin. His adaptation of Charles Dicken’s David Copperfield was released in January 2020, as was his new HBO series, Avenue 5. In December 2023, Armando made his debut as a playwright with ‘Pandemonium’ at London’s Soho Theatre. He presented a BBC Artsnight featuring Apollo Music Projects in 2015.

A professional conductor and cellist. David is passionate about music education and giving children of all backgrounds access to the life-enhancing experience of music, both performing and listening. He founded the Apollo Chamber Orchestra in 1989 and since then has given many concerts with the orchestra – including chamber orchestra, string orchestra, symphony and opera performances.

A chartered accountant and finance director who has worked in the insurance industry for thirty years but whose real passion has always been music. Simon has been a pianist for most of his life, working for a few years as a cruise ship musician during a career break from the city, and is currently a member of the West End Musical Choir.

Ian studied at the University of York where, alongside teaching and performing, he completed a PhD in Music. Upon moving to London, he embarked on a career change and qualified as a chartered accountant, working for an accountancy firm with several clients in the creative industries. Ian now works as Financial Controller for a television production company. His passion for music remains, and he continues to embrace any opportunity to perform, both on recorder and bassoon. He is also one of the founding members of the London Incidental Orchestra.

Elisabeth is a qualified solicitor and has been a Partner in an international law firm for almost 20 years. She has had a passion for music from an early age, learning to play the flute from the age of 7, and later the piano. Having been the beneficiary of free music lessons at primary school, and the loan of her first instrument, she believes in the huge benefits music in schools can bring in developing children’s well-being, their creativity, and their confidence.

Peter is a graduate of Liverpool University and qualified as a solicitor in 1982. As a lawyer, he has worked in both private practice and industry, later developing a career in risk management and, subsequently, corporate investigations. He has played the piano from an early age and now accompanies the London Doctors Choir. He has recently joined the Advanced Chamber Music and Piano Accompaniment course at Morley College, performing regularly with a variety of instrumentalists.

Steph is a great advocate for the importance of transferable skills, having started her working life as a Solicitor in the City, also working in Paris for a while, and then transferring to the world of Education. It was here that her passion for providing opportunities for all children, regardless of their starting points, became a real driving force, particularly during her two Primary School Headships. She fought hard to keep music at the forefront of the school curriculum, having experienced the enormous lifelong benefits it can bring, not least through the musicianship of her own children - teamwork, listening skills, communication, shared passion, aspirational thinking - to name just a few. Steph believes that everyone should have the opportunity to experience, participate in and benefit from the joy that music and the creative arts can bring.

Originally from Paris, Sophie holds a master's degrees in Mathematics & Computing Science and Finance. She currently works in the tech industry in London. Outside of work Sophie is deeply passionate about arts and culture and loves to share this passion with others.

As a violinist, Susan is one of the core team delivering the project in primary schools. She feels privileged to have worked in the classroom with the children over the past ten years, as it has greatly increased her understanding of music and communication. Susan is part of the AMP administrative team and also has an independent career as a freelance musician. She teaches violin at the City of London School and privately.

Experienced in arts management, creative producing and community dance, ​Julie enjoys connecting with people across diverse arts and health settings. She has a life-long love of music, and played violin and piano from an early age.

Selina has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 16 years, including working with health and wellbeing charities and in arts administration at Aldeburgh Music. She has a passion for music and was a former member of the BBC Symphony Chorus. Selina has an MBA from Henley Business School and is a Member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (MICB).

Originally from North Carolina (USA), Jenna has over 15 years of experience in the charity arts sector with a special focus on development and engagement. She was most recently the Administrative Producer for DV8 Physical Theatre, and she holds an MA in Education in Arts and Cultural Settings from Kings College, London. Jenna enjoys live performance across a range of art forms and whilst not a trained musician, she would love to one day learn to play the banjo.

Nina has worked in the Education Sector since the early 1990s, including teaching in Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest, as well as some time working for the Hackney Learning Trust. Recently retired from the chalk face, she is putting her passions for learning, the arts and social change to good use as our Schools’ Coordinator.