Staff Profiles

Abby joined the NCO team in September 2024, bringing a passion for the arts and music to her work. She previously worked as a Freelance Social Media Content Creator during NCO's national residentials. Abby is responsible for assisting the Communications Director and Manager in the continued delivery of NCO's message across various digital platforms.

Abby holds an undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre from the University of Chichester Conservatoire, as well as a postgraduate degree in Arts Management from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She gained valuable experience through work placements at RWCMD and Creative Cardiff. In her spare time she can be found watching gigs or supporting her favourite football team, Liverpool FC. 

Director of Development

Andrew joined NCO in May 2024 as the Programme and Orchestras Manager and is responsible for the planning of the Nationals Programme. He studied cello at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Northern College of Music. Prior to joining NCO, Andrew worked with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras, and at Chetham’s School of Music. A keen cook, Andrew can usually be found in the kitchen, currently perfecting his chocolate orange brownie recipe.

Beth joined the NCO team in October 2024, having previously worked at the Bristol Beacon. She is responsible for the charity’s HR,  governance and compliance, and office management.

Beth has over a decade’s worth of experience in the charity sector, predominantly working in international development for organisations including War Child and Development Initiatives.

She holds a degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Manchester, is an avid traveller, and has lived for short stints in India, Australia, Panama, and Canada, amongst others.

Catherine joined NCO in July 2017, charged with developing the artistic and educational vision for the orchestras. She is a portfolio musician - alongside her role at NCO she is a professional violinist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a founder member of The Stringcredibles, a string quartet dedicated to exploring the relationship between classical performers and their audiences. Her priorities for NCO will be to bring the best conductors, tutors and repertoire to all our orchestras, to articulate and refine our curriculum and to connect NCO as widely as possible to the broader educational sector.

Charlotte joined the NCO team in September 2021.  She is responsible for assisting the Communications Director in engaging with our young musicians and their parents as well as supporting the continued delivery of the NCO's message across various platforms.  Charlotte has recently submitted her PhD in Soviet Hungarian music at Cardiff University, is an enthusiastic piano teacher and also enjoys working with young musicians developing their musicianship skills at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Hannah joined the NCO team in November 2024. She supports the Programmes and Orchestras Director with the planning and coordination of all NCO activities and as assistant orchestra manager during projects.

Hannah studied clarinet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, before completing a Masters in Musicology at the University of Oxford, where her research focused on the intersection of Music, Politics and German Theatre in the mid-20^th Century. Hannah has been a member of NCO’s Support Team since 2021 and is excited to contribute full-time to the organisation.

Katie joined NCO in April 2018 and is responsible for the upkeep and organisation of NCO’s music library. She is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and enjoys work as a professional flautist and tutor alongside this role at NCO. Katie is also the Head Librarian for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and has worked on other BBC projects including Proms in the Park. In her spare time she can be found at the gym or planning her next travel destination.

Olivia joined NCO in December 2024 as Programme and Orchestras Manager, leading on the Projects programme. She has previously worked for arts organisations such as HarrisonParrott, St John's Smith Square and Wiltshire Music Centre and for trumpeter Alison Balsom.

Olivia studied oboe at the Royal Northern College of Music, having gained valuable musical experience and lifelong friendships in her local and regional youth orchestras. She is principal oboe of Bristol Symphony Orchestra and enjoys the opportunity to make music with friends whenever possible, a recent highlight being programming and performing in a chamber version of Peter and the Wolf in Bristol Zoo Project's Bear Wood (with bears, wolves and lynxes amongst the audience) as part of their Summer Lates series.

Sarah joined the NCO team in November 2018.  She is responsible for looking after our important supporters, alongside managing an active portfolio of Trusts and Foundations, and handling the growth of the NCO Friends and Patrons programme. Sarah read Italian and Music at Cardiff University and, following a year spent living in Venice, she furthered her studies with a Master’s degree in Musicology.  A dedicated advocate for the arts, she has previously worked for Sinfonia Cymru and artist management company, Sulivan Sweetland. 

Siobainn is a qualified youth worker and organisational coach and mentor. She has over 30 years supporting children, young people and families as well as being a designated safeguarding lead for 20 of these. Siobainn loves to learn new things and her mission this year it to learn fly fishing and play a melodious tune on the violin.

Sophie joined NCO in February 2018.  With 30 years’ experience in arts management, Sophie has overall responsibility for the strategic development of NCO. Previous positions held at English National Opera, Arts Council England, Welsh National Opera and Sinfonia Cymru. In 2012, Sophie won the inaugural Association of British Orchestras/Rhinegold Orchestra Manager of the Year Award. A previous member of Advisory Committees for Music Mark and Bristol Beacon, Sophie also represented the UK as an International jury member for Classical Next 2019 and participated in the ABO/British Council Orchestral Leadership Transform Programme. Sophie is the current Chair of the Association of British Orchestras.

Tammy joined NCO in March 2023 as Programme and Orchestras Director and along with the Programme and Orchestras team, is responsible for all the advance planning of NCO’s activity. She studied music at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal Northern College of Music, before going into orchestra management and has worked at the Royal Opera House, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Proms, Southbank Centre and most recently Sinfonia Cymru. Tammy has two young children and spends the weekends outside in the fresh air walking or having a dip in the sea whenever possible!

Tamsin joined the NCO team in February 2023. She began playing the violin at 3 years old and spent many happy hours playing with orchestras, quartets and ensembles throughout her youth. After studying music in Manchester she went on to work in orchestral management for the English Chamber Orchestra and the BBC Proms. She is passionate that music making should be available to all so followed her interests into the world of Music Education working for Spitalfields Music, the Wiltshire Music Centre and Wiltshire Music Connect. Through her work, Tamsin looks at how people engage with music making and what the barriers are that can prevent us from doing so including perception, language and accessibility. She lives in Bath with her husband and 3 children and can often be found digging in the garden, playing with her local string orchestra or marching the hills with her trusted doggy companion.