Staff Profiles

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 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.

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.

Jess joined the NCO team in 2023. She holds an undergraduate degree in Law from the University of the West of England, Bristol, and a postgraduate degree in Human Rights Law from the University of Bristol. Jess was an enthusiastic member of UWE’s Symphony Orchestra and then the University of Bristol Church Choir, which she still regularly sings with as an alumni member. Fuelled with a passion for equality and access, as well as a love of music, this is Jess’ first role in the arts sector - she loves working in Development, specifically in bringing NCO supporters closer to the organisation, assisting in enabling a greater reach of children in the NCO cohort, and working on our partnerships with corporate organisations in the wider music sector.

Mary joined NCO in October 2022 as Project Manager. She studied Renaissance History at the University of Warwick where she was also an active member of the Wind Orchestra, Big Band and Chamber Choir. Mary comes from a very musical family and is passionate about music education. She has previously worked for London's The Bach Choir and at The Royal Academy of Music.

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.  In her role as Chief Executive, Sophie will oversee everything NCO does with responsibility for the strategic development of the organisation. Sophie has worked in the arts for 25 years, holding positions at English National Opera, Arts Council England and Welsh National Opera. As Chief Executive of Sinfonia Cymru from 2006, Sophie led significant growth in the orchestra’s programme, reach and profile; an achievement formally recognised in 2012 as winner of the inaugural ABO/Rhinegold Orchestra Manager of the Year.

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.

Vicky has been a part of the NCO team since 2017. She has over 15 years of senior-level experience in development work for a variety of arts charities including Barbican Centre and English National Opera. Vicky's role focuses on fundraising to support NCO's vital work in the UK music education landscape. She loves music and also enjoys art and design exhibitions, reading, running and poker.