The team are skilled and dedicated specialist arts administrators, most are artists themselves. They are committed to the mission and development of the organisation.
Douglas Noble
Douglas has 12 years experience working in the arts. He is a consultant specialising in music and the arts as a means of bringing about beneficial change. He has extensive experience working with a wide range of arts and cultural organisations, as well as the public sector.
He works nationally for Live Music Now (LMN), where he is Strategic Director of Wellbeing. He is leading on a range of projects exploring the health and wellbeing outcomes of live music activities in health and adult social care settings, with health, social care and academic partners. He regularly appears at conferences and events speaking on this topic. He is a member of the Royal Society of Public Health Arts and Health Special Interest Group and is part of the team leading the Baring Foundation initiated Choir in Every Care Home project, with Sound Sense, the Sidney De Haan Research Centre at Canterbury Christchurch University, and the Centre for Art As Wellbeing at the University of Winchester.
He also works regularly with other national arts organisations including Drake Music, where he is Associate National Manager for Training and Consultancy, Music in Detention, Platforma and Music for Change.
He entered the arts sector in 2005 after a successful first career as an immigration, asylum and human rights solicitor. He is a DJ, specialising in Latin American, West African and Caribbean music.
Tim Cronin
I left school half way through my A levels in 1986 to start my professional music career. Initially as part of a club act (Graffix) which performed in the UK and abroad playing along side such acts as The Nolans, Grumbleweeds, Bernie Flint, and Ernie Wise. I then moved to London and signed a record deal as a songwriter and guitarist with the legendary Acid Jazz. In between times I managed to finish my A levels at gain an English degree from Queen Mary and Westfield.
I am a songwriter and composer and have written for stage and screen over the years and I have also delivered and designed music/film based curricula for a variety of organisations both mainstream and hard to reach. I have taught in all sectors for education including primary sand for a while was Programme Area Leader fro Music at lewisham College.
In the last ten years I have been making film for the third sector as well as corporate as Cronin Music Ltd. I have received several awards over the years including first snd second prize in The Panasonic Film Nation Shorts Olympiad 2012. Both films set in our region and featuring young people. Most recently I have found a home within the Justice System and currently work across the region for Her Majesties Prison Service. I am also a High Sheriff Of Kent Award winner. Recent work made at HMP Rochester was selected to be shown at The South Bank Koestler 2017.
I have worked with and around music all my life and see the changes and challenges faced by musicians on a daily basis. Despite these changes making it harder to sustain a music career I believe passionately that music teaches a broad range of transferable skills and is just plain fun. A positive influence in what can be a very negative world.
I have two almost adult kids and a wife I adore. I am a very lucky fella.
This is my first trustee role and I look forward to taking Music for Change into the future.
Rosie Escott
Rosie started working for Music for Change in 2009 as an Events and Project Coordinator and took on the role of charity Manager in 2010. With over 7 years in the role, Rosie is responsible for financial management, fundraising, project and events management, and team and staff supervision. She is passionate about the work of Music for Change and dedicated to the charity's aims and ethos. Rosie also works as a fundraiser for the charity, Mind.
Emily Watts
Emily liaises with artists, schools and community groups on projects and one-off bookings. This includes co-ordinating Music for Change's work alongside Music in Detention; working towards giving a voice to immigration detainees up and down the country. Emily is passionate about music and its ability to connect and unite people.
Morgan Gilday
I have been working with Music for Change since 2012, originally starting as a volunteer and then going on to the role of Bookings and Projects Co-ordinator. Within my role, I liaise with the artists, schools and community groups in order to organise projects and one off bookings.
Having grown up surrounded by music, I have always known the many benefits of participating in and making music. I started singing and performing at an early age and have studied both musical theatre and contemporary music, gaining a BMus Degree in professional music performance specialising in vocals.
Alongside Music for Change I have performed both in a band and as a soloist in venues across the U.K., Europe, as well as teaching singing and running choirs. I am incredibly passionate about the impact music has on a persons life and the surrounding community.
I adore working for Music for Change and love seeing the work our amazing artists do within schools and communities.
Saffie Halke
Having grown up with Musa Mboob (Music for Change artist and master Gambian percussionist) as part of my extended family, I have always had a deep love for African Music. This led to me exploring and listening to music from all over the world. I studied Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar and Piano and at the age of 16 I was lucky enough to spend my school work experience with Music for Change. Inspired by the Music for Change ethos and work, I continued to volunteer and learn from them until recently being offered a position.
After leaving Canterbury Steiner School and then Studying Music Technology at Canterbury College, I decided to leave formal education in search of more practical experience. I have worked with Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, helping to rebuild their extensive website and assisting on tours and at shows with the “In C Mali” group and with the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians. This cemented my belief in the power that music can have to transform people’s lives, bring joy and connect people from all walks of life.
I am thrilled to be part of the Music for Change team and to help the Charity achieve its goals.
