The Team

The Team

Trustees

Ambassadors and Advisors

Mayor of London

Chrissy Kinsella: Chief Executive

Chrissy studied singing at Trinity College of Music, graduating with First Class Honours, and has been working with the London Music Fund since 2012. A passionate supporter of music education, her career has included working for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, the London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, the Centre for Young Musicians and their sister charity, the Foundation for Young Musicians.

In 2021 Chrissy completed a Master’s in Music Education at the Institute of Education (UCL), graduating with Distinction. Her thesis explored musical progress and perseverance in the context of the London Music Fund Scholarship programme, and has had a direct impact on the strategic direction of the organisation. In November 2021 she published a peer-reviewed academic paper in the Journal of Music, Health and Wellbeing, about the impact of COVID-19 on group and community music making in the UK.

Initially working with LMF as Head of Programmes, Chrissy developed the programmes in partnership with music hubs, schools and professional arts organisations, working to deliver all the charity’s music education activities across London.

Promoted to the position of Chief Executive in January 2016, she has overall responsibility for the strategic, financial, fundraising, musical and educational development of the organisation.

Chrissy continues to enjoy singing with a number of renowned choral groups across London, including the Holst Singers, where she is also the Chair, working with the choir’s Artistic Director, Stephen Layton, MBE. She is also a trustee of the Henry Wood Accommodation Trust which offers support with living and housing costs to young musicians at the four London Conservatoires, and the Riot Ensemble, an award-winning international performing group dedicated to the commission of new music. She is a keen cyclist and outdoor swimmer, a (very) amateur violinist, and was once, briefly, a Guinness World Record Holder on the ukulele.

Email: chrissy@londonmusicfund.org

Kate Kelly: Senior Programmes & Operations Manager

Kate studied flute at Trinity College of Music, graduating with First Class Honours and going on to complete a MMus at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She spent a year in Hong Kong as a visiting scholar at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, before returning to Europe and working as a freelance flautist for orchestras such as City of London Sinfonia, English National Ballet and as Principal Flautist of Orquestra de Norte, Porto.

As a creative producer Kate has worked extensively to deliver music events across a wide range of venues with organisations including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Proms, Serious, Early Opera Company and Kings Place. From 2012 Kate took up the role of Programme Director: Festivals at Spitalfields Music, delivering bi-annual contemporary and classical music festivals and a diverse programme of work across East London.

Kate is passionate about enabling access to high quality arts education and supporting emerging young musicians. She has sat on the board of Exaudi, and most recently whilst living in Seattle, USA, served as Vice President of LMCS (Seattle’s oldest music organisation) and on the Board of Trustees for the Kirkland Arts Centre.

In her spare time Kate loves yoga, hiking and camping with her family and lots of travelling.

Sophie Mullender: Programmes Manager

Sophie Mullender is a first-class music graduate and distinction-awarded postgraduate of King’s College London, who has joined the London Music Fund as its Programmes Manager. Sophie looks after the Scholarships Programme, and aspects of LMF’s fundraising, communications, and administration.

Previously, Sophie worked as the Fundraiser and Administrator for the Diocese of Leeds Music Department. In this role, she oversaw the development, communications, and administration of a music department that works with 7,500 children in 70 state schools every week — over half of which are located in the 10% most economically deprived areas of the UK (IMD 2019).

Sophie is a proud advocate for under-represented communities in music: she frequently records interviews as an ambassador for young people pursuing creative subjects and uses her scholarly research to help musicians gain power through their art and move beyond preconceived notions of who can perform certain musical styles. Her most recent research — a postgraduate thesis entitled ‘I am a Woman Again: Persona Formation Amongst Female Jazz Musicians in Live Concerts’ — draws upon her own experiences as a drummer and explores the potential of musical personae as a tool for activism against gender stereotypes in jazz. 

Jemima Whyte: Administrative Assistant

Jemima is a first-class music graduate, recently completing a postgraduate degree in jazz saxophone from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She is the newest member of the London Music Fund team, assisting with events and administration alongside working as a freelance musician and performer.

Jemima feels a strong connection towards London Music Fund’s vision, and each of its Scholars’ journeys. Coming from a state school, Jemima had the chance to learn to play the saxophone at age eight and attend a Saturday music centre within the North Yorkshire borough. This led her towards her current position of pursuing a professional career in music, and graduating from one of the country’s top conservatoires. She has recently been appointed as a Fellow at Vortex Jazz Club, a prominent not-for-profit music venue in London, which takes pride in its supporting of the local community and bringing music to a wider audience, whilst nurturing emerging talent. She plans to use this fellowship to run a regular night for emerging female artists, and to encourage girls in schools to study jazz.

Matthew Glenn: Music Education Consultant

Matthew is a skilled education leader with over 20 years’ experience in the state sector. A graduate of Durham University, he worked as a music teacher, Director of Music and performing Arts and as an Advanced Skills Teacher working to support Primary Music teachers. At the St. Marylebone School from 2004-2014, he worked extensively with primary and secondary schools and education authorities, national music organisations and arts venues, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers. As Music consultant for Westminster Authority he worked with 50 Primary schools to develop music programmes to engage children in meaningful music education.

For the past 12 years Matthew has worked as part of a dynamic senior leadership team, delivering high quality teaching and learning and professional development opportunities for teachers. In 2014 he led the set-up of a new free secondary school with Performing Arts special status in North London, acting as its founding Head teacher. Matthew is now a freelance consultant, working for a number of educational organisations providing leadership and management support and training. He sits on the London Music Fund's Music Education Committee, is an examiner for Trinity, and sings with touring choir Sine Nomine.