Appointment of new NCO Chair of Trustees

Following six transformative years as NCO Chair, Louise Mitchell CBE will retire from National Children’s Orchestras’ Board of Trustees in May 2026. Louise hands the baton to Michael Eakin OBE who brings with him 45 years of experience working in the arts sector.

Michael’s most recent role as Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic until 2025, saw him head up the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir and associated Youth Company ensembles comprising over 400 young people. Prior to this, as Executive Director North West of Arts Council England, Michael led the growth of Arts Council funding across the North-West, playing an integral part in the bid process and planning for the 2008 Liverpool European Capital of Culture.

With a career stemming from theatre, concert hall and orchestra management, Michael has been Chair of the Board of Association of British Orchestras between 2011 and 2014, Chair of Liverpool City Region Music Board from 2019 to 2025, and a member of the National Council of Arts Council England between 2018 and 2022.

Michael Eakin OBE, incoming Chair of NCO board of trustees commented: “I am delighted to succeed Louise Mitchell as Chair of National Children’s Orchestras. This brilliant organisation plays a critical role in involving young people from across our communities in orchestral music and in developing their creativity and their musical skill. No work is more important in ensuring the continued future success and relevance of orchestral music in our society, and I am looking forward to working with the great NCO team to help the organisation fulfil its crucial role in this endeavour.”

NCO's future

As the charity moves into a significant phase of expansion, development and growth, NCO sought a new chair with a passion for music education, significant leadership and governance experience, knowledge and understanding of both music and music education, to build on Louise’s impactful legacy.

Chief Executive of NCO, Sophie Lewis advocates that: “Michael will bring enormous benefit to NCO through his considerable experience in the arts and orchestral sector. I am very much looking forward to working with him as we deliver our growth strategy over the next three years and beyond.”

Outgoing Chair Louise Mitchell has our enormous thanks

Outgoing Chair, Louise Mitchell CBE, brought considerable cultural leadership experience to NCO at the helm of Glasgow’s Concert Halls and Bristol Beacon, including two cultural capital projects of national significance. Her impact on audience members, musicians and young people alike, from guiding NCO through the uncertainty of the pandemic, to the charity’s substantial growth and success in recent years, has been palpable.

Louise Mitchell CBE, outgoing Chair of NCO board of trustees commented: “I’ve been very proud to Chair NCO over the last 6 years. It has been a really joyful and rewarding way of helping the next generation of musicians. I’ve very much enjoyed helping to guide the dedicated staff team and our diverse team of volunteer trustees. I will continue to help NCO whenever I can and am absolutely delighted that the brilliant Michael Eakin has agreed to take over. I’m sure that the NCO will continue to develop and thrive under his leadership.”

Sophie Lewis, Chief Executive added, “Louise’s dedication has known no bounds as Chair of our trustees. She has provided great wisdom and leadership, empathy and generosity, and she has our enormous thanks for her very significant time and support.”