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. 

Programme and Orchestras Manager

Business Administrator 

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.

Orchestras Administrator

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 and working on our partnerships with corporate organisations in the wider music sector.

Programme and Orchestras Manager

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.

Programme and Orchestras Director

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.