Remi Fairweather Stride

My role is to drive our Insights strategy at Youth Music. My role focuses on establishing evidence-led and equitable decision-making across the organisation, by transforming data into actionable insights that support young people making, learning and earning in music. I am passionate about amplifying the voices of children and young people as the true experts of their lives. I also serve as the Chair of the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Working Group.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite gig Bob Vylan at Vegan Camp Out 2023
Favourite riding road Healy Pass, County Cork/Kerry, Ireland
Favourite bike Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen

Sam Denniston

Sam is the founder of Verdigris Management, an independent artist management company that helps artists realise their creative vision. Sam represents a diverse set of artists across a range of genres. From creating global success stories; Jungle and Hot Chip - to breaking emerging artists - Priya Ragu and Smoothboi Ezra - Sam’s passion for integrity and creativity within the music industry has helped him to grow the company from a one-man bedroom-based operation to a team of 10 working over 25 artists, producers and mixers; in just eight years.

Pronouns He/him
No. 1 favourite My family
No. 2 favourite Track days
No. 3 favourite Sold out shows at Brixton Academy!

Sam Harvey

I am the Grants & Learning Officer for the North East and Scotland. I look after a portfolio of around 50 funded partners, and support new applicants through their grant application, delivery and reporting stages.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite album On the Beach – Neil Young
Favourite artist Kurt Vile
Favourite gig Anything at End of the Road festival, most recently Wu-Lu or Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Sam Scott

I’m a Grants & Learning Officer and Youth Participation Lead at Youth Music. I am responsible for further embedding the voices and influence of young people across our grant-making and organisation practice. In addition, I look after Youth Music’s portfolio of National grants, supporting funded partners both known and new to Youth Music through the grant application, project delivery, and reporting stages. I also support the delivery and grant management of Youth Music’s NextGen Fund and Wales Fund.

Pronouns he/him
Memorable gig Lankum at Barbican 2023
Pointless skill Stone skimming
Favourite place Scottish Highlands

Sam Williams

My role involves helping to collect and analyse data from our funded partners and the NextGen community. We use these findings to evaluate our impact and reinforce our evidence-led decision making. I contribute to the production of reports and research projects that aim to provide insights into the experiences of children and young people in the sector. I also serve as the Chair of our Values Committee.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite album Write It On Your Skin by Newton Faulkner
Favourite time of year When the Six Nations is on (Cymru am byth!)
Favourite pastime Attempting to win a pub quiz

Sarah Brown

Sarah is the national programme lead for children and young people’s mental health at NHS England. With over 20 years’ experience in public sector children’s services, Sarah has been at the forefront of developing and delivering public policy, leading strategic commissioning and driving large-scale transformational change at a national, sub-regional and local level.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite album right now 11 by Sault
Favourite gig Portishead at Brixton Academy
Favourite place North Yorkshire coast

Sprout Grooters

I’m the Grants & Learning Officer for the East and West Midlands. I look after a portfolio of around 60 grassroots organisations across the Midlands and in my day-to-day I support funded partners throughout the application, delivery, and reporting process, while also advising potential applicants. 
 

Pronouns They/them
Favourite snack Homemade cheese toastie
Favourite karaoke song Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
Favourite recent gig ML Buch and Astrid Sonne at the ICA

Talia Andrea

My role is to shape the support Youth Music offers to the young people who engage with us. I’m responsible for developing and delivering our programme of NextGen Community events, scoping out progression opportunities, and representing the voice of our community to our industry partners. When I’m not in the Youth Music office, you can find me running FEMMESTIVAL - an all-female concert and music festival series, which itself was first made possible thanks to Round 5 of the NextGen Fund!

Pronouns she/her
Favourite ice cream flavour Coconut
Favourite album Right now it’s 'Take Me Back To Eden' by Sleep Token, but it changes by the week!
Favourite gig All the FEMMESTIVAL shows to date :)

Tim Spalding

I create and manage content for our website and newsletters, ensuring our mission is communicated effectively. I have experience working for purposeful organisations and charities alongside volunteering with The Listening Place. I'm passionate about supporting Youth Music to create a more inclusive and diverse future in music.

Pronouns he/him
Favourite artists Yves Tumor, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, David Byrne
Favourite TV show The Thick of It
Guilty pleasure Robbie Williams

Victoria Opitz

My role is to look after, and help people get the most out of the databases here at Youth Music, working alongside the very helpful super users.

Pronouns she/her
Favourite food anything spicy or with tofu, ideally both!
Favourite music Bjork, Burial, Chic, Craig David, Groove Armada, Moonwiring Club, Phillippe Jaroussky, Scissor Sisters, Time Attendant
Favourite singing project I've taken part in Singing in ‘A Nightingale Sang’ by John Browne at the Queen Elizabeth Hall led by Suzi Zumpe, we were a choir supporting singers from a variety of mental health community settings

Zoe Kilb

I oversee the grant-making cycle (from setting up funding rounds through to processing final evaluation reports) and I coordinate the work of the 5 Grants & Learning Officers. I was previously a Senior Grants & Learning Officer – looking after South West, East of England & East Midlands for nearly 4 years – so I have good knowledge about these regions. I also take a lead on our Early Years priority area, and I am fairly well connected in the Early Years music making community!

Pronouns she/her
Favourite album Tuesday Night Music Club
Favourite podcast The Parapod
Favourite book Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow by Peter Høeg