Our Team

Music Therapy and Community Music Team

Alice Nicholls

Neurologic Music Therapist, Supervisor

Alice studied musicology at the University of Huddersfield and gained her MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. She has experience of working with children and adults with a wide range of needs, including autism, PMLD, learning disabilities, and mental health.

Amanda Dickson

Neurologic Music Therapist, Supervisor

Amanda is a trained music therapist completing her masters at Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge. She has completed further training in Neurologic Music Therapy, NICU and MATADOC. Amanda is also a qualified primary teacher graduating from Middlesex University in 1995 and also continues part time in that role. She enjoys working with people of all ages and diagnosis including Epilepsy, brain injury, spinal injury, learning disabilities and clients within hospice care. She feels privileged to work with and to support clients and their families. Within Chiltern she has the role of Pod Comms Voicebox and a supervisor and enjoys producing resources and materials which can be used as visual props to support clients within music therapy sessions.

Bara Horejsi

Music Therapist

Bara Horejsi is a music therapist based in London, mainly working with children and young adults with additional needs as well as working as a research assistant at the University of Palacky. She graduated with double undergraduate in Special Needs Education (University of Palacky) and Music (University of Bristol) and masters in Music Therapy (University of Palacky).

Becky Dowson

Music Therapist, Membership Rep and Impact & Insights Lead

Becky qualified as a Music Therapist in 2012 from Anglia Ruskin University and lived and worked for several years in Oxfordshire before relocating to undertake her PhD at the University of Nottingham, which she completed in 2020. She is passionate about the power of music and music therapy for people living with dementia, and about strengthening the connections between research and practice. As well as working for Chiltern Music Therapy she also works as a researcher, and in her spare time she enjoys running, crafting and spending time with her cat.

Benjamin Matthews

Neurologic Music Therapist

Benjamin is a HCPC-registered Music Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapy practitioner. Alongside his clinical work he is also a cellist and has a background in music education. Benjamin works with children and young people with additional needs, including autism, learning disabilities and complex communication profiles. His sessions focus on creating a safe and responsive musical space where clients can explore communication, emotional regulation and connection through improvisation, rhythm and shared music-making. He is particularly interested in how structured musical elements such as rhythm and timing can support engagement, learning and wellbeing, drawing on approaches from Neurologic Music Therapy within his practice. Outside of his clinical work, Benjamin enjoys performing on the cello and exploring the ways music can bring people together.

Brent Thorley

Music Therapist

I am a recently qualified music therapist, and also a Support Worker for a Learning Disability Charity. Outside of work I enjoy composing songs and instrumental music, and spending time outdoors with my dog. I am interested in exploring how Music Therapy can help people feel noticed, appreciated and taken seriously .

Catherine Goodman

Music Therapist

Catherine is a qualified Music Therapist, completing her MA in Music Therapy at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2021. Before qualifying as a Music Therapist, Catherine practised as a lawyer. Catherine’s clinical experience includes working with adults with acquired brain injury, adults living with dementia, pre-school children, children with autism and children with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Catherine loves to sing, and is always a member of at least two choirs!

Christine West

Music Therapist

Chris completed her MA in Music Therapy at Roehampton University. Chris has experience of working with pre-school, primary and secondary school children with a range of needs. These include learning disabilities, autism, emotion and behavioural difficulties. Chris is passionate about finding a connection with each of her clients and enabling them to express themselves through their music. Chris is a violinist and enjoys playing in her local symphony orchestra.

Eleanor Austin

Music Therapist

Eleanor graduated with an MA in Music Therapy from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Eleanor has experience working with adults and children in schools, hospitals, and hospices, in areas including mental health difficulties, learning difficulties, neurodiversity, neurorehabilitation, and palliative care.

Eleanor Donnebaum

Community Musician, Team Companion

Music has always played a huge part in Eleanor's life. Having gone to a music specialised grammar school in Germany and having spent most of her free time singing in choirs and playing instruments, it was clear to her that she would go on and do something that would involve music. Eleanor went on to study Social Pedagogy at a University in Germany and once she graduated she worked in various institutions with people who had learning disabilities, autism, dementia and mental health issues and always used music as a tool to communicate with the clients. She enjoys working with all kinds of people and she hopes to complete a music therapy degree in the future.

Ellie Ruddock

Music Therapist

Ellie Ruddock graduated from Roehampton University in 2013 and completed specialist Neurologic Music Therapy training in 2014. She has extensive experience working with people of all ages and abilities, with a particular focus on neuro-rehabilitation and supporting individuals living with neurodisability. Ellie’s main instruments are piano, guitar, and voice... though she enjoys experimenting with anything musical! From 2013 to 2024, Ellie worked with Chiltern Music Therapy in a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles, and now continues her practice on a self-employed basis. She is passionate about using music to help people achieve meaningful goals and improve quality of life, as well as supervising and training music therapists. Outside of work, Ellie loves spending time with her husband and children, being active outdoors, running, going to gigs, sewing her own clothes and performing with her band.

Emma Johnson

Music Therapist

After studying an undergraduate degree in Music, Emma realised the power of Music to help others. Emma has experience working with adults with learning disabilities, children in SEN settings and in neurorehabilitation. Currently, Emma is completing her Masters in Music Therapy.

Emma Phillipson

Music Therapist, Chiltern Life

Emma knew from the age of 4 whilst standing in front of an audience singing 'twinkle twinkle little star' dressed as a Christmas tree that music would be a massive part of her life and now she gets to use music to help others! Emma trained at Anglia Ruskin University in 2014 and has since worked with a broad range of client groups specialising in working with children with additional needs.

Fliss Biacsi

Music Therapist

Fliss joined Chiltern with a passion for building relationships through music, and loves every minute of working with the young people she sees! Fliss trained at UWE Bristol, even though she lives in the midlands, so she's no stranger to a long car journey. Fliss mostly works with young people in schools and at home, but also enjoys and has experience working in hospitals and care units. Fliss also really loves a choir, and encouraging people to sing is one of her favourite things to do!

Gabrielle Norman

Neurologic Music Therapist, Director, Strategic Business Development Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Gabrielle joined Chiltern in 2017 and has greatly valued being part of a forward-thinking organisation committed to making music therapy understood and accessible to all. After a successful career in business, she chose a new direction and completed her MA in Music Therapy at Roehampton University. She has since undertaken additional training in Neurologic Music Therapy, NICU, and MATADOC, and is also a qualified EMDR practitioner. As a Music Therapist, Gabrielle has worked with people of all ages, from preschool children to older adults, and is particularly passionate about supporting individuals living with trauma and grief, as well as adults with dementia. Alongside her clinical practice, Gabrielle is Business Development Lead, focusing on Chiltern’s continued growth as a leading music therapy organisation in the UK. She is delighted to be joining the Chiltern Board in September 2025 and looks forward to working with fellow board members, whose breadth and depth of experience from across sectors will further strengthen Chiltern’s ongoing success.

Gareth John

Neurologic Music Therapist, Care Homes and Community Groups

Gareth completed his MA in Music Therapy at Guildhall, School of Music and Drama and also has an MMus and BMus (Hons). As a Music Therapist he works freelance as well as for Chiltern Music Therapy. Gareth works within a variety of settings with varied client groups of all ages. His clinical experience ranges from acute mental health to children and adolescents with Learning Difficulties, ASD and SEBD, as well as Dementia and neurological deficit. Prior to becoming a Music Therapist, Gareth worked as an Opera Singer, working for such companies as Glyndebourne opera and English National Opera, having trained at the Opera Department at the Guildhall, School of Music and Drama. As a Music Therapist, Gareth is keen to draw from both his vocal and therapeutic understanding the potential of the voice as a therapeutic tool to enhance a persons understanding of self, nurturing from within and promoting a healthier outlook.

Jenny Bell

Music Therapist

Jenny joined Chiltern in April 2022, shortly after she qualified as a music therapist at UWE Bristol. She has experience working with children with learning disabilities, adult mental health within the community and acquired brain injury. Jenny is a singer with a passion for songwriting, improvisation and music technology. She has a particular interest in therapeutic songwriting and the use of voice in her clinical work.

Jenny Bullock

Neurologic Music Therapist

Following many years as a teacher and performer, Jenny chose to explore new ways of using music to enrich lives by becoming a music therapist, gaining her MA at UWE Bristol and subsequently training in Neurologic Music Therapy in Hamburg. She has particular interests in neurorehabilitation and working with people with learning disabilities and has undertaken research into how music is involved in the everyday lives of those with Rett syndrome. Outside of her music therapy work, Jenny loves playing the baroque cello and viola da gamba and inspiring her cello students in their own playing and love of music.

Jenny Lam

Music Therapist

Jenny is a Registered Music Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapist Fellow, GIM practitioner, Certified Play Therapist as well as a Counsellor. By integrating those therapeutic skills, she provides appropriate interventions to clients based on their needs and conditions. Jenny provides therapeutic services to individuals and groups in different settings. In the past thirteen years, the organisations that she served including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, hospice centres, the clinical oncology department of a hospital, cancer centre of a hospital, breast cancer patient organisations, and elderly centres, etc. Her clients range from children with special educational needs, to the older adults at the end of life. In recent years, Jenny also focused on people with emotion issues and people who are in rehabilitation.

Jessica Atkinson

Music Therapist, Supervisor

Jessica has been a music therapist since 1998 and part of Chiltern since 2017. Her love of sharing music with people has found a home in music therapy, although she has also worked as a violinist and music teacher. She cares, perhaps more than anything else, about people being heard and valued and joining Chiltern felt like coming home. Jessica now works alongside the whole team to help grow the values and ethos of the organisation and to support colleagues in their work. Her experiences have led her to research into the ways of knowing that happen in music therapy. She also loves walking and making things!

Jessica Tiso

Music Therapist

Jess graduated from the University of Derby in 2022 and has since enjoyed working all over the Midlands. She also has a BMus Music degree from the University of Huddersfield. Jess has experience with working with adults and children with a range of needs, including mental health, learning disabilities, autism and dementia. Jess has been a musician for over 20 years and enjoys playing in a local concert band and big band on clarinet and saxophone.

Jim Hewins

Music Therapist, Environmental and Sustainability Lead

Jim joined Chiltern in January 2018, shortly after he qualified as a music therapist and became a dad! Jim mostly works with school children and adults with learning disabilities at the moment, but has experience with clients with a range of diagnoses from nursery age all the way through to elderly care homes. He has a particular interest in working with people with psychosis, both in hospital and in the community. Jim is passionate about sustainability and created the Environmental & Sustainability Lead role at Chiltern at the beginning of 2021. He also works as a library music composer, with his music being used on Masterchef, Neighbours, Blue Peter, and many other programmes across the world.

Josh Considine

Music Therapist

Josh completed his MA in Music Therapy at the University of Roehampton. Josh’s clinical experience includes working in community settings with adults with mental health diagnoses and in a mainstream primary school with children experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. He also has many years of experience working in SEN settings with young adults with learning disabilities, including profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and autism. Josh has a keen interest in mental health and is passionate about the difference music can make to people’s well-being. He is a singer and plays cello, piano and guitar and has been working as a performer and music teacher since 2012.

Kasia Sikora-Black

Clinical & Quality Lead, Music Therapist and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Kasia is the Clinical Practice and Quality Lead at Chiltern and currently serves as Designated Safeguarding Lead (acting). A qualified Music Therapist with an MA in Music Therapy from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has extensive experience supporting children and adults across community, education, hospital and home settings. Kasia served on the Board of Directors at Chiltern from October 2021 to March 2026, helping to shape the organisation's strategic direction and governance.

Laura Cook

Neurologic Music Therapist

Laura trained as a music therapist at UWE Bristol and studied music at the University of Surrey. Since qualifying, she has completed additional training in Neurologic Music Therapy and is a qualified MATADOC assessor. Laura is based in Bath and can take referrals in and around Bath and Bristol. She specialises in working with neurological conditions and with stroke and brain injury survivors, and is particularly interested in supporting people with aphasia and other communication difficulties. Laura also supports children and young people who have experienced early trauma. As a self-confessed music therapy and psychology geek Laura also coordinates our research and academic network and can often be found at conferences or sharing interesting articles on twitter!

Laura Mitchell

Music Therapist and Team Companion

From the age of 13 Laura was dedicated to achieving her goal of becoming a Music Therapist, which she did at the age of 24 after graduating from Guildhall. She initially joined Chiltern as a student on placement and now works with them full time and adores her work. She is devoted to using music to connect with her clients and has experience working with children, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, who have developmental and social-emotional needs, and adults, young and old, who are recovering from or experiencing mental health problems. Laura loves to sing and play a number of instruments and can’t go a day without tinkling the ivories!

Lauren Brant

Music Therapist

Lauren trained to be a music therapist with Nordoff Robbins and graduated with a Master of Music Therapy in 2024. Lauren is passionate about using music to make connections and empower people. Lauren currently works with children in SEN settings and adults with learning disabilities. Prior to training to be a music therapist, Lauren developed a creative music teaching practice in South London and enjoyed directing children's music ensembles as well as facilitating music-making opportunities for children and young people.

Mohini Sule Pathak

Music Therapist

Mohini completed her Master’s training with Nordoff Robbins and qualified as a music therapist in 2024. During this time, she provided music therapy services in a variety of settings, working with people across the lifespan—including older adults with neurological conditions such as dementia, neurodivergent children and young people, and autistic adults. Mohini is also a songwriter, with music featured in television and film. She believes songwriting can be a powerful tool for reflection, self-expression and creativity. Prior to this, Mohini spent over a decade working in television as a presenter, live host, and voice-over artist across a range of programs and networks in the UK and Asia. She relished the opportunity to learn, share, and grow through collaborating with creative people from different cultures around the world. Mohini is passionate about celebrating the power of human connection through music and communication.

Natasha Larkin (mat leave)

Neurologic Music Therapist, Training & Development Lead, Services, Board Liaison - maternity leave

Natasha completed her Masters in Music Therapy at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, before going on to complete specialist training in Neurologic Music Therapy, NICU-MT and MATADOC assessments. An experienced Music Therapist in various settings, her passion and commitment for Paediatric and Neonatal Music Therapy has seen her develop and deliver music therapy in several London Hospitals. Most recently, setting up the first-ever music therapy service at St Mary’s NHS Hospital in Paddington, across their PICU, NICU and Acute Paediatric Wards. Alongside her clinical work at Chiltern, she holds several key operational roles, leading the team training, supervising staff and is the Designated Safeguarding Lead. From Oct 2021 - Sept 2025, Natasha served on the Board of Directors at Chiltern.

Nathan Lee

Neurologic Music Therapist

Nathan completed his MA in Music Therapy at the University of Roehampton. Shortly after qualifying, he began his new adventure as a Music Therapist at Chiltern. He has experience working with autistic children and children experiencing mental, emotional, and behavioural difficulties, and older adult mental health, including dementia. Nathan completed the neurologic music therapy training and now holds a ratified Neurologic Music Therapist certification. He hopes that his interest in music and the brain can be utilised and inform his work in the field of neurorehabilitation. Nathan is passionate about the numerous ways that music can be used to meet the needs of various service users.

Queenie Wong

Neurologic Music Therapist

Queenie completed her MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University. She is also a Neurologic Music Therapist and a qualified MATADOC assessor. Before training as a music therapist, Queenie was an accomplished saxophonist and music teacher, supporting children and young people in their musical learning. She continues to teach saxophone and enjoys playing in wind bands. Queenie has experience working with clients with a range of needs, including children with autism and additional needs, adults with learning disabilities, and adults in neurorehabilitation settings.

Rose Bowyer

Neurologic Music Therapist

Since completing her MA in Music Therapy at UWE Bristol, Rose has worked in a variety of specialised educational settings with children and teenagers, and qualified as a Neurologic Music Therapist in 2021. She has clinical experience working with both adults and children, and has worked with a range of clients including those with ASD, PMLD, emotional and behavioural needs and acquired brain injury. In her other work, Rose is passionate about the outdoors and wildlife, and works as a gardener and bat surveyor in the South West.

Rosie Amos

Music Therapist

Rosie is a Music Therapist who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. With a background in music and drama, her passion for expressive arts grew into a calling during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she witnessed the profound need for music to support wellbeing. She has experience working in both school and hospital settings, supporting children with special needs, complex medical conditions, and supporting adults with mental illnesses. Rosie is passionate about making music accessible to all, using it to foster communication, expression, and meaningful connection.

Ruggiero La Macchia

Music Therapist

Art and music are my absolute passions. During my master’s course in Art and Music Therapy for disability and diversity inclusion, I studied psychology, neurology and sociology and I attended laboratories with professionals to integrate the art knowledge to the health care scientific approaches. This has prepared me with knowledge on how to work with a wide range of patients that have complex psycho-social profiles. I have the unusual background for an Art and Music therapist to be a radiographer as well, but I think this benefits me greatly as I often have to work in multi-disciplinary teams. I have further developed my professional skills thanks to training courses and extra-curricular work. I feel that my experience of working as a band 7 radiographer in the NHS has given me a good foundation of working in a multidisciplinary team which is import especially as it will require working in different environments. It is very important to be able to build interpersonal relationships and I am very much a people person. Coordinating a team with a high work load, and supporting the students in their traineeship, also helped me in improving my communicational skills. Regarding my Art Therapy experience, during my MA placement I had the opportunity to help vulnerable people such as non verbal autistic children and young adults, elderly patients with dementia, patients with depression, and other specific mental health conditions such as personality disorder, psychosis, etc. The main activities were based on music therapy for SEN, which could include playing, singing, crafting handmade instruments, or just doing rhythmical and physical exercises like dancing. In addition to this experience, I also have experience of teaching music back home (in Italy) which involved me delivering piano, guitar and vocal sessions to kids and young adults in my community. Other activities were painting and drama performance for Sunday School programmes, or assistance for immigrants through the community Catholic Church in my home town. Even now after my degree I am still trying to expand my knowledge by completing CPDs in areas such as psychotherapy and CBT which I really enjoy.

Sarah Jenks

Community Musician

Sarah trained as an opera singer at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, having first gained a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford. She is mum to three boys and home educates her eldest. Sarah has worked in a variety of educational settings and is delighted to put her skills to use with this first step into the field of music therapy.

Verity Ransom

Music Therapist

Verity’s values as a music therapist are to work uniquely to suit the needs of the client, to use music to make meaningful moments and to always think creatively, often using mixed medias. Verity is a trained Music Therapist in the Norfolk area, having completed her training at Anglia Ruskin University in 2018. Verity is a singer and uses vocal work in her sessions, allowing songs to create reminiscence and reflection, and using songwriting and singing to release self-expression. Verity is passionate in using music creatively to unlock a person's potential. Verity completed her Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI) training in 2023, which combines music and creative medias along with guided meditation to allow clients to manage daily anxiety and self-care. She will be completing the next stage of this training (Re-educative Music and Imagery/RMI) in 2024.

Viv Thompson

Neurologic Music Therapist

Viv qualified as a Nordoff & Robbins Music Therapist in 2021 and hopes to get his Neurological Music Therapy accreditation at the end of 2024. Before becoming a therapist Viv worked as a high school music teacher, as well as working as a media composer on the side. Viv’s clinical experience includes settings such as neurological rehabilitation, (stroke, brain injury) Mental health hospitals, (in-patient CAHMS and Adult general psychiatry, Eating Disorder, OCD, Addictions ) SEND School (ASD) and prison work. After hours, Viv enjoys playing the saxophone and exploring the countryside on his motorcycle.

Yu-Tzu Lin (Chloe)

Music Therapist

Chloe completed her MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Life Science at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. Since qualifying, she has delivered sessions with people who have different needs. For example, children with ASD, ADHD and PMLD; adults with mental health difficulties and elderly people with dementia. Apart from clinical practice, she hosted workshops and lectures in Taiwan to introduce music therapy as well as the importance of well-being. Relocating to the UK in 2023, she continued her jobs in schools and community-based settings, mainly in the Midlands. Her primary instrument is the violin and piano. She enjoys playing the violin in various orchestras.

Board of Directors

The board of directors are responsible for taking lead when required. Our existing director Rosie has been joined by our internal directors, Kasia, Gabrielle and Katie, and five non-executive directors, Geoff, Karen, Sofie, Una and Stephen. Find out more below.

Gabrielle Norman

Neurologic Music Therapist, Director, Strategic Business Development Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Geoff Carpenter

Non-Executive Director

Geoff joined Chiltern Music Therapy in 2024 as a Non-Executive Director. Geoff brings to the team a wealth of business knowledge, initially qualifying as an accountant (ACA) and treasurer (AMCT) and subsequently working in an extensive range of senior leadership positions covering finance, risk and relationship management.Currently serving as a trustee at St John's Wood Adventure Play Hub, Geoff previously held school governor roles, including chairing the Finance and Resources Committee at the excellent Cherry Garden School, a SEND setting in Bermondsey. Although new to the world of music therapy, Geoff has a long relationship with music, being a keen drummer and for many years he played the piano, so understands some of the benefits music brings to our lives. The services Chiltern Music Therapy offers resonate with Geoff and he is excited to join us and keen to support our people and our business as we continue to drive forwards with our vision and strategy.

Karen Mitchell

Non-Executive Director

Karen joined Chiltern Music Therapy in August 2023 as a Non-Exec Director. She is new to the world of music therapy, but admires and believes in the services we offer and enjoys seeing how music can help people of all ages, in so many ways. Karen brings to the team a wealth of business knowledge from her career in marketing, customer engagement, transformation and change and leadership development. Currently working part time as an executive coach and business advisor to a variety of commercial and not for profit companies as well as a Non-Exec Director for the Leprosy Mission. Karen is delighted to join Chiltern Music Therapy to support our people and our business as we continue to grow in an ever changing world.

Katie Dunne (mat leave)

Director, Communications and Systems

Katie joined Chiltern in 2016 as an Administrator and over the years has held many of the operational roles in the organisation. She currently heads up all things communications at Chiltern and tries to keep everyone ‘on brand’! She’s also a lover of systems and data and works across our circles (teams) to keep things running smoothly. Katie joined the Board of Directors in September 2025 and is delighted to be working in this new capacity with the board members as Chiltern continues to evolve.

Rosie Axon

Director, Stabilisation Lead and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Rosie founded Chiltern Music Therapy in 2011. She completed her MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University and previously worked as a Music Therapist at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability and with the NHS Learning Disability Community and Forensic Team in Hertfordshire. Completing training in Neurologic Music Therapy, MATADOC and Neonatal Intensive Care Music Therapy, she is passionate about continued professional development for Music Therapists. Supporting the organisation through transformational change into self-management and employee ownership has meant that her own learning continues to change and grow. Through her roles, she supports the staff with their personal development within Chiltern, whilst keeping conversations and connections going with other organisations, who share our passion and promise to make Music Therapy the transformative thread in everyday life.

Sofie Toft

Non-Executive Director

Sofie is very proud to be a Non-Exec Director at Chiltern Music Therapy, having joined the board in October 2021 shortly after the organisation’s move to employee ownership and self-management. Sofie is a long-time supporter of Chiltern, having had the opportunity to see the profound benefits brought by music therapy to her clients in her job as a solicitor representing those with traumatic brain injury at Irwin Mitchell. She is passionate about music therapy becoming widely to available to all that need it. To that end she is proud to have been involved with several joint projects between Irwin Mitchell and Chiltern, including a Neurologic Music Therapy Pilot Clinic in the Trauma Wards at the Royal London Hospital in 2018 and at the Regional National Rehabilitation Unit at Homerton Hospital in 2021/2022, providing access to neurologic music therapy to severely injured people.

Operational Circle

Annmarie Thomas

Compliance Lead

Annmarie is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development with over 26 years experience in the Human Resources profession. Annmarie has worked in small and large, public and private sector organisations. Her last role was as an Assistant Director of Workforce in Hywel Dda University Health Board in South Wales. She is passionately Welsh and currently a partner in the family farm in South Wales and works part time as a self-employed HR Consultant. Other professional interests include an appointment to the Audit and Performance Committee of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and as a Trailblazer Committee Member for Chiltern Music Therapy. Annmarie is an active volunteer in her local community and is currently Chair of the Governing Body for Ysgol Llannon, a member of the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice Fundraising Committee and President of Llannon Young Farmers Club. Annmarie is passionate to use her experience of corporate governance to ensure Chiltern Music Therapy’s services are delivered to high standards of best practice in the role of Compliance Lead.

Becky Dowson

Music Therapist, Membership Rep and Impact & Insights Lead

Eleanor Donnebaum

Community Musician, Team Companion

Gabrielle Norman

Neurologic Music Therapist, Director, Strategic Business Development Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Izzy Hall

Development Lead – Business, Training, Fundraising & Community

Izzy leads on the development of income-generating opportunities across grants and fundraising, training, partnerships and community activity at Chiltern Music Therapy. With a background in education and healthcare, her role at Chiltern includes coordinating fundraising activity, developing Chiltern’s training offer and supporting work that helps sustain and grow the organisation.

Jim Hewins

Music Therapist, Environmental and Sustainability Lead

Kasia Sikora-Black

Clinical & Quality Lead, Music Therapist and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Katie Dunne (mat leave)

Director, Communications and Systems

Laura Mitchell

Music Therapist and Team Companion

Lauren Mitchell

Communications and Events Officer

Lauren joined Chiltern Music Therapy in 2025 as part of the Communications and Events team, bringing with her a wealth of experience in media, marketing and events. Lauren is passionate about building relationships and creating engaging campaigns and she enjoys connecting with people, most of all, helping to tell Chiltern’s story in creative and impactful ways. From supporting events to developing communications and marketing initiatives, Lauren works across the organisation to strengthen connections with members, partners and the wider community. She is excited to be part of Chiltern’s continued growth and to help shape its future through creativity, communication and collaboration.

Leila Ashraf-Carr

People & Practice Coordinator

Leila supports the scheduling of Music Therapists, as well as helping ensure all enquiries are responded to. She also helps coordinate volunteers and student placements at Chiltern Music Therapy. When not working can often be found traipsing through the beautiful Chilterns countryside, excitedly pointing out various wildflowers or plants, and their traditional herbal or medicinal uses, to anyone willing to listen.

Lisa Porter

Human Resources Lead

Lisa joined in 2025 and has responsibility for HR practices at Chiltern. Lisa has over 20 years of HR experience within the charity sector, including working in health and social care and with many small charities as a HR Consultant. Lisa brings this expertise to Chiltern to provide a compassionate, practical and values-driven approach to HR — blending good HR practice with empathy and common sense. Lisa loves helping leaders and teams build fair, supportive workplaces where people feel valued.

Louise Howey

Bookkeeper

Louise is our bookkeeper at Chiltern

Natasha Larkin (mat leave)

Neurologic Music Therapist, Training & Development Lead, Services, Board Liaison - maternity leave

Rosie Axon

Director, Stabilisation Lead and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Vicky Crouch

People & Practice Lead

Vicky heads up the scheduling of all new and existing referrals for our team of Music Therapists and Community Musicians across England. Overseeing enquiries and referrals, she supports all clients to enable access Music Therapy or Community Music. Vicky also deals with recruitment of new staff, staff onboarding and supports all existing staff at Chiltern.