MATT GRIFFITHS - Keynote Speaker Matt was the CEO of Youth Music for thirteen years from 2012 to 2025. He originally trained as a percussionist at Leicester Polytechnic before it became DeMontfort University and then was a professional musician and music educator. He is now a freelance leadership consultant and also a guest speaker for Futures For All.
SARAH BARTON-WALES - As Head of Leicestershire Music, Sarah leads on the delivery of The National Plan for Music Education and the strategic oversight of music education across Leicester and Leicestershire. Sarah has spent many years building meaningful partnerships to enable equity of access to music education. She is really pleased to be part of the Leicester Music Board, helping to lead the way in bridging the gap between education and industry, and supporting progression into and through a career in music. Having researched progression, she is passionate about the levels of support that a young person needs around them to find their path, both whilst in education and beyond.
DR YASIN EL ASHRAFI BEM is a multi award winning mentor and entrepreneur from Leicester. He is the founder & owner of HQ Recording Studio, HQ Familia record label and Director of HQ CAN (Community Arts Network) CIC. Yasin currently manages 8 artists who are being developed by himself / HQ Familia
ZDOT - Tom (Zdot) is a West London based Producer with over 2 billion streams and 15 years at the heart of UK music. He’s worked with Stormzy, Cardi B, Charli XCX and more, composed for film, games and brands, and performs high-energy DJ sets at major festivals.
QUEEN MILLZ is a UK artist redefining the sound of empowerment. Rising through the UK rap and drill scene, she’s evolved into a boundary-pushing voice in drum & bass and house, blending sharp lyricism with infectious energy. Her music celebrates strength, individuality, and freedom - a reflection of her journey from the streets to the stage. More than just an artist, Queen Millz is a movement: bold, fearless, and ever-evolving.
DR OLIVER MORRIS - Oliver has been Director of Education & Skills for UK Music since 2015 - UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. We represent all sectors of our industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. The members of UK Music are: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music. As a part of his role he runs the Music Academic Partnership (MAP) that links industry with educators. Before this he was a tutor, researcher, community worker, musician, and composer (amongst many other roles). His PhD thesis explored ‘The Educational and Economic Aspirations of Young People in Wales’.
KATE ROUNDING is the Executive Director of TiME (Technology in Music Education) and a freelance music technology journalist for Music Teacher Magazine and recipient of The Music Teachers Magazine Editor’s Award 2026. She works alongside HQ to deliver the Leicester Music Conference. This year TiME has supported the development of the new Creative Industries Expo element of LMC. Her background as a professional musician, studio engineer, and music lecturer, combined with extensive work in inclusive music informs her leadership of a diverse range of music and arts education projects.
DILETTANTE - Francesca Pidgeon is a full-time multi-instrumentalist and composer. She has released 2 albums and 2 EPs under the moniker Dilettante and is currently signed to EMI North. She has performed across the UK and internationally and has supported the likes of Caribou, Self Esteem + Philip Selway (Radiohead). Her latest record ‘Life Of The Party’ sold out in record stores across the country and received 4* from MOJO Magazine, who called it a “A dazzlingly skewed pop-vision”. In the past year alone she has sold out headline shows in Manchester, Leeds, Halifax, London, Brighton and Newcastle plus numerous festival appearances including SXSW (Texas, US) NXNE (Toronto, CAN), and The Great Escape.
AYESHAH GEORGE, professionally known as Zola Steelpan, is a UK-based steelpan soloist, performer, and music producer. Born and raised in Leicester to South Asian and Caribbean parents, she began playing steelpan at the age of six at the African Caribbean Centre in Highfields. Her early grounding in community music-making and Caribbean cultural practice continues to shape her work today. Ayeshah has performed extensively across the UK as both a soloist and ensemble musician, appearing with established steel orchestras including Contrast Steel Band, Real Steel, and Metronomes Steel Orchestra.
SAM NUTTER - Sam plays violin with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra (LSSO) with Leicestershire Music. Currently studying music, film and photography for A’level. He is a composer and hopes to have a career in creating music for film. He recently composed an orchestral work "Destiny's Journey”, recorded by the Halle orchestra with the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, featured on Classic FM, and was performed live at The Roundhouse in Camden as part of “Future Talent Rise Past and Present” 20th year anniversary. Sam was also commissioned to write a 10 minute piece of orchestral music for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra which was recording in Glasgow in the new year.
BEN MARTINEZ is a musician, producer and musical director with over 20 years in the industry. He has worked with artists including Jessie J, Zara Larsson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Saturdays, contributed to major TV and film projects, and is Founder and CEO of a music performance platform: Sonikoo.
SHAO DOW - Rapper, manga author and occasional ninja — Shao Dow (Rhymes with “Now Dough”) makes music inspired by anime and gaming, but written for the soundtrack of life. A fiercely independent artist, Shao creates powerful, genre-blending music built on infectious hooks and razor-sharp lyricism. Winner of the AIM Award for Hardest Working Artist, he has built an international following through relentless creativity, discipline, and DiY spirit.
ALENE LAUTENSCHLAGER is the 2024/25 recipient of the Sontronics Scholarship at Abbey Road Institute London. A talented vocalist, songwriter and producer, she brings a thoughtful, creative approach to every project she works on. During her time at Abbey Road Institute, Alene is developing her skills across vocal production, arrangement and studio engineering, while working closely with industry mentors to refine her sound. Her journey through the Scholarship showcases the importance of supporting new voices in music and giving emerging artists the space and confidence to thrive.
ANDY BROOK is a musician, producer, recording engineer, a Director of JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Services), a UK PRSB for course accreditation in audio recording, music production, live performance and audio post-production and is involved with the UK Music Skills & Education Committee on behalf of the MPG. Andy has recorded, mixed, mastered and toured with the likes of Status Quo, PiL, Toyah, ABC, Stewart Copeland, Bonnie Tyler, Uriah Heep, Ginger Wildheart, Del-Amitri, Travis and many more, as well as work for major labels including Universal, Sony and WMG. As guitarist for Francis Rossi OBE (Status Quo), Andy is currently touring the UK on the popular 'Songbook: Quo – Past, Present, Future' tour.
BRADLEY SMITH is a music education consultant, former Assistant Head of Service at Leicestershire Music, and founder of Music Tech Hub. He specialises in inclusive, low-anxiety music technology delivery models for schools, working nationally with teachers, music services and industry partners including Yamaha, Digit, Cosmo, Serato, and music tech start-ups.
BRENDAN GUDGEON - Warrant Officer Class 2 Brendan Gudgeon enlisted into the Army as a percussionist in March 2013. During this time, he has taken part in some of the Nation’s largest events, such as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral as well as the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla. He has also been fortunate enough to travel the world, performing in America, South Africa, Botswana, Serbia, Malawi, Cyprus and Germany to name a few. Having been trained how to conduct at the Royal Military School of Music, WO2 Gudgeon has since served as the Bandmaster of British Army Band Tidworth and the Band of the Irish Guards. He is currently the head of recruiting for the Royal Corps of Army Music.
TO SOUL is a rapper who fuses grime flows with smooth R&B tones, crafting a distinctive and sonically rich blend that feels both familiar and fresh. Even before releasing his first track, he had already headlined shows at local venues, proving his ability to command a stage. Since then, he has gone on to support Midlands rap heavyweights such as Kamakaze, Zeo Zeonardo, and other influential figures in the region’s underground scene. With three releases under his belt and an unapologetic yet melodic follow-up on the horizon, T O Soul is poised to become a defining voice in Leicester’s underground music movement. Beyond his artistry, he is also a skilled producer and sound engineer.
JONAH MICHAEL is Darling I Dreamt, an artist whose emo-hyperpop sound captures the contradictions of the human experience, balancing emotional intensity with a fun energy that encourages listeners to dance out their demons.
Mya is an Arts and Festivals Management student, short-form content videographer and independent artist under the name MXA, with growing hands-on experience in the music and events industry. She has an interest in digital marketing and is passionate about leadership, creativity and sharing how she got started gaining experience within the industry.
NINA RADOWJEWSKI is the Professional Development Lead at AIM, the Association of Independent Music, an organisation exclusively representing the UK’s independent music sector, which makes up around a quarter of the recorded music market. Within her role, Nina looks after the AIM Academy, an initiative providing training to AIM Members as well as other interested music industry professionals. Nina is the Acting Chair of UK Music’s Education and Skills Committee and has been very active showing students routes into the music industry via the Music Academic Partnership Programme.
RISHAN - ProdbyParmz is an upcoming music producer and engineer who has worked with artists across multiple genres, with a focus on genres such as drill, hoodtrap and afrobeats. Alongside his production work, he’s also a short-form content videographer, combining technical skill with creativity to help bring artists’ visions to life.