Trustees
Mike Corcoran
Mike is a life-long resident of North Wales who works with organisations to unlock the transformative power of the arts for people, places and communities. He is a consultant with the Co-production Lab Wales, a Visiting Researcher at Wrexham University, an advisor to the Public Services of North Wales, and a member of the Wrexham Cultural and Community Trust Board.
Laura Murphy
Originally from Wrexham, Laura began studying the bass aged 17. She very much enjoyed playing in youth music ensembles in North Wales and in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, where she met one of her long standing teachers and fellow Welsh bass player, Richard Lewis. Laura studied a Bachelors in Music at the University of Nottingham before heading to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama for a Masters, studying with Kevin Rundell. She had a successful freelance career before joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018, and then became a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2020. Despite no longer living in Wales, she loves returning to perform with NEW Sinfonia, and is passionate about ongoing music provision in North Wales.
Mark Perkins
Mark has always been passionate about the arts and the third sector. He part-owns Chell Perkins Ltd, a company which exists to equip small to medium sized charities throughout the UK with practical fundraising support and training.
Mark is a strong believer in the universal language of music and that music in all forms should be accessible to everyone. Mark has a history of amateur songwriting and composing seeing his music being performed in an eclectic mix of venues - ranging from a Worcestershire Youth Music composition at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, to any open mic night that will accept him, to a profit making musical as part of his degree at the University of York. Since having children, he is now almost fully proficient at performing Disney classics and nursery rhymes to an audience of three.
Evrah Rose
Evrah is a poet, author, and activist who is proud of her Wrexham roots. Along with commissions for; NEW Sinfonia, BBC Sport Wales, BBC Sesh, Shelter Cymru and Chwarae Teg – Evrah has become a prominent voice in Wales, in both poetry circles and amongst those dedicated to social causes. Evrah has enjoyed residencies at both Ty Pawb, and Wrexham AFC and worked with a number of organisations and educational facilities including, local schools, Cell B, Coleg Cambria, HMP Berwyn and Glyndŵr University providing workshops to students and young people, to promote a positive sense of self and mental health wellbeing, using writing as an outlet of expression.
Caroline Bithell
Originally from North Wales, Caroline is currently Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of Manchester. She has a keen interest in music-making in the community, issues of accessibility and diversity, the heath-and-wellbeing benefits of musical participation, and music as a forum for intercultural encounters. She has published widely on the revival of traditional music in Corsica and Georgia, and on the natural voice and community choir movement. A long-standing member of the Natural Voice Network, she has also led community choirs and delivered voice workshops in a range of different settings.
Tudur Eames
Tudur Eames is Creative Producer of Gwasanaeth Cerdd Ysgolion Gwynedd a Môn (Gwynedd and Anglesey Music Service), promoting and encouraging musical activity among the children and young people of the region. A professional harpist now living in Tremeirchron, he is passionate about the creative arts and education. Tudur is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Katie Edwards
Katie joined the board of trustees through Arts & Business Cymru’s Young Professionals on Boards scheme. She is originally from Wrexham and credits many of the successes she has enjoyed in life to the musical opportunities she had growing up. Now based near Cardiff and practicing as a solicitor in the social housing team of a leading national law firm, she is keen to help bring the same opportunities to the next generation. Despite refusing to learn more than one scale as a child, Katie has since sung and played saxophone in the Wales Millenium Centre, Cork Jazz Festival, national and international Eisteddfodau, Birmingham Symphony Hall and, most importantly, Y Cae Ras/the Racecourse.
Iona Hughes
Iona has worked in the environmental sector for over 25 years and is passionate about improving our environment and inspiring others to look after our world. Singing is a hobby of Iona's. Over the years she has sung in Cantorion Rhos, Lleisiau Clywedog and New Voices and has been involved with NEW Sinfonia since the beginning of their journey as a trustee and front of house volunteer. She is proud to be a trustee for NEW Sinfonia supporting them in their mission to bring classical music to the north-east and to different audiences.