Leicestershire Music Hub Board

Meet our Hub Board members here!

Kate Bull - Hub Chair

Abi Steady - Lead School/Education Representative

My name is Abi Steady. I am married to a professional musician and have 5 children. I am Deputy Headteacher and Strategic Lead for the Arts at Ashmount School, LM's Lead School for Inclusion. I have worked closely with LM since 2013 and am committed to ensuring that all young people have meaningful access to opportunities to be creatively empowered and positively included within all aspects of music education. To that end, I joined the board in January 2025 and am excited to see our developing vision for SEND music provision in Leicestershire begin to impact the regional and national agenda.

Hema Badger Mistry - Hub Partner Rep

I'm Hema, I'm the CEO of Pedestrian, an arts and education organisation that supports vulnerable children and young people through creativity. I've been involved with Leicestershire Music since 2020 as part of the Exec board representing the local community. The work that LM do is so important to ensure young people are given musical opportunities at all stages and Pedestrian work closely with them on programmes and our annual flagship project supporting their ambitions.

Jonathan Durnin - Fundraising & Sustainability Rep

Jonathan Durnin is the Leicestershire Music Hub board lead for business and sustainability. Jonathan is Director of Durnin Research Ltd and has over 30 years of impact research experience specialising in reviews and evaluations, business planning, and assessing and evaluating impacts resulting from investments, projects and programmes in economic development, regeneration, heritage and culture.

He has a lifelong love of music and joined the Leicestershire Music Hub Board in spring 2025 after a call out for business development and sustainability experience at a concert at Holy Trinity Church, having seen his son flourish whilst being part of ensembles. Away from work and music, Jonathan loves riding his bike, and is a volunteer for Leicester Wheels for All.

Lloyd Luther - Music Industry Rep

Lloyd Luther (Cameron Lloyd Luther Johnson) is a British rap artist and producer from Leicester, raised in South London, known for sharp lyricism and eclectic production. His track Drugs on Tap featured in Netflix's Top Boy, leading to further placements and praise from figures like Noel Gallagher and DJ Semtex. Blending influences from Drill, Grime, Hip Hop, Daft Punk, and Massive Attack, his music explores science, politics, and culture. A near-death experience inspired a series of acclaimed self-produced projects, including British, Reprogram, and Death of All Stars. Beyond music, he supports youth and equality initiatives through U.G Station and FDFG, and is part of the award-winning PRS POWER UP. Lloyd is proud to support Leicestershire Music Hub in connecting young people with the music industry.

Mike Griffiths - Vice Chair

Mike has lived in Leicester and Leicestershire since 1982 and has taught and been a Headteacher in a number of city and county secondary schools. His 2 daughters were educated in local schools and benefitted from opportunities provided by Leicestershire Arts and are both now employed in the arts, one as a teacher. Mike has sung in choirs since the age of 8 and believes passionately in the power of music to make a difference in the lives of young people. Although now retired from full time work, Mike continues his interest in music and education and is a founder member and Chair of the Leicester-Shire Music and Cultural Trust.

Nick Hughes - Lead School/Education Representatives

I am the Head of the Performing Arts Faculty at Robert Smyth Academy in Market Harborough. I also work for Pearson as a Principal Examiner on the GCE Music Technology specification where I write composition papers and are part of the senior team for the specification. Robert Smyth Academy are a secondary lead school for Leicestershire Music. My role on the board is to be the voice of the 'front line' of music education and ensure that only excellence and high aspirations will do for the young people of our county.

Vijay Umrao - City Network Rep

Vijay Umrao has been a leader in community media and social enterprise for over 15 years. As Station Manager of Leicester's EAVA FM since 2016, he oversees operations and creates programmes that spotlight diverse voices. He founded CoLab2 to promote participation in sport, media, and arts, and chairs Wesley Hall Community Centre. Elected to the Community Media Association Council in 2021 and appointed Chair in 2025, Vijay remains dedicated to empowering communities through media, education, and cultural engagement.

Andy Kitchen - County Primary Lead School Rep

My name is Andy Kitchen and I have been a primary head teacher for 15 years. My current school, Stafford Leys, is a music hub school and we have a specialist music teacher to enhance our provision. We love to sing and perform as a school. This includes several musical performances a year together with a staff choir.

At school, I played the violin in a local orchestra and sang in several choirs. As a solo singer, I took part in several competitive competitions, winning one. My love of music and singing meant I had opportunities to audition for parts in professional plays. In 1984, I was successful in securing the role of Dwalin the Dwarf in the world premiere of The Hobbit (The stage version).

Music and drama at school gave me opportunities that I would not otherwise have been able to afford or access. These experiences have shaped me as a person but also as a teacher and head teacher.

Kathleen Gentles - Early Years Representative

I'm Kathy, a cellist, singer and music teacher with an MA in Music Education. I am passionate about music and the way it can bring together people of all abilities and backgrounds to support self-expression.

I have experience as a music teacher in both primary and secondary schools and I've been involved in a number of choral, composition, folk music and collaborative outreach projects. I also made my debut as a composer writing the soundscape for an intergenerational screendance project.

In my current role at a Residential Arts Centre, I facilitate composition and performance workshops for students aged 8+ and feel privileged to be able to help explore musical creativity with so many young people.

As a new mum, I have a keen interest in Early Years music and its potential to influence the physical and mental development of young children. I hope that as my child grows, they will be able to take part in many of the musical opportunities that Leicestershire Music has to offer.

Jayasree Yadla – Board Member

My name is Jayasree Yadla, and I've lived in Leicester for the last twenty years. The arts have been an integral part of my family's lives: my husband and I work together to run a digital marketing and graphic design agency and my son, who is 19, has been taking music lessons since he was four. My 14 year old daughter has followed the same path and attends the Royal Ballet School.

I've been Chair of the Royal Ballet School PTA since 2025, and my main focus in this role is to organise fundraising events, like the yearly school Summer Fair, to help raise money to support the school community.

My children have taken advantage of Leicester's music opportunities, like the city's incredible choirs. As a parent, it's been amazing to see the impact that music has had on both of their lives; that's why I'm so keen to support Leicester's important music community.

Nazma Jassat - Safeguarding Rep

Nazma Jassat has 30 years' experience teaching in primary schools. Having lived in Leicester for the past 45 years, she is committed to enriching and enhancing opportunities for children in the city where she grew up.

Nazma has been the Headteacher at Charnwood Primary School for the past 12 years. She actively promotes music and the arts as a way to celebrate cultural heritage and bring communities together.

As a member of the Executive Board, she champions opportunities for children from diverse backgrounds to experience music from a wide range of traditions, fostering confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging. Nazma also serves as the Board's Safeguarding representative.

Candice West – EDI Specialist

I grew up in Leicester and was lucky enough to take flute lessons, later becoming an active member of Leicestershire's county youth music ensembles back when it was known as Leicestershire and Leicester Arts in Education - I was a frequent visitor to the Herrick Road building! My love of music led me to pursue a career in music education where I taught music in primary and secondary schools and delivered extra-curricular music activities. A few years ago, I changed career direction and took a role at an EDI charity where I delivered equality, diversity and inclusion training and consultancy services to schools and organisations across the country. I now work at the Legal Ombudsman as an EDI Specialist, working to create a more inclusive environment for colleagues and our customers.

I am so excited about my position as EDI Board member at Leicestershire Music. It gives me an opportunity to harness all of my knowledge and experience to help give more young people the access to music-making that I was so fortunate to receive when I was a child.