Our Mission
Bringing people together through music
We strongly believe in the power of group music-making activities to facilitate new connections between people, break down social barriers and help members of our local community become active citizens. We see first hand the power music has to reduce loneliness and improve the physical and mental wellbeing in our participants.
We have established several groups and projects with the core concept of bringing people together through music, working with practitioners and partners that share this belief. We work tirelessly to create projects and sessions that are open to anyone who wants to make music by arranging accessible musical arrangements in-house, working with community partners to engage those in need and run a variety of different groups to suit the varied style of different musicians within the community.
If you think there is demand for a Misfits Music group where you are, let us know.
our team
The People That Make
the Music Happen
Leadership team
Reuben Penny
Co-founder, Marketing and Music Director Safeguarding Lead
Reuben is a composer and percussionist. An adopted “Brummie”, he studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and has worked as a music practitioner since his graduation in 2015.
As music director, it is his responsibility to arrange music and devise activities for the Misfits Music Groups.
Rob Jones
Co-founder and Artistic Director
A composer/saxophone player, Rob has is passionate about making music accessible to all. Rob leads on the artistic and strategic directions of the organisation including devising and planning projects, co-leading sessions, fundraising, managing staff and volunteers and working with the Board.
Ilhan Adam
Coordination Assistant
Ilhan has previously worked for a plethora of arts based charities in the Birmingham. In her spare time, Ilhan enjoys volunteering at her local horse riding stables and working on writing her debut novel. As Coordination Assistant, Ilhan works on the administration, marketing and projects side of Misfits.
Rodrigo Oquera
Workshop Leader
An Argentinian composer, songwriter, guitarist, and writer, based in Birmingham since 2018. Rodrigo has a Degree in Musical Arts, and over 8 years of teaching experience, including a position at the National University of Arts (Buenos Aires).
Rosie Clements
Development Manager
Rosie Clements is a festival producer and composer based in Birmingham. She works regularly throughout the UK and across Europe with Festivals such as Flatpack Festival, Gaudeamus Muziekweek and Birmingham International Dance Festival.
our trainees
Flora Sawyer
Trainee
I’m Flora, and I’ll be working as a trainee music leader with Misfits Music. I’m a trained singer with experience playing guitar and ukulele, and love creating music with others! My favourite music to sing and play is Scottish folk tunes, Brit pop classics, and folk rock.
Jim Nankivell
Trainee
Hi, I'm Jim! I'm excited to start working with Misfits Music as the trainee music leader with Dabble and Scrunch. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2023, and have enjoyed playing saxophone, tinkering with synthesizers, and working at the Midlands Arts Centre since then. I'm really looking forward to developing my musical facilitation skills in this role!
Trustees
Beate Pesian
Chair
Beate is involved in multiple projects with charitable organisations, Parent-Teacher-Associations and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. She is co-founder and director of Worksmith Ltd, an HR and Recruitment Consultancy, exploring and promoting new ways of working together.
Arjun Jethwa
Deputy Chair
"Arjun Jethwa is a freelance musician, performer and educator working with charities, performance projects and education organisations all connected through music. Arjun takes pride in his work as an educator and holds the belief that participatory music should be available to everyone regardless of their age, disability or background."
Nancy Evans
Safeguarding
Nancy is Director of Learning & Participation for BCMG. She has worked there since 2000 creating opportunities for young people to compose, perform and listen to new music. She also has an MA in Community Music from the University of York.
Lisa Powell
Secretary
Lisa has worked at The University of Birmingham (Medical School) for over 20 years. Between 2001-2015 she was the Medical School Timetabling Officer. More recently since 2016 she has been a HR Recruitment Administrator working within the Institutes of Immunology and Immunotherapy and Inflammation and Ageing. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys playing the piano, particularly Jazz. She has been a member of the Moseley Misfits since Autumn 2019.
Jerry Cregan
Safeguarding
I went to a local school and studied at Aston University and some years later at Birmingham University. I had a 24 career in industry followed by 32 year (ongoing) career teaching in a number of Birmingham schools.
Shannon-Latoyah Simon
Trustee
Shannon-Latoyah is the Music Relationship Manager at the British Council for Classical and Contemporary Music in the UK, Europe and East Asia. Alongside her role at the British Council she is a freelance Classical Guitarist and a mentor for Black Lives in Music.
Our Consultants
Iris Bertz
Business and Partnerships Consultant
Trained as a visual artist, Iris has used her skills of creative thinking to develop workshops, training and people. She has a passion for making connections, seeing potential, making projects happen and building cross sector partnerships, nationally and internationally.
