About Us

Rob Jones - Co-Founder & Artistic Director
Reuben Penny - Co-Founder & Music Director
Rosie Penny - Development Manager
Rodrigo Oquera - Primary Rock Collective Leader

Sara C.- Programme Manager
Loretta Milan - Marketing Officer
Jim Nankivell - Office Assistant

Alex Lowe - Rock Collective Leader
Megan Parker - Music Seekers Big Show Director
Isaac Boothman - Music Seekers Explorers Club Leader
Gina Baker - Music Seekers Explorers Club Leader

Beate Pesian - Chair
Arjun Jethwa - Deputy Chair

Ben Kelly - Treasurer

Jerry Cregan - Trustee with safeguarding responsibilities
Nancy Evans - Trustee with safeguarding responsibilities

Lisa Powel - Administrator

Julie McKirdy - Trustee

Iris Bertz - Advisor

The foundation of Misfits Music began with our very first ensemble, The Moseley Misfits, established by co-founders Reuben Penny and Rob Jones. Noticing a lack of amateur musical activities for adults in Birmingham, they developed a highly accessible scoring system that enabled musicians of any ability to play in the group. As a concept, this worked really well and became the basis for all of our future groups.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the few music groups still running in the city shut down, adding to the ever-growing list of things people couldn’t do during the various lockdowns.

We were able to mobilise quickly, starting online orchestral rehearsals and lessons. Later, we ran quintet rehearsals spaced 1 meter apart, resantisising serfaces under gazebos in Moseley Park.

The need for fun, socially distanced activities became incredibly important for our local communities. With this additional demand, we found ourselves struggling to keep pace and fund these essential activities. It is now that we officially founded the charity “Misfits Music Foundation”, which made us eligible for funding pots and grants.

With this additional funding, we were able to start a new project called the Moseley Rock Collective. This was aimed at rock and pop musicians who struggled to play notated orchestral music or wanted to play music more suited to their instruments.

Brum Rocks was a mega project! After winning £50,000 from The People’s Project, we brought together nearly 1,000 people at Forum Birmingham to form Birmingham’s biggest rock band.

The band featured members of our groups, participants from one-off sessions we ran across Birmingham and the Black Country and members of the public who wanted to come along on the day.

We had the support of famous Birmingham-based musicians Ozzy and Sharron Osbourne, Rob Halford, Nick Mason, Fyfe Dangerfield and Joan Armatrading. They sent us video messages, which were played to the participants at the final event.

Finally, we ran a collaboration with Jasmine Gardosi, who composed a new song in collaboration with our music leaders called “Brummie Steel”, an anthem for Birmingham.

Click here to see a final wrap-up video of the project.

We were awarded £231,000 through Reaching Communities.

This major grant came through the lottery's "Our community; their future" initiative, which is a branch of their Reaching Communities programme.

This was a major milestone for our organisation as it provided 3 years of funding, ensuring our charities existence until 2027.

This project is very important to us, given our work with adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.

The Big Shows are musical extravaganzas designed specifically for audiences that might struggle to attend traditional concerts in traditional venues. Providing opportunities to enjoy live music through performances featuring interactive, multisensory elements that engage and entertain.

Our first show was called “Adventures in Birmingham”

The theme focused on exploring music inspired by local attractions and locations that in one way or another provide activities for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Featuring locations like

• Sea Life Centre (Where we played music from finding nemo)

• The Cadbury Factory (Willy Wonker and the Chocolate Factory)

• Tysley Loco Works (Thomas The Tank Engine)

• amongst others…

Click here for pictures

Our second show was called “Jolly Jobs”

During this show, we were visited by people with interesting Jobs like:

• Gardener (Where we played music from Alice in Wonderland)

• Photographer (Girls just wanna have fun)

• Zoo Keeper (we put together a medley of songs about animals)

• And others…

Click here for West Bromwich pictures
Click here for MAC pictures

These are very popular and have become a part of our yearly offerings through our orchestral groups.