Sound Connections has a new Chair!
Sound Connections is delighted to announce that Chris Brannick has been appointed as the new Chair of the charity. Chris takes over from Katrina Duncan who served as Chair for the last 12 years.
Chris Brannick’s career has, so far, encompassed mathematics, music, writing, singing, acting, life coaching and business management. He has a maths degree from Imperial College, London, and an honorary degree from the Royal Academy of Music as well as a Masters’ Diploma in Executive Coaching. As a percussionist, he is in demand as a soloist and chamber musician and was principal percussion for Glyndebourne Touring Opera for 15 years, before leaving to concentrate on chamber music, while his acting credits include stage and screen roles. He has taken his cabaret bands The Favoured Few and The Brannick Academy to New York. He was one of the founder members of the iconoclastic contemporary percussion quartet ensemblebash with whom he has performed at venues worldwide. He has written a book World Beats (published by A&C Black), which is a complete resource for primary school classroom teachers exploring drumming styles from various cultures around the world. Chris has been both the Joint CEO and Interim Senior Director for the Newham Music Trust (the Music Education Hub lead organisation for Newham) where he is currently Chair of the Board.
Of his appointment Chris says, ““It’s a tremendous privilege to be appointed as Chair of an organisation that I’ve admired for such a long time. These are challenging times for music. When the case has to be made for its importance and for the relevance of music to the health of society, we need an organisation such as Sound Connections. The support it offers across the musical landscape, whether it be its empowerment of musicians in challenging circumstances, the development of those tasked with creating the next generations of musicians, or its Early Years and Youth Voice programmes makes Sound Connections an indispensable part of the future narrative of music in this country. I’m honoured to be part of the team that will always be striving to make music fundamental to the life of young people regardless of their backgrounds.”
Philip Flood, Director of Sound Connections, said “I look forward to working with Chris as the new Chair of Sound Connections and would like to express my thanks to Katrina Duncan for her support over the last 12 years. Chris brings a range of experience and skills and has a deep understanding of the music industry and music education. I know that he will be a great advocate for our work and for the music education sector.”