Chris is the Chair of our board of Trustees. An alumnus of Leeds College of Music, Chris has worked at some of the UKs major festivals such as Leeds, Latitude and Glastonbury. He has composed music for television and has been a patron of Old Chapel studios since 1999.
Chris brings his experience in the broadcast and music industries to the Trust as well as his enthusiasm for grass roots music
Les is LMT Secretary. He brings a wide range of experience working in both the voluntary sector and local authority social care services in Leeds.
From playing in the school brass band then picking up a pair of drumsticks he has been in various bands most of his life. He says, he cannot remember a time in his life when music was not important, both playing and listening!
Being part of Leeds Music Trust means that he can be a part of enabling others to experience the positive impact music can have in their lives.
Sarah Smith is Trust Fundraiser at St Georges Crypt and has organised many innovative and joint fund raising projects there with Leeds Rhinos, St Gemma’s Hospice, plus in her previous role as senior fundraiser for St Martin’s Hospice, she ran the hugely successful Centre Stage school band fundraising competition for over 10 years in conjunction with Leeds and Reading festivals.
Sarah brings both fundraising experience and a passion for uniting people through music to the LMT Board.
Neil ‘Unholy Racket’ Chapman is a music writer/photographer. He lives and works in Leeds. He contributes to The Leeds List, Leeds Music Scene and Counterfeit Magazine.
Neil can often be seen at the front of gigs with a rather large lens and brings his musical knowledge and passion to the LMT Board.
Katie is from Leeds and has worked in accounts for over ten years, bringing a wealth of financial knowledge and experience to the LMT board.
Having grown up going to gigs from a young age, Katie feels it’s important to champion local organisations supporting musicians from any age, background or ability.
“Growing up music was a huge part of family life and continues to play an important role in my life, any day now I will take up piano lessons again after giving up as a teenager!”
Mark was manager of the Old Chapel studios from 1994 to 2021.
He developed the business as a sole trader, then a limited company, finally in 2007 creating Old Chapel Music as a CIC (Community Interest Company) and Leeds Music Trust as a Registered Charity to own and oversee the CIC. A dual approach to assist more bands and musicians who needed support.
In 2021 Mark handed the running of the studios over to Katie Hayes and Joe Kent, but in 2023 signed up as Trustee on the LMT board.
Having seen it first hand, and felt it himself, he remains committed to helping people reap the many benefits of making music together. He believes it plays a vital role in managing well-being as much as developing transferable skills.
Andy Holmes is a born and bred Leeds musician playing guitar with a well known northern Goth band and occasionally a local Punk band. Andy has over 30 year’s experience on the Leeds music scene playing in various bands along with his day to day life within the building industry in specifications and sales. He is a firm believer in the benefits and opportunities that music provides the community and all it has to offer.
“Coming, as I did, from a very poor area of Leeds and with humble means, if it was not for a group of Leeds unemployed musicians back in the 80s that went out of their way to get waifs and strays like myself together and help us on our way into music, my path in life may not have ever been as rich as it is today. I have never forgotten what these exceptional and kind musicians did for me and many other budding musicians within the city, many that are still out there and doing very well indeed.”
