Stevie Higgins

Stevie Higgins

Studied at Oxford University, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio in London and is now a conductor and pianist, working with the UK’s major opera houses including Glyndebourne, ROH, ENO and Scottish Opera. Passionate about music education, he has worked as a performer and conductor with Kidenza since its inception. He is a member of the board of ‘Co-opera-co’, a company dedicated to nurturing and mentoring young opera singers and orchestral musicians which tours the UK regularly and has just completed a highly successful residency at the Hackney Empire in London.

Stephen led the Glyndebourne education programme for many years, demystifying and introducing countless young people to the operatic repertoire. He also has devised orchestral conducting workshops for the business community, when he takes an orchestra into the boardroom of a city law firm or bank and demonstrates the link between the leadership qualities of orchestral conducting and management of a work force. These have been highly acclaimed and clients have included Sky and UBS.

As a performer, Stephen has conducted the RPO, LPO and Philharmonia orchestras, alongside an operatic career, which encompasses many performances at ENO, Holland Park and festivals in Italy, Portugal, Finland and France. He is interested in the point where two musical worlds collide- genuine ‘crossover’ if you like, which recently saw him work alongside Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorrilaz fame with the combined forces of the ENO orchestra, director Rufus Norris and the dance company Frantic assembly. This piece was part of the 2012 Olympic festival of culture and was recorded by EMI.

Stephen has appeared regularly on TV and Radio- often heard on Radio 3s ‘In Tune’, and was a mentor to Actress Josie Lawrence on BBC2’s ‘Maestro at the Opera’ in 2012

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The Board of Trustees

Gavin James

Gavin first encountered orchestral music at age 13 when the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra recorded a performance at his school. He is now a senior civil servant, advising ministers on policy and overseeing infrastructure projects, as well as a Chartered Management Accountant. Gavin also serves as a governor at one of Europe’s largest primary schools. Although he experimented with percussion in his youth, Gavin feels most at home playing guitar—though he still holds a soft spot for orchestral music.

Stevie studied at Oxford University, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio in London and is now a conductor and pianist, working with the UK’s major opera houses including Glyndebourne, ROH, ENO and Scottish Opera. Passionate about music education, he has worked as a performer and conductor with Kidenza since its inception.

Murray Taylor

Murray joined Kidenza’s mission to deliver musical joy and inspiration to schoolkids by joining the Board in 2024. An Australian-qualified corporate and commercial lawyer, he is now based in London and brings 10 years of legal experience to the Board. Outside of the law, he holds associate diploma qualifications in piano and is currently studying to sit his licentiate diploma. Hailing from a deprived area of New South Wales’ mid-north coast, he is a driven supporter of social equity initiatives and a passionate advocate for the arts.