OUR TEAM
EMMA HUTCHINSON MA LTCL FRSA
Director & Founder
Emma has nearly 30 years’ experience in music education. With an MA in Early Childhood Music from the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Studies (CREC), a BA(hons) from Dartington College of Arts and LTCL from Trinity College of Music, Emma is a founder member of Music Educators and Researchers in Young Children (MERYC-England), a core member of the London Early Years Music Network (LEYMN) and a Fellow with the Royal Society of Arts.
Emma established Music House for Children in 1994 as a centre for music teaching, training and resources, with the main focus being on nurturing musicality and other areas of learning in early childhood. She has worked extensively with childminders, families, children’s centres, nursery and day settings, SENCO (additional needs) units and individuals. Her work takes her across the country and overseas to train the early years sector in musical ways to achieve learning outcomes. Emma has spoken at numerous conferences including the International Society for Music Education (ISME), MERYC EU,
Pre-School Learning Alliance, and the Westminster Forum. Much of her practical research focuses on developing language and early communication. Some of the research papers can be downloaded here. Her award winning teaching books and specially commissioned instruments for young children are available here. In her spare time Emma is on the committee of Devon British Red Cross, swims, and is an accomplished pianist, French horn, trumpet, ukulele and fife player.
As of October 2021, Emma has joined the Editorial Advisory Board for Music Teacher magazine as an early years specialist.
MAGDA SKOCZYLAS
Business and Finance Manager
Magda studied Business Management, and has worked for Music House for Children since 2003. She brings a wealth of experience in handling finance, budgets and charitable funds. Magda is committed to the cause of music provision as a right for all children and is an active participant of Music House’s concerts, lessons and workshops to ensure inclusivity and quality is retained. Magda is mother to a beautiful fur baby, Synus.
HANNAH IRWIN
Music Educator & Promotions Co-ordinator
Hannah has been playing music from an early age, enjoying a career of teaching, performing and promoting music in her professional and personal life. Hannah graduated from Newcastle University’s Folk & Traditional Music degree in 2020 and has since taught as a one-to-one tutor, classroom music teacher, English second language teacher and learning support assistant in the UK and abroad. Hannah’s dedication to the provision of music for all thrives through public relations, marketing and the promotion of Music House for Children and Music House Courses to the locality and beyond.
FYNN DE SOUSA
Music Co-ordinator
Fynn has been playing the violin from the age of 7 years old, and since has developed a love for all stringed instruments. He went on to study music at the University of Birmingham in 2018. His love for playing music and working with children led him to begin his career as an early years educator and instrumental teacher. He continues to be passionate about delivering quality musical education to all children.
JULIA LEA
Non-Executive Director
Julia has nearly 20 years working in Schools Finance. She is the Schools’ Finance Support Adviser at 3BM Ltd, responsible for supporting fourteen schools in four boroughs in financial planning and budget monitoring. She provides advice to schools' senior leadership teams and Governing Bodies. Julia is committed to music education as a right for all children with her three girls benefitting from music with Music House over many years.
CLARE HANBURY-LEU
Committee Member
Clare is a qualified teacher working in Kenya, Hong Kong and the UK. With an MA in Education Clare worked for the Child to Child Trust for many years helping to embed the philosophy of children's participation in health. Having achieved her MSc in International Maternal and Child Health Clare later established Children for Health (www.childrenforhealth.org) .
Her expertise in nurturing improved life chances for the world’s most vulnerable children is hugely valued. Clare’s current passion is to instil health information for teachers, health workers and others into simple, practical messages, actionable by children.
PAULA STEEL
Committee Member
Paula’s professional career has been dedicated to arts education and housing. She achieved her Masters in Education (Australia) as a musician, dancer and educator by correspondence while training at the London Contemporary Dance School in 1999. While working on various multi-arts projects Paula worked at The Music House for Children from 2000, initially as an instrumental teacher. As Head of Education she oversaw the development of group tuition, music appreciation and performing arts workshops for young people of all ages. This included projects funded by YouthMusic working with Local Authorities’ after school care provision and pupil referral units.
Paula transitioned into the housing sector in 2009, working to improve services for people living in social and affordable housing. At Origin Housing she now specialises in digital and organisational transformation, both as a consultant and and as the Digital Programme Manager. She has a passion for great customer experience, be it digital or otherwise, and has kept her love of all things creative though her bands RTP, Vespers and more recently Jenny & P.
