Combining a decade of experience as a musician, Jamie is passionate about the transformative nature of music – for business & education – and as a means to empower, inspire and connect.

Since his graduation from LIPA in 2012, he has led a trio of private & 3rd sector organisations – with the aim of supporting the artistic & commercial development of a whole new generation of young musicians and unlock the power of music for all.

Over 10 years, Jamie co-founded SoMi & built up a flagship music provision at the newly formed LIPA School, and since then we have continued to work across primary settings across the North-West, utilising an integrated curricular + co-curricular approach to music.

Jamie is also the founder of Musique, an award-winning North-West based music agency, and Actual Music, an artist development and production company – based in his home county of Lancashire.

Jamie is also proud to be a guest lecturer in Music Business & Artist Development (LIPA, RNCM, UCLan).

Craig Andre-Walsh is a Liverpool-based double bass and electric bass player who graduated from LIPA in 2013. Craig has toured and recorded extensively, performing with acclaimed artists including Clean Cut Kid (Polydor – UK Tour 2017), Mike Lindup of Level 42, and Grammy-winning producer Steve Levine, among many others.

Alongside his performing career, Craig ha developed into a thoughtful and innovative educator specialising in instrumental technique, Kodály-informed musicianship, and creative curriculum design.

Craig also has a strong and evolving interest in technology and artificial intelligence. As Chief Technology Officer at SoMi Academy, he leads on the integration of tech into music education – designing digital tools, interactive learning systems, and AI-assisted teaching resources to enhance delivery and accessibility. His work merges pedagogy with cutting-edge technology, creating scalable solutions that support both practitioners and students.

Bringing together professional musicianship, educational expertise, and forward-thinking technical innovation, Craig is committed to shaping a new generation of confident, creative young musicians.

Joe Wilson is a music educator, community musician, and consultant with over 25 years’ experience across education, composition, and community arts. He graduated in English and Music from Swansea University and began his career working internationally in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina before training with Community Music London and Audio Active in Brighton.

Joe has worked as a commissioned composer and piano teacher since 1998 and has performed and studied music across the UK, Europe, and Brazil. He has trained alongside leading international artists including Seckou Keita and Bosco D’Oliveira.

From 1998 to 2007, Joe was founder-director of Planet Sound Community Arts, leading a team of over 50 artists and delivering large-scale funded projects across North Staffordshire. He later became Music and Performing Arts Lead at LIPA Primary School, where he developed the school’s curriculum, CPD programme, and whole-school music provision.

Since 2017, Joe has worked as a freelance Music and Performing Arts Consultant. He remains a director of MADULA and is founder-director of SoMi Academy, where he leads on partnerships, people development, curriculum, CPD, and funded income.

Rachael Diop is a musician, composer, and educator with over 25 years’ experience in music education and community practice. She has worked extensively in schools and music hubs, developing classroom curricula, training teachers, and leading inclusive music workshops that place creativity and musicianship at the centre of learning.

In 2004, Rachael founded and ran a music charity in East London, working across three housing estates. Her approach was rooted in deep community engagement, using local community centres and drawing on the cultures, talents, and lived experiences of residents to co-create meaningful music sessions and resources.

Alongside her education work, Rachael has composed and arranged music for over 20 years, often collaborating with artists, filmmakers, and dancers on educational and creative projects. Her work is strongly influenced by patterns, the natural world, and emotional expression through music.

Rachael is a passionate advocate for making music a central thread in the education system. She is Classroom Curriculum and Teacher Training Lead at SoMi Academy, a Musicianship Practitioner for VoicesABRSM, and regularly leads creative music workshops and singing groups.