Our team

Norwich Chamber Music (NCM) is a registered charity (no. 278446) run by a board of Trustees.

As of 31 March 2023, they are:

Chair

View Christine’s profile

Christine Webber

Chair

Christine Webber

Chair

I studied classical singing at the Guildhall School in the 1960s, but it quickly became apparent I was no Maria Callas. My second-choice career led to me presenting news at Anglia TV. Later I reinvented myself as a newspaper columnist, trained as a psychotherapist and wrote 15 books. But music remained my main love, and I’m delighted therefore to serve on the NCM committee.

Secretary

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Jill Halliday

Secretary

Jill Halliday

Secretary

I joined the committee in 2022, having been a regular attender at the NCM concerts for many years. My background is in the biological sciences then moving into scientific publishing where I chaired my professional society, the Society of Indexers. For many years I served as a JP in Norfolk. My music interests include playing the cello. I play in the Wymondham Symphony Orchestra, where I am also on the committee, and otherwise very much enjoy playing chamber music and attending concerts.

Treasurer

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Helen Colyer

Treasurer

Helen Colyer

Treasurer

I have been the NCM treasurer since 2016. After graduating from UEA in 1980, I worked for 30 years as a Chartered Accountant in London, where I was also treasurer for a local choir. I was then lured back to Norwich to study for a Masters degree and stayed! Amongst other things I now enjoy singing in the UEA choir.

Committee members

View Julia’s profile

Julia Donat

Concert Administrator

Julia Donat

Concert Administrator

I worked in theatre and television in the north west for 40 years, as a production assistant, casting director and lastly producer. My experience of putting on performances and negotiating and drawing up contracts has been useful for my role on the NCM committee. I learned the cello as a young person and while I did not become a professional musician, music – especially chamber music – has always been a very important part of my life.

View Jo’s profile

Jo Curry

Membership Secretary

Jo Curry

Membership Secretary

I was co-opted onto the committee in February 2023 and, having regularly and enthusiastically attended NCM concerts for many years, welcome this opportunity to contribute to the organisation. I taught English in Suffolk schools for over 30 years and have sung with the Harleston Choral Society for 24 of those. I chaired it for four years, until 2019, and remain on the committee of this flourishing community choir.

View Juliet’s profile

Juliet Rickard

Education Secretary

Juliet Rickard

Education Secretary

I joined the NCM committee in September 2022 having spent four decades working in music education and performing as an oboist. Professionally I worked for Guildhall School of Music and Drama as head of their Norwich Centre, as Director of Norfolk County Youth Orchestra, and Triorca – its European partner. It has been such a pleasure to see so many of our most talented young people go on to their own careers in music.

For me, one of the joy's of chamber music is that it gives each performer solos within the ensemble: I really look forward to helping introduce a new generation of future players and soloists to the wonderful concerts and opportunities NCM offers them – on their (comparative) doorstep.

View Clara’s profile

Clara Crockatt

Front of House Coordinator

Clara Crockatt

Front of House Coordinator

I was for many years a lecturer in English and Cultural Studies at Norwich City College and after retirement, lectured part-time in Switzerland. Music has been an integral part of my life, including oboe and piano lessons, a history of concertgoing, a series of recorder groups, and two children who are professional musicians. I've served on the NCM committee for four years and have been delighted to help guide our organisation through that time.

View Tim’s profile

Tim Gent

Committee Member

Tim Gent

Committee Member

I joined the committee as a co-opted member in 2022. Music, and in particular the violin, have been an important part of my life. I played in the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra when I was working as a GP in West Norfolk – the practice of music was a welcome release from the practice of medicine, and I look forward to it playing a larger part in my retirement.

View John’s profile

John Harris-Hall

Committee Member

John Harris-Hall

Committee Member

Since childhood, the performing arts have always been very important to me. Although I was never able to master playing any instrument, listening to music has been a rich source of pleasure. I have spent over 30 years as a GP in North Norfolk and been involved in local medical politics for most of that time. Having attended concerts for many years, I was delighted to be co-opted onto the NCM committee and hope my past experience will be useful for other members of the committee and for the greater good of providing world class music to our lovely city.

View Slava’s profile

Slava Khimyak

Committee Member

Slava Khimyak

Committee Member

I joined the committee in 2018. I am a scientist and work at UEA as a Professor of NMR spectroscopy. I love classical music in all its forms, as a very keen listener and an amateur player.

View Stephen’s profile

Stephen Orton

Committee Member

Stephen Orton

Committee Member

I joined the committee in 2021. My working career was as a class music teacher in schools, most recently at Norwich High School for Girls. As a player of the violin and viola, I have been involved in playing chamber music since my school days, played in various ensembles while at university, and have taken every opportunity to play and listen to chamber music ever since. I currently lead the UEA Symphony Orchestra, and have organised a number of chamber ensembles there in the past few years.

Our team

Chair

Christine Webber

Christine Webber

Secretary

Jill Halliday

Jill Halliday

Treasurer

Helen Colyer

Helen Colyer

Committee members

Julia Donat

Julia Donat

Jo Curry

Jo Curry

Juliet Rickard

Juliet Rickard

Clara Crockatt

Clara Crockatt

Tim Gent

Tim Gent

John Harris-Hall

John Harris-Hall

Slava Khimyak

Slava Khimyak

Stephen Orton

Stephen Orton

Artistic director

Misha Donat

Misha Donat

President

Roger Rowe

Roger Rowe