Finchley Children’s Music Group is a charity whose purpose is the promotion of singing and choral training for children aged 4 – 18 in North London. FCMG seeks to give all children a safe, happy experience that challenges and develops their skills as part of the FCMG choirs, performing with excellence and learning with excitement.
FCMG is registered with the Charity Commission and is governed by a Board of Trustees, most of whom have (or have had) children in one of the FCMG choirs. The trustees are elected by the members of the charity at the Annual General Meeting for a three-year term, which is renewable for one further three-year term or longer if they currently have a child in one of the choirs.
FCMG also has a very active committee made up largely of choir parents, some of whom are also trustees, in addition to a part-time General Manager and the Musical Director. The committee members take charge of the day-to-day running of the choirs and the events in which they are involved.
If you are currently an FCMG parent and would like to join the committee please contact the FCMG General Manager via the contact page.
The current trustees and committee are:
Craig Wilkie
Interim Chair & Trustee
I work as a freelance management consultant specialising in business transformation, with 25 years’ experience across tech, finance, pharma and retail. After foolishly setting music aside after college, a mild midlife crisis brought me back and these days I sing tenor with a couple of choirs and cheer on my children’s musical ambitions, one of whom has recently joined FCMG. I’m looking forward to combining my day-job skills with one of my most rewarding hobbies to support FCMG’s continued development.
Paul Guenault
Secretary & Trustee
I have 3 daughters who have been in the FCMG choirs and so was involved as a parent for a number of years. The quality of the group both musically and socially is unparalleled and so I am delighted to continue to support FCMG as board secretary and Summer School organiser. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, I have worked in education (mainly in secondary schools) for over 25 years and I am currently the director of Bucks Music Trust.
Theresa Ward
Treasurer & Trustee
My three children have been singing in the FCMG Choirs for well over a decade. My eldest is now at university, and my middle daughter is in her final year, a bittersweet time after more than 15 years with FCMG. But as my son is still in Senior Choir, I look forward to being involved in FCMG for a good few years to come. I used to love participating in choirs myself including Brighton Festival Chorus and the chorus of Dorset Opera for many years. In my working life, I am a research scientist specialising in the cell biology of host-pathogen interactions for several infectious diseases. I am currently the Chair and I look forward to continuing to support FCMG with all its future plans.
Judith Iacovou
Child Safeguarding & Trustee
It has been a real pleasure to witness my daughter’s enthusiasm for singing and all things musical since she started in the Beginners choir in 2013. The spirit and ethos of FCMG provides children with a fantastic framework in which to explore and develop their musicianship as they grow and I am very pleased to have been asked to give my support in an official capacity to this super organisation. I grew up in a musically appreciative family and have sung in various choirs and choral societies throughout my life, currently being a member of Finchley Choral Society. In my professional life I work in Clinical Governance and Compliance, specialising in the design and operational implementation of national Nurse programmes in the NHS.
Michael Brookes
Trustee
Seeing my daughter’s musical experience and appreciation grow as she progresses through FCMG’s choirs has been delightful. We are very fortunate to have such an organisation focussing on the musical development of the young people in our community. I developed an interest in music while singing at school and in church choirs in Nottingham in my youth and I am now a member of the Crouch End Festival Chorus, so I also know first-hand the lifelong benefits that come from a musical education.
My professional life has largely been spent in financial institutions managing IT, operations and change. It would be a pleasure to serve on the board of FCMG as it continues to play its part in this wonderful choral tradition.
Kunal Dutta
Trustee
My journey with FCMG from 1990 to 1997 wasn’t just about singing. It was a transformative experience that unlocked the power of music and provided some of the happiest childhood memories. Today, as well as the many friends (and alumni parents) that I have the choir to thank for, my daughter sings in the Intermediates.
FCMG is precious. The early experiences of choral music, performance and teamwork are gifts. They cultivate confidence, build resilience, stimulate creativity and foster connection. It is these traits that have driven my professional path – first working as a national news journalist, and now as a corporate communications director.
Today I also sing with another North London choir (as well as the occasional spot of piano-accompanied Karaoke!). Most of all though, when watching my daughter perform with FCMG, I am reminded of the profound impact the choir had on me all those years ago. It’s a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire, uplift, and transform lives.
Sarah Phillips
Observer
I have always enjoyed singing but my professional life has been in maths and then accountancy. I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales, a governor of King Alfred School and a trustee and treasurer of the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools. My son Sammy joined FCMG in 1998 and my daughter Izzy started in the Infants a year later. Their time with FCMG gave them amazing experiences and a lifelong love of music and singing. Over the years, I have been involved with FCMG as Intermediates Administrator and as chaperone for tours, summer schools and concerts, I became Treasurer in 2005 and handed this role over in 2016. I enjoy children and enjoy seeing them grow and develop. I feel that singing with FCMG is a life changing experience and I would like it to be available to many children.
