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Members’ Assembly

The Members’ Assembly brings together 27 members from across the union's regional and section committees and networks. It discusses the big issues affecting musicians in depth and brings more voices into union decision-making processes.

Last updated: 08 November 2024

The Members’ Assembly brings together 27 members from across the union's regional and section committees and networks.

It has delegated responsibility from the union’s Executive Committee (EC) to discuss the big issues affecting musicians from diverse perspectives and develop policy recommendations for the EC to consider.

How it works

The Members’ Assembly meets four times a year. Additional meetings may be called at Assembly members’ discretion.

The Assembly is modelled on citizens’ assemblies, creating a safe space for in depth discussion and with the union’s specialist officials called in to provide expertise where required.

At the end of each meeting, the Members’ Assembly will provide a detailed policy recommendation to the Executive Committee for consideration.

Membership of the Assembly

Members are drawn from the union’s democratically elected region and section committees and from networks:

  • 1 x representative from each region and/or nation at the regional committees’ discretion (total: 8 members)
  • 1 x representative from each Section Committee, with additional member from the Orchestral Section to ensure one employed member and one freelance member are represented (total: 7 members)
  • 1 x representative from the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
  • 2 x representatives from each of the Equality Networks (total: 8 members)
  • 2 x young members from the Young Members’ Network
  • 1 x representative of the Climate Emergency Action Group

The Chair will be nominated by the Executive Committee until July 2026, and will be elected from within the Assembly thereafter.

An Executive Committee member is also invited to attend every meeting as an observer.

Your Members’ Assembly

Chair: Linton Stephens (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Network)

Vice Chairs: Ben Lunn (Scotland), Andrew Lansley (Neurodiverse and Disabled Network), Sarah Sayeed (Musicians Who Experience Racism Network)

Members: 

  • Linton Stephens (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Network)
  • Lauren Spiceley (East, South East England)
  • David Miller (Wales)
  • Beccy Bussutil (South West England)
  • Nixon Rosembert (London)
  • Louise Braithwaite (Midlands)
  • Ben Lunn (Scotland)
  • Helen Neale (Northern Ireland)
  • Christopher Lydon (North of England)
  • Helena Nicholls (Freelance Orchestral Section)
  • Dave Rimbault (Orchestral Section)
  • Yvonne Wyroslawska (Education Section)
  • Vernon Fuller (Live Section)
  • Mark Harrison (Theatre Section)
  • Sorana Santos (Music Writers Section)
  • Vacant (Recording and Broadcasting Section)
  • Tom Plater (Young Members' Network)
  • Marianne D Sice  (Young Members' Network)
  • Bridget Walsh (Climate Change Action Group)
  • Sam Murray (LGBTQ+ Network)
  • Hayley Ryerson (LGBTQ+ Network)
  • Carina Cosgrave (Womens' Network)
  • Chardine Taylor Stone (Womens' Network)
  • Elizabeth J. Birch (Neurodiverse and Disabled Network)
  • Andrew Lansley (Neurodiverse and Disabled Network)
  • Sarah Sayeed (Musicians Who Experience Racism Network)
  • Corey Johnson ((Musicians Who Experience Racism Network)

I wanted to add how excited I was leaving the first Members’ Assembly session, and much I took away from connecting with fellow members, discussing our initial tasks and how we might be able to support the MU with shaping and delivering its policies and campaigns.

Andrew LansleyMU Members' Assembly