MUÂ Roving Orchestral Stewards
Louise Braithwaite, MU Vice Chair of the Freelance Orchestral Advisory Board, Scotland & Northern Ireland
Cor Anglais and Oboe
Louise has a UK-wide overview of workplace cultures and best practice, and of the challenges still to be overcome. This stems from her freelance performance career and her role as Vice Chair of the MU’s Freelance Orchestral Advisory Board.
An active advocate for members’ rights and wellbeing, Louise is a mental health first aider and a trained Health and Safety rep. In 2023 she received the TUC’s Campaigning Rep of the Year Award for the Midlands region. She’s a working parent, a carer, and a disabled person. In 2025 Louise represented the MU at the Scottish TUC’s Disabled Workers Conference.
Trained in state schools and county music services, the University of Huddersfield and at the RNCM, Louise’s performance career spans most of the things freelance oboists get asked to do, and a fair few things they don’t. These include appearing in an episode of Radio 4’s The Archers, memorised performance and choreography in costume with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and touring with indie band James. She works with the English Symphony Orchestra as Principal Cor Anglais and Principal Oboe, and with a number of ‘best practice’ orchestral contractors.
The Roving Steward role has enabled Louise to bring about improved conditions for colleagues, usually by having a quiet constructive chat with the orchestra management and venue. The vast majority of organisations are grateful to know they’ve missed something and take what steps they can to put it right. On the rare occasions this doesn’t happen, a steward can bring matters to the attention of the MU’s staff team to follow up. Personal matters are treated in confidence.
Please speak to your steward if something is bothering you at work. It’s probably bothering someone else too.
Albert Dennis- Wales & South West England / London
Freelance Double Bass
Albert is now living in Cardiff but he used to live and work in London for several years and worked there regularly. Albert has been a freelancer for many years but has also been a member of ENO and the RPO, so he has experienced both sides of the profession. He has worked on many sessions and at most UK orchestras so many of you will have seen him in the bass section, but not realised that he’s a freelance steward, or that the role of freelance steward even existed. It’s a difficult time for everyone but especially for freelancers: orchestras are strapped for cash and it’s often players who are first to feel cuts both in player numbers and conditions.
If you see Albert or any colleague on a gig and don’t feel happy about something but feel unable to speak out, chat to him and he can contact the Union on your behalf.
Mark Concar, BMus(Hons)RNCM PGDip(Perf)RNCM
Freelance Percussionist and Timpanist
Mark grew up in Leicester and began his musical journey with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony orchestra and was taught by the same music service. He then studied in Percussion, Timpani and Drum Kit at the Royal Northern College of Music and since graduating in 2003, has worked regularly as a freelance Percussionist and Timpanist with all of the North West’s leading orchestras, including: BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Opera North, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet, Hallé and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Mark has been a member of the MU Executive Committee for over three years, the Freelance Orchestral Advisory Board for over ten years, and is also a Roving Steward and a trained Health & Safety Rep.
Fergus Kerr - Scotland & Northern Ireland
Freelance Horn
Fergus has been freelancing in Scotland since the late 1990s. His work portfolio has combined extensive orchestral work with chamber music and cross-genre groups in the realms of Traditional music, Jazz, and World Music.
Fergus is always happy to try to help out his fellow freelancers, whether he’s on the same gig or not.
Luke Strevens - London
Freelance Flute
Luke Strevens studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Edward Beckett, also privately with William Bennett and Peter Lloyd, as well as participating in masterclasses with the legendary Marcel Moyse.
Luke played Principal Flute with Opera80/English Touring Opera for 36 years and has worked with all the major London Orchestras, as well as playing principal flute with the London Concert Orchestra for many years. As well as working with Opera, Ballet and Chamber Orchestras throughout the UK, he has played in West End Shows and in recording studios, as well as with such artists as Shirley Bassey, Luther Vandross and The Moody Blues .
Solo and chamber music performances in the UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Norway and Denmark have included premieres of two works for Solo Flute and Orchestra by Francois Glorieux at  the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels. 
In 2020 he formed Duo Panavanti with the Vibraphone player Jonny Raper.
Lynn Henderson - London
Freelance Horn
Lynn is a horn player, teacher and activist currently living in South East London. She freelances across the UK, for orchestras as well as pop, jazz and contemporary ensembles. Lynn is a member and former chair of the Musicians' Union's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board, alongside repping for Ealing Music Service, Sinfonia Cymru and sitting on the Freelance Orchestra Advisory Board since 2024. 
Photo credit: Sinfonia Cymru and Celf Calon 2024.