Artistic Director – Angela Kay MBE
Founder and Artistic Advisor, Music for Everyone
Freelance conductor and accompanist

Angela Kay studied at Nottingham College of Education, now Nottingham Trent University, and has been involved with the choral life of Nottinghamshire for most of her professional life. After giving up her post as head of music at a comprehensive school in 1980 to raise a family, Angela founded the Nottingham Choral Trust (now Music for Everyone) and continued to develop it by working with enthusiasm and imagination as its Artistic Director.

In 2022, she retired from some of her roles to become the Creative Advisor of MfE but continues as Music Director and conductor of Nottingham Chamber Singers and accompanist of West Bridgford Daytime Voices. Angela also conducts the Palace Singers in Newark.

Originally known in Nottingham as a mezzo soprano soloist, Angela’s career developed first into choral and then into orchestral conducting. She has conducted many of the major works from the choral repertoire to critical acclaim, including Brahms’ Requiem, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Verdi’s Requiem and Bach’s St Matthew Passion. In July 2003, Angela received an honorary Masters degree from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of her services to Music Education.

Angela received an MBE in the 2014 New Year Honours list for services to music in Nottinghamshire and in 2015 was awarded the Lady Hilary Groves Prize by the national music organisation, Making Music. This prize is awarded to one individual each year for their outstanding contribution to music making in their local community.

Assistant Director – Rachel Parkes
Artistic Director, Music for Everyone

Rachel was a founder member of the internationally successful a cappella ensemble Voces8 with whom she performed and toured extensively. She was also an active member of the London choral scene for 10 years, performing at the highest level with groups such as Tenebrae, London Voices, Howard Goodall’s Enchanted Voices, and the Eric Whitacre Singers. She has performed a wide range of repertoire, from the classical tradition to Hollywood movie scores, contemporary opera, and classical-pop crossover.

After five years working in the USA as a soloist, choral singer, vocal coach and singing teacher, Rachel is thrilled to be back in her homeland continuing her work as a conductor and vocal and choral animateur with MfE. She lives in West Bridgford with her husband, Henry and their two young children, George and Stella.

In September 2025, Rachel began her new role as the Artistic Director of Music for Everyone. In addition to being the co-conductor of NCS, she conducts several other choirs within the MfE family and is also Music Director of the University of Nottingham Choir and Chamber Choir.

Accompanist – Angela Foan
Freelance pianist

Angela graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where she studied Piano, Piano Accompaniment and Voice. She spent several years teaching music up to ‘A’ level and since then has been a freelance musician for over 35 years, accompanying choirs, practical instrumental and vocal examinations and recitals.

Angela has been accompanist to the Nottingham Chamber Singers for nearly 20 years and also plays for Music for Everyone’s Nottingham Festival Chorus, Wollaton and Sherwood Daytime Voices, Lunchtime Voices and Vocals. Angela is also a regular singing member of St.Peter’s Church Choir, Nottingham.