About — Brass For Africa

AboutTim Marotto2023-02-20T10:55:41+00:00

OUR STORY

Brass for Africa’s story began when airline pilot Jim Trott MBE, Founder and Executive Director, shipped 30 worn out and unloved brass instruments to an orphanage in Uganda. What started as a way to save the instruments from the scrap heap turned into a journey of hope and transformation.

Today, Brass for Africa provides Music & Life-Skills education to over 1500 disadvantaged children and young people across Uganda, Rwanda and Liberia every week. We’ve partnered with over 20 organisations such as the UNHCR, Plan International and Oxford University to deliver over 30 programmes.

OUR STORY

Today, Brass for Africa provides music and life-skills education to over 1500 disadvantaged children and young people across Uganda, Rwanda and Liberia every week. We’ve partnered with over 20 organisations such as the UNHCR, Plan International and Oxford University to deliver over 30 programmes.

VISION, MISSION & VALUES

Brass for Africa’s vision is that all young people and their communities have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and thrive.

Our mission is to empower thousands of marginalised children and young people in Africa to significantly and positively transform their lives. Combining rigour and creativity, we will be a world leader in driving social impact and social justice through music.

INSPIRATION

PASSION

INTEGRITY

INCLUSION

VISION, MISSION & VALUES

Brass for Africa’s vision is that all young people and their communities have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and thrive.

INSPIRATION

PASSION

INTEGRITY

INCLUSION

THE TEAM

Brass for Africa is a UK based charity that is over 95% African-led.

GET IN TOUCH

Jim is the Charity’s founder and works tirelessly to lead the team and ensure Brass for Africa’s success. For several years Jim worked as an oil support helicopter pilot in Nigeria and on the North Sea. Now, as well as running the charity, Jim still works as an airline pilot. He is passionate about music, playing the cornet and the piano. Jim was made an MBE in Her Majesty's 2021 New Year's Honours List.

Jim Trott MBE

Founder & Executive Director

Andrew is responsible for all aspects of the operation in Uganda, having previously been Head of Logistics and Administration. Andrew has an IT degree from Jomo Kenyatta University in Nairobi and prior to joining BfA, Andrew was the Regional Director of Hope 4 Kids International in Africa overseeing projects in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia.

Andrew Agassi

Chief Operating Officer

Lizzie holds a masters in music from Oxford University where she was also a choral scholar. She has been the Director of Music for a large school in London responsible for the music education of over 900 pupils and managing 28 staff. Lizzie is the recipient of the “Alison Balsom Fellowship ” and will oversee all of the charity’s education needs.

Lizzie Burrowes

Director Of Music Education

Andrea is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic plan to raise vital funds for the organisation. Working closely with the Founder & Executive Director, she also works on the planning and execution of international partnerships and artistic collaborations. She has previously worked as Creative Partnerships Manager for arts agency HarrisonParrott, and managed world-renowned musicians at IMG Artists. Andrea is passionate about people and music, and providing social empowerment through the arts. Andrea holds a BA in Music from The Guildhall School and is currently studying an MA in Human Rights.

Andrea Berbegal

Director Of Development

Kabuye Ronald has been teaching with Brass for Africa for ten years now! With the help of Brass for Africa Ronald has also recently completed a degree in Law at Uganda Christian University in Kampala! He is the Project Manager for our programme partnering with the German organisation Music Connects, the "Lab Uganda and Community Music Project" . This pioneering project will bring a mobile music lab along with community music programmes to young people living in the world's largest refugee settlement, Bidibidi, which is located in Northern Uganda on the border with South Sudan.

Kabuye Ronald

Programmes and Administration Manager

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement

Alan lives in the Scottish Borders and works throughout the UK and beyond as a freelance musician, teacher, conductor, judge, and compere. A world class and renowned composer of brass music, Alan has composed pieces especially for the bands and young people involved with BfA and he visits Uganda periodically to train and mentor our teachers.

Alan Fernie

Composer In Residence

Kasule Daniel

Project Leader & Co-Ordinator

Kalangala

Aboth Josephine

Office Administrator

Mugaya Kenneth

Finance and Administration Officer

Amanya Annah

Accounts Assistant

Bwambale Bernard

Executive Assistant to the Director of Music Education

Maria studied and grew up at the Tender Talents Magnet School. After her A-levels, Brass for Africa sponsored Maria through university and she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Community Psychology in 2018. Maria is at the hub of BfA operations and also teaches singing at The Mummy Foundation.

Nakabiito Maria

Administration And Life-Skills Officer

Kiconco Daisy

Office Assistant

Kivumbi Charles

Driver

Serunjogi Rashid

Driver

Ninsima Alex

Lead Lab Technician - LAB UGANDA

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement

Mukama Allan

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Iman Juuko

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Ampaire Victor

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Mwebe Julius

Music and Life-Skills Teacher & Life-Skills Assistant

Komuhendo Brenda

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Best is from Kampala, he grew up in the M-LISADA orphanage. He has played the trumpet for ten years and is now a brass teacher having completed the BfA teacher training apprenticeship. Best attended a certificate course in photography at Uganda Institution of Business and Management Studies and provides much of the content for BfA media channels.

Bagumirabingi Best

Music and Life-Skills Teacher & Media Officer

Mwolese Tonny

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Sekiranda Mouris

Music and Life-Skills Teacher & Nsambya Community Band Co-Ordinator

Mayanja Steven

Workshop Officer

Mugisha Gilbert

Musical Development Assistant & Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Micheal grew up in the M-LISADA orphanage and started playing trumpet from an early age. Micheal was also chosen to be one of the original ten teachers to participate in the BfA Teacher Training Programme. He is now on staff as a full time teacher and undertakes other roles of responsibility such as coordinating and mobilising his fellow teachers.

OUR STORY

OUR STORY

VISION, MISSION & VALUES

INSPIRATION

PASSION

INTEGRITY

INCLUSION

VISION, MISSION & VALUES

INSPIRATION

PASSION

INTEGRITY

INCLUSION

THE TEAM

GET IN TOUCH

Jim Trott MBE

Founder & Executive Director

Andrew Agassi

Chief Operating Officer

Lizzie Burrowes

Director Of Music Education

Andrea Berbegal

Director Of Development

Kabuye Ronald

Programmes and Administration Manager

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement

Alan Fernie

Composer In Residence

Kasule Daniel

Project Leader & Co-Ordinator

Kalangala

Aboth Josephine

Office Administrator

Mugaya Kenneth

Finance and Administration Officer

Amanya Annah

Accounts Assistant

Bwambale Bernard

Executive Assistant to the Director of Music Education

Nakabiito Maria

Administration And Life-Skills Officer

Kiconco Daisy

Office Assistant

Kivumbi Charles

Driver

Serunjogi Rashid

Driver

Ninsima Alex

Lead Lab Technician - LAB UGANDA

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement

Mukama Allan

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Iman Juuko

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Ampaire Victor

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Mwebe Julius

Music and Life-Skills Teacher & Life-Skills Assistant

Komuhendo Brenda

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Bagumirabingi Best

Music and Life-Skills Teacher & Media Officer

Mwolese Tonny

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Sekiranda Mouris

Music and Life-Skills Teacher & Nsambya Community Band Co-Ordinator

Mayanja Steven

Workshop Officer

Mugisha Gilbert

Musical Development Assistant & Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Nyombi Micheal

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Nangobi Sharon

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Mugerwa Robert

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Kamukama Tadeo

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Kibuuka Ivan

Music and Life-Skills Teacher

Nakachwa Florence