MEET THE TEAM

FOUNDERS / TRUSTEES / CREATIVE PRODUCERS

HANNAH SEYMOUR (she/her)

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Hannah Seymour is a London-based oboist, educator, and advocate. She recently completed a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music, supported by the H R Taylor Charitable Trust, following a First Class Honours degree from the Royal Northern College of Music.

Hannah has performed with leading ensembles including the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Hallé, and is currently a member of the Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Programme (2025/2026). Recent highlights include performances at the Royal Albert Hall and Snape Maltings. She is also a member of the award-winning Northern Reeds, the UK’s first established reed quintet, with whom she has performed nationwide and released a debut album in 2024.
Beyond performance, Hannah is co-founder and director of EMPOWER: Women Changing Music, an initiative championing gender equity and opportunities for emerging artists. She is passionate about music education and outreach, working as a woodwind tutor and workshop leader with organisations including Tri-Borough Music Hub and the National Children’s Orchestra. In 2025, she is an Emerging Music Leader with Sound Connections in partnership with Creative Futures, a year-long programme supporting early career leaders in music.
Hannah plays on a Marigaux M2 oboe, supported by the Loan Fund for Musical Instruments, The MacFarlane Walker Trust, and the RCM Musicians’ Grant Fund.
“I consider myself a positive, reliable and level headed person, but being a musician really tests this at times. My first oboe teacher always told me that there was a certain psychology behind playing the oboe, and I believe that now more than ever…
As an introverted, anxious and insecure teenager, the one thing I felt confident in was playing the oboe. I felt supported, listened to and a sense of importance, and this is what inspired me to continue.
At 16, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I was sure it wasn’t music. I considered studying biology or conservation, but I didn’t think I was built for the university environment. A county youth orchestra tour a year later made me realise that playing the oboe was exactly what I wanted to commit myself to, and I was informed that such thing as conservatoires existed - who knew?!
Music college was a huge journey. Despite being the best thing I’ve ever done, I would be lying if I said it didn’t have its challenges, with a pandemic, reed meltdowns and cracked instruments, it has certainly tested me. Deep down it has always come back to doing what I love, and being surrounded by like-minded people.
The most impactful role models in my life have been women, particularly my music teachers. They have supported and pushed me in just the right ways. EMPOWER has grown into such a special community and I feel that as a young female, to use my voice and to help people to be inspired like I have been in the past, feels like my way of giving back. Supporting and championing other women is crucial and we should never forget that.”

SINÉAD WALSH (she/her)

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Hailing from Dublin, Sinéad Walsh is quickly developing a diverse career as a flautist and young industry leader. A Southbank Centre ‘Future Artist’ for the 24/25 season, Sinéad was a finalist for the Irish Heritage Bursary 2025 at Wigmore Hall, and is a 2025 recipient of the RPS Isserlus Scholarship.

Sinéad is an experienced solo, orchestral and chamber musician performing regularly across the UK and Ireland, having worked alongside the Ulster Orchestra, the Hallé, Philharmonia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Knussen Chamber Orchestra and Irish National Opera.
In 2022, Sinéad won 1st prize and was awarded the McCullough Cup and RTE Lyric FM Bursary at the Feis Ceoil, Ireland’s largest classical music competition. She was subsequently a finalist in the prestigious RDS Bursary competition, the largest award of its kind in Europe.
Sinéad recently completed her postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was awarded a DipRAM and Exam Board Award for her final recital. Sinéad previously received a first class honours degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, studying under Laura Jellicoe, and was awarded the Sir John Manduell award upon graduation, the college's top prize, for exceptional contribution and outstanding potential.
Advocacy has been central to her creative practice, serving as the elected Students' Union President for the 22/23 academic year and as Chair of the Conservatoires UK Student Network for 23/24. She is also an enthusiastic teacher and is a tutor at the Oxford Flute Summer School, Young Music Makers, and is an Open Academy Fellow for the 25/26 academic year.
Sinéad plays on an Altus 1807 flute purchased through the generous support of the Wolfson Foundation.
“I love fun and making other people laugh, and always to try bring positive energy to others. I'm also an expert in making life difficult for myself, but I'm learning that's a common trait in musicians.
I’ve always been extremely self motivated, and looking back, I was always going to furrow my own path. I built up a huge amount of resilience in my journey to conservatoire and throughout my studies, and these experiences have shaped the person I’ve become.
In an ever changing industry, one that is becoming increasingly difficult for emerging artists to shine in, continues to fill me with self doubt. However, the sense of purpose and fulfilment that EMPOWER has brought to my life is something I never could have imagined at the start of this journey. Finding a sense of meaning, and a space where one feels like they belong, in this crazy world of classical can be really difficult, and I feel so proud to be creating an impactful space for so many people.
I believe in the work we are doing, and feel excited as we look to the next chapter in our growth, and I am excited to see what, where, and who EMPOWER will lead us to. “

Our Trustees

Sam McShane

KINGS PLACE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Sam McShane is the Artistic Director of Kings Place in London, where she leads adventurous, genre-spanning programming across music, spoken word and community projects. Before joining Kings Place in 2024, she was Creative Director at Manchester Camerata, where she developed talent initiatives and artistic partnerships, and previously held senior programming roles at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Known for her innovative, inclusive approach, Sam champions new work, cross-genre collaboration and widening access to the arts.

Anna Wolstenholme

FLAUTIST & EDUCATOR

Anna Wolstenholme is a distinguished flautist and educator known for her versatile international career. She spent a decade as Principal Flute of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and is now Principal Flute of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Anna regularly appears as guest principal with major UK orchestras and is Senior Lecturer in Artist Development and Chamber Music at the Royal Academy of Music. Her work spans performance, recording, mentoring and nurturing the next generation of musicians.