The Team
Chairman & Finance Director
A former chorister at Magdalen College, Oxford, John read music at Edinburgh University, has a diploma in piano from the Royal Academy of Music and is also an Honorary Associate. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant. In the 70's and early 80's he was a classical producer for EMI working with many top artists including Muti, Argerich, Kremer, Gavrilov, Domingo, Levine, Rattle and Tennstedt. In 1985 he became managing director of the London Philharmonic. During his tenure, the orchestra won the sole residency of the Festival Hall and attracted the best line up of international conductors a London orchestra had seen for decades. In 1995 the BBC approached him to build a music division for its commercial subsidiary, BBC Worldwide. Within three years he had established BBC Music Publishing and the BBC Legends label building a top line income of £6.5 million. John left the BBC in 1999 to devote more time to Hazard Chase and his other business interests. On 1 January 2006 he succeeded James Brown as Chairman of the International Artist Managers' Association.
Managing Director
James Brown was born in Yorkshire and studied the viola with Frederick Riddle at the Royal College of Music, during which time he won most of the major viola prizes, was Principal Viola of the RCM Symphony Orchestra and was Co-Principal Viola of the European Community Youth Orchestra. During a six-year career as a professional violist he was the youngest member successively of the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Radio and London Philharmonic orchestras. During his time as a member of the LPO he worked with conductors such as Tennstedt, Haitink, Jansons, Gergiev, Muti, Mehta, Solti and Rattle.
He founded Hazard Chase in 1990. From 1993-1999 he was a Partner of N.W. Brown and Company, Hazard Chase's parent organisation at that time. In October 1997 he was responsible for the acquisition by Hazard Chase of the business interests of Magenta Music International. In November 1999, as Managing Director, he led a management buy-out of Hazard Chase.
He is a consultant to the Woodhouse Centre at the Royal College of Music and a member of the Association Européene des Agents Artistiques and the Music Managers Forum. He has been a speaker at numerous international conferences including Midem Classique, the Association of British Orchestras, the China Shanghai International Arts Festival Forum, the American Symphony Orchestra League and IAMA.
James was Deputy Chairman of the International Artist Managers' Association from 2000-2002 and Chairman from 2003-2005. In May 2007 he became an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Music in a ceremony conducted by the Prince of Wales, President of the College.
Sue Nicholls
Director: Vocal Division
Sue joined Hazard Chase in July 2000 to develop the vocal list and was appointed Director the following year. She began her career in music administration at the London Symphony Orchestra before joining Terry Harrison Artist Management. She worked for many years under the leadership of Tom Graham both at Harrison/Parrott and IMG Artists.
Director: Artist Management
Sibylle studied History and Art History at University College London before completing an MPhil and a PhD at Cambridge University. Her doctoral thesis examined the revival of ancient music in Victorian England (as yet unpublished!). After working in the press office at the Dresden Music Festival she joined Hazard Chase in 1998. Since becoming an Artist Manager in 2000, Sibylle has worked with Garrick Ohlsson, Michael Collins, Petr Altrichter, Grant Llewellyn and Junichi Hirokami amongst others.
Director: Artist Management
Lucy graduated from the University of York in 1994 with a BA (Hons) in Music. As a singer at York she developed a real interest in old and new music. After graduating she spent a year as a spotlight operator at Chichester Festival Theatre. From 1995 - 1997 Lucy worked as tours and concert manager, and fixer for Philip Pickett, the New London Consort and the Musicians of the Globe. In 1997 she joined Magenta Music International as an Artist Manager and moved with the company to Hazard Chase Ltd. During her time at Hazard Chase she has managed The Tallis Scholars, Stephen Layton, and I Fagiolini. Lucy's current list includes The Hilliard Ensemble, Julian Bream, Catrin Finch and Huw Watkins.
Director: Artist Management
Susie studied at the University of Manchester, specialising in performance as a violinist and singer, and in history, specifically performance practice in the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods. On graduating she moved to London where she subsequently spent six years with Intermusica, working with a number of different conductors and instrumentalists. Whilst in London Susie continued to perform widely, joining the Forest Philharmonic and choirs across the South of England including Sarum Voices and The Laudate Choir. She moved to Hazard Chase in 2006.
Artist Manager
Libby graduated in 1999 from APU with BA (Hons) in English Literature and Music, she then spent 3 years working with The King's Consort and Robert King, before joining Hazard Chase in 2002. A violinist and soprano, Libby studied for many years with Howard Davis (Alberni Quartet & RAM) and Chistopher Hirons (RCM). She continues to perform regularly and can often be found hollering in the choir of OLEM Cambridge on a Sunday morning and also for Cambridge Voices amongst many others. At Hazard Chase Libby manages artists including the Tallis Scholars, I Fagiolini, Endellion String Quartet, Noriko Ogawa, Matthew Trusler and Danjulo Ishizaka.
libby.percival@hazardchase.co.uk
libby.percival@hazardchase.co.uk
Artist Manager
Born in the Scottish Borders, John graduated from Aberdeen College of Education with LGSM, LGSM (GMT), LTCL, Dip. T. Mus., and subsequently taught for 3 years before returning to studies as a tenor at the Royal College of Music. After a brief but enjoyable period as a professional singer, he gave up singing and became retail and merchandise manager of the ENO Shop. John finally moved into artist management in 1997 and simultaneously decided to further his interest in language, by studying English and German with the Open University, graduating in 2005 with a BA (Hons) Language Studies.
Artist Manager
Robert graduated from APU in 2003 with BA (Hons) Music and joined Hazard Chase soon after. During his studies he took special interest in choral activity within the university, developing his own chamber group, Anglia Voices, alongside his post as Assistant Director of Anglia Chamber Choir. He now sings and tours regularly with Cambridge Chorale, for whom he has also composed.
Touring and Special Projects Manager
Jeremy Woods was born and educated in London, studying the cello before reading Latin at Manchester University, from where he graduated in 1990. He worked at Harold Holt (now Askonas Holt) from 1991 to 1996 in the Touring and Projects Department on UK and international orchestral touring.
Jeremy also worked on festivals and promotions. In 1996 he joined the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as Head of Concerts and Recordings and in 1997 was appointed General Manager of the Guildhall Strings. Jeremy joined Hazard Chase (along with the Guildhall Strings whom he continues to manage) in June 2001 as Touring and Special Projects Manager.
Events and Projects Manager
Melanie graduated from Birmingham University with a Dual Honours degree in Music and Hispanic Studies. She spent a number of years in the Galician region of Spain, working in opera production, directing the chamber choir “Madrigalia, Coro de Cámara” and assistant-conducting the Galician Symphony Chorus. On returning to the UK, Melanie became Manager for Projects & Administration at International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA), where she established the Young International Performers programme. She is an active musician, playing violin in Ealing Symphony Orchestra and singing in St. Paul’s Cathedral Chorus and the occasional Jazz Cafe. Melanie joined the Touring and Special Projects department at Hazard Chase in September 2007.
melanie.crompton@hazardchase.co.uk
melanie.crompton@hazardchase.co.uk
Assistant Artist Manager
Emily gained a BMus(Hons) from Manchester University where she majored in performance on the oboe. She went on to study for a Masters at the RNCM where she was taught by Melinda Maxwell. During her time in Manchester she worked in the music department of MHSG, and volunteered at a variety of music festivals, including Dartington, Cheltenham and Manchester Jazz Festival. In 2005 she travelled to Macau where she played for the Macau Orchestra, and worked for the Cultural Institute as a production assistant for their International Music Festival.
Assistant Artist Manager
Kate graduated from Sheffield University in 2006 with a Dual Honours French and Music degree. During her time at university, Kate furthered her interest in classical music management by working with various organisations such as the CBSO (with whom she inaugurated a Youth Chorus Committee and co-ordinated a Youth Choirs Summer School) and Music in the Round. She also performed regularly with the University of Sheffield Symphony Orchestra and the University of Sheffield Chamber Choir. In 2004-05 Kate lived in Bordeaux where she had the opportunity to become a member of l'Ensemble Vocal d'Aquitaine with whom she completed an extended study on the place of the arts in French society.
Assistant Artist Manager
Kirsty graduated from APU in 2001 with a BA (Hons) in Business with Music. Having started her career in music administration here at Hazard Chase in 2002, Kirsty has since returned to Hazard Chase both as the assistant artist manager to Matthew Trusler and Danjulo Ishizaka and as Administrator to both The Tallis Scholars and I Fagiolini.
Assistant Artist Manager
Sarah graduated from the University of York with a Music degree in 2006. Whilst at York, Sarah trained as a singer with Yvonne Seymour (classical) and Louise Gibbs (jazz). Sarah pursued her love of jazz singing and did several gigs in York with pianist Ali Laurence. As a classical singer, Sarah sang roles in many large works including Bach's St Matthew Passion in venues such as York Minster. After graduating, Sarah moved to Somerset where she worked at Wells Cathedral School as the Concerts and Operations Assistant. At Wells, Sarah also coached the school Big Band singers and saw them through many successful concerts. Sarah joined Hazard Chase in April 2007 and works with Instrumentalists and Conductors.
Assistant Artist Manager
Suzanna graduated from Cambridge University in 2007 having studied History. During her time at Cambridge, Suzanna became involved in organising concerts for Fitzwilliam College. She was president of the Fitzwilliam College Music Society and Orchestra on the Hill and worked with many artists performing at the College. Suzanna joined Hazard Chase in September 2007 as assistant to James Brown, Robert Rountree and Libby Percival.
Assistant Artist Manager
Lucy recently graduated in Modern and Medieval Languages from Girton College, Cambridge, where she held a choral scholarship and an instrumental award. She spent the third year of her degree in Italy, playing the violin in the Italian National Youth Orchestra (Orchestra Giovanile Italiana) and studying at the University of Florence. Lucy is a member of Trinity College Chapel Choir and Cambridge University Chamber Choir. She currently studies singing with Ashley Stafford and violin with Maureen Smith. Lucy joined Hazard Chase as an Assistant in the Vocal Department in October 2007.
Accounts Assistant
Nadia recently joined Hazard Chase as part-time assistant in the accounts department. She has worked extensively in music administration, most notably at Harrison Parrott (opera dpt), the RPO (sponsorship dpt), Harold Holt (touring), St. Margaret's, Westminster Abbey (Music dpt), as well as private PA to violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky. She is currently also private PA to the Chairman of Southbank Sinfonia.
