Who We Are

Bela Emerson is a highly experienced CTLLS-qualified Goldsmiths University of London -trained community musician, cellist, and trainer. Bela is passionate about enabling the remarkable effects of participatory music on wellbeing, and active in the field of promoting creative engagement using music.

Bela founded BHMC’s forerunner Open Strings Music in 2014, after a 12-month learning programme with London School for Social Entrepreneurs’ Start Up 2013-14 (and Trade Up 2017-18). As a programme manager Bela leads in designing, facilitating, and evaluating several BHMC projects, including Brighton & Hove Older People’s Music (funded by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Third Sector Partnership 2020-2023): her first project, Silver Strings, is now in its ninth year, providing a lively and supportive atmosphere for older people of all abilities to play stringed instruments together. Her work with Silver Strings earned BHMC a Brighton & Hove City Council Covid19 Community Champion award.

Since 2018, Bela has delivered regular music for dementia training for Goldsmiths University of London, including an online programme. She is also a mentor and Action Learning Set facilitator.

Bela also works with Wishing Well Music For Health – bedside music for connection and wellbeing, with young patients at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, and in acute dementia settings and community hospitals throughout Sussex. As part of this role, she trains medical students in using music in healthcare settings at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

As a performer, Bela has played professionally worldwide, including residencies at Sydney Opera House / Royal Festival Hall, recording four John Peel sessions for BBC Radio 1, composing for acrobats Mimbre, soundtracking films for Tereza Buskova, and playing for Radio 4 with Tamsin Greig, Rory Bremner, Sarah Angliss and Stephen Hiscock. One of her most notable recent performances was playing Wonderwall with Liam Gallagher at Birmingham Arena.