With over 35 years’ experience across the music sector, Ollie Bayley has worked as a professional musician, educator, project manager and events producer. As part of the senior team at Lambeth Music Service, he leads the development of progression pathways for young people, both in and out of school.

He played a key role in shaping Lambeth Sounds Music Hub, building strategic partnerships between schools, creative organisations, local authorities and industry to support a grassroots-led music ecosystem. He has also pioneered emerging artist platforms at festivals including Field Day and Cross The Tracks, championing the role of grassroots initiatives in nurturing future talent.

As a musician, his work spans jazz, reggae and classical, including collaborations with Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA Ensemble and artists such as Tony Allen, Jason Yarde, Shabaka Hutchings, Zoe Rahman, Johnny Clarke, Cornell Campbell and Damon Albarn.

Raised in a rural area with limited access to the arts, he benefited from a progressive music education that embraced jazz and improvisation—an experience that continues to inform his teaching and advocacy. Bringing both professional expertise and lived experience, he offers a distinctive perspective on the importance of inclusive, exploratory music education.