Rachel Rayner – Chair of the Committee (Nov 2023 to present)
Born and raised in Suffolk, Rachel moved to Rutland in 2007. Working full time for a large environmental services company for the last 23 years, first as a health & safety manager and more recently as a project and improvements manager, Rachel is a keen amateur musician.
Having played the trumpet from the age of 8, Rachel now plays with Rutland Sinfonia, Stamford Chamber Orchestra and Bardi Wind Orchestra as a regular member, with the occasional appearance with other orchestras when time allows.
As chair of Rutland Sinfonia’s committee, Rachel is keen not only to make Rutland Sinfonia’s music accessible to as wide an audience as possible, but to see Rutland have it’s own large rehearsal / concert / performance venue for both music and the arts. Currently many groups, Rutland Sinfonia included, have limited options within the county, meaning that many head out of county to perform.
Peter Davis – Vice Chair
Peter has been immersed in music-making since a young age, and had the opportunity to train as a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral. His studies as a multi-instrumentalist included learning recorders, French horn and drums/percussion, before specialising from his mid-teens as a keyboard player on both piano and organ, which led him to being awarded the prestigious organ scholarship at St John’s College, Cambridge.
Once he had completed his music degree, Peter embarked on a full-time career in education, moving to Rutland in 2005 to become Director of Music at Oakham School. He is fully committed to supporting music-making in all its forms within the county, and has particularly been committed to helping develop singing in local primary schools as part of his chairmanship of the Rutland Music Hub.
He has been a member of the Arts for Rutland committees for around 15 years, becoming a trustee and Vice Chair in 2015. He directed the music for two previous Arts for Rutland community projects – the Four Winds Festival on the banks of Rutland Water in 2011, and Mobilisation at Kendrew Barracks in 2014.
Anne Mortimer
Anne Stringer – Minutes Secretary
Since moving to Rutland for work over twenty years ago, Anne has renewed her love of the performance arts and dance in particular. Anne has been performing in local shows ever since. Previously chair of Rutland Musical Theatre, she now runs her own amateur production group, Horseshoe Theatre Group and is also a member of Seaton Starlights. She is also a director for Rutland and Stamford Sound CIC.
Anne believes that all forms of art should be as approachable as possible – both for the creators of Art and audiences. Her passion is to see an accessible multi-purpose rehearsal and performance space in Rutland.
Anne is passionate about helping the Arts and is proud to be working with Arts for Rutland
Joy Everitt
Joy was born in Peterborough and trained to be a nurse at the Middlesex hospital in London, working for 41 years in the National Health Service across a wide range of services.
Involved with amateur drama all her life, she has been a member of a number of local groups including Rutland Arts Theatre Society, Uppingham Theatre Company, Horseshoe Players and Mask Theatre Peterborough. Joy became a member of Arts for Rutland through her involvement with the Oakham Festival, and acted as Chair for a number of years up until October 2023.
Her favourite projects with Arts for Rutland have been the Hippo trail, The Way the Wind Blows at Rutland Water, Mobilisation at Kendrew Barracks, and The Rutlanders Return – a project written specially for Rutland and performed by local artists in venues around Rutland.
Joy regrets that we have not yet managed to get a large performance and rehearsal venue in Rutland, as it makes it difficult to book professional theatre and dance performances in the county because we do not have a large enough space to make the events viable. She has worked hard to encourage and utilise Rutland County Museum for performances and exhibitions would really like to see a multipurpose arts centre enabling Arts for Rutland to be able to bring together all the local groups and individuals involved in the Arts within Rutland.
