Announcing JMI’s new Chair of Trustees!

The Jewish Music Institute is delighted to announce that Robert Rinder MBE has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Rob is a barrister, broadcaster and writer with a long-standing commitment to justice, education and cultural life in the United Kingdom. Alongside his legal work, he has contributed widely to public understanding of history, civic identity and the importance of cultural memory. He serves as President of the Orion Orchestra and is an Honorary Colonel of the Royal Corps of Army Music, reflecting his deep support for musicians, performance and arts education. He was awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education.

Rob brings to JMI not only extensive professional experience but also a profound passion for Jewish culture, creativity and heritage. His conviction that music is both an archive of memory and a bridge to the future aligns closely with the mission of JMI.

A message from Rob Rinder:

“Stepping into the role of Chair of JMI felt less like taking on a position and more like returning to a part of my own cultural home, a place shaped by memory, resilience and the music that has always carried our story forward. Jewish music, from the sacred to the avant garde, has always seemed to me one of the great repositories of our story, a place where memory, imagination and identity meet.

JMI embodies that spirit. It connects communities, celebrates our heritage and cultivates what comes next. I am genuinely delighted to support an organisation that brings the full breadth of Jewish sound to a wider public and nurtures the next generation of musicians, scholars and creators.

It is a privilege to stand with JMI in this vital Work.” 

We are delighted to welcome Rob Rinder as Chair as we continue building a vibrant, confident and diverse future for Jewish music in the UK. His leadership, passion and public voice will amplify JMI’s work at a moment when cultural connection and creativity matter more than ever.