Philip Shaw was the Head of Suffolk County Music Service for 31 years. We are delighted that he has agreed to be SMART's Honorary President, as his Valedictory Concert was the event that led to SMART's conception. Philip's knowledge and experience in the arts in Suffolk will be paramount to the charity's success. 

Vicky studied at St Joseph's College and, later, Suffolk One. She played the flute and saxophone with Suffolk Youth Music. She was awarded a MusB (Hons) at the University of Manchester and was the President of the Manchester University Music Society (MUMS) for the academic year 2015/16. She was offered the job of Concerts Assistant with Royal Northern Sinfonia, at Sage Gateshead, and later was Projects Coordinator. After three years, she took the position of Assistant Orchestra Manager at the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Cardiff, and was promoted to Orchestra Manager in November 2022.

Having enjoyed and benefited from the many opportunities offered by Suffolk Youth Music, Becci believes that everyone should have access to arts education, and the experiences and possibilities that such an education can open up. Becci was involved with Suffolk Youth Music for most of her formative years, playing with South Suffolk Intermediate and Youth Orchestras, Suffolk Junior Strings and Suffolk Youth Orchestra, from 1991 to 2001.

After studying for A-levels at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, she gained a BA (Hons) in Music from Cambridge University. She then trained as a lawyer and now works in-house at an insurance company, playing cello and piano with classical, folk, jazz, and rock/pop/funk/soul groups as often as her young family allows.

Will studied at Leiston High School and joined the Suffolk Youth Orchestra in 1987. He then studied Business and Finance at Essex and Northumbria Universities. Whilst he didn’t follow a career in music, he passionately believes that it was his involvement with music and the Suffolk Youth Orchestra, in particular, that gave him the confidence, drive and persistence to run successful companies in the health and social care sector. He is currently Chief Executive of Frantec Ltd.

Wendy is a headteacher. She passionately believes that all children and young people should be able to access a high quality Arts education. Wendy helped to establish SMART, as she wants to make sure that the young people of Suffolk have every opportunity to develop their talents and excel.

Wendy's daughter was a member of SYM from 2007 to 2014; she benefited from excellent music tuition. This experience helped her to develop her musicianship to a very high standard; it also developed many of the "soft skills" she required to enter the world of employment, e.g. self-confidence, collaboration, leadership, perseverance, resilience. After completing her degree at the University of Manchester, she was offered a position with the Royal Northern Sinfonia management team at Sage Gateshead and is now Assistant Orchestra Manager at the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. 

Carly is a professional horn player and educator who volunteered to become a trustee because she is grateful for the opportunities provided by the Suffolk Music Service during her school years and wants to ensure that future generations are able to access these same opportunities. Carly was a member of many South Suffolk ensembles and is a former principal horn of SYWB and SYO.

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Carly studied performance at Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London and currently studies Arts Management at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. She has performed and led workshops across the world, from the Albert Hall to the Arctic Circle, and feels lucky that her career in music has allowed her to experience so many amazing places.

Grace is a trumpeter and pianist and has just started a 4-year music degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, specialising on trumpet. She was a member of the Suffolk Youth Orchestra for 3 years, and particularly enjoyed the concert tours to Poland, Spain and Italy. She has also played for the East of England Co-op Band, Martlesham Brass and various ensembles at Kesgrave High School. She has also performed as a freelancer around Suffolk, playing in jazz bands, big bands, solo performances, brass bands, quartets, chamber music, offstage trumpet solos, pit bands, wind bands, and have led and conducted ensembles.

Grace's long-term aim is to become a professional musician. In her spare time I’m a keen follower of musical theatre and my dream would be to play in a West End pit band. Grace is very grateful for all the support and guidance she received through the County Music Service and is keen to ensure that this wonderful service continues to thrive!

Website: www.graceharmanmusic.co.uk

Facebook: Grace Harman Music | Twitter: @musician_grace.

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Nathan is a bassist and percussionist currently completing his undergraduate degree in Music at the University of Huddersfield. He completed his A-level studies at Woodbridge School where he held a musical scholarship. He passionately believes that all young people, no matter their background, should be offered the opportunity to at least experience music, after not becoming a musician himself until late in his high school career. He is looking at potentially going into orchestral management/logistics and currently works with a few large music organisations in Suffolk and West Yorkshire. He was is also president of Huddersfield University Music Society (HUMS) for the 2022/23 academic year.

He enjoys a variety of playing environments including playing in small jazz ensembles, big bands, pit orchestras, symphony orchestras and chamber groups on bass as well as previously being a pianist for a Co-op juniors dance class. The sheer amount of playing has opened his eyes to the wider world of music and only drives him more to give these opportunities to anyone who might want them, or not know that they want them yet. He is a firm believer that any barrier can be overcome with the correct aid. This led him to SMART, seeing it as an opportunity for him to help the next generation overcome their challenges. 

Ben’s musical career started at the age of 6 as a chorister in York Minster cathedral choir, where he also started to learn flute and piano. A music scholarship to Oundle School in Northamptonshire afforded him the chance to continue to learn piano and flute and add saxophone & drum kit. These studies were furthered by a BMus (Hons) Degree at the University of East Anglia, including a choral scholarship to Norwich Cathedral.

Ben’s involvement in Music education began in 2006 when, having spent a number of years teaching privately, he undertook a PGCE in Secondary Music with Specialist Instrumental Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. In 2007, he joined Bolton Music Service in Lancashire as a peripatetic instrumental teacher, becoming Assistant Head in 2011. He joined Suffolk County Music Service in 2017 as a Senior Manager in the North of the county, before stepping into the role of Head of Service in September 2021.

Since arriving in Suffolk, Ben has been consistently inspired by both students, colleagues and fellow professionals in their devotion to music-making and he is very proud to represent the County Music Service on the board of trustees and help facilitate the wonderful support that SMART offers.

Callum plays piano and saxophone and studied music at Royal Holloway, University of London where he had aims of becoming a music teacher, having been inspired by his own music teacher when growing up in Kent. There he nurtured his love for collaborative music-making as part of the a capella choir and after spending time on the committee decided to pursue a career in arts project management, starting his professional career through internships with Sound Connections and HMDT Music.

He is now is Head of Community at Britten Pears Arts, where he oversees work which increases the wellbeing of individuals and strengthens communities through music and heritage, specifically with young people, families, schools, those living with long term health conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's, and those in the criminal justice system. As part of this, he sits on Suffolk’s three Local Cultural Education Partnerships and is passionate about ensuring creative opportunities and their benefits are accessible by all.

Jess has just completed year 12 studies at Hartismere College which is including the start of her music A-Level specialising on Trumpet and Cornet. Jess enjoys playing in the school's brass and concert bands.

Jess has played Cornet/Trumpet since age 9 and has been a member of Suffolk Music playing in Stradbroke Brass Band and joined Suffolk Youth Wind Orchestra in 2018. Enjoying the achievements and social aspects that this brings Jess in 2019 joined Suffolk Youth Orchestra as principal Trumpet and is looking forward to Summer Tour 2022.

Jess comes from a brass band background as a member of a competing brass band, here she participated as solo cornet and has played in two national finals. In 2018, Jess was East Anglian Brass Band slow melody under 18 Champion. In 2019 Jess joined Aldeburgh Young Musicians and thought it was paramount to widen her experiences and explore the various genres of music around the world. After completing her A-Levels in 2023, Jess is going to study a Music Performance
Degree with an aspiration to then go on to study an MA in Music Therapy to become a Music Therapist.

Jess is looking forward to becoming a SMART Youth Trustee as she has become so inspired by Suffolk Youth Music from a young age. Music will always be such a prominent aspect in Jess’ life, and she would like to thank all the leaders, professionals and mentors of Suffolk Music that have shaped her to believe in herself and what she can achieve as a musician and performer. Jess would like to share with future young musicians all the positivity and guidance to help give back to others what Music has given to her so far in her journey.

Morgan has just started studying at Hartismere VI form, including music A level specialising on Euphonium. She plays in school ensembles such as brass and concert bands, and enjoys conducting the flute choir. 

Morgan has played Euphonium since the age of 7, and has participated in Suffolk County music through Stradbroke Brass Band and Suffolk Youth Wind Band. She loves the challenges the different ensembles bring, and has thoroughly enjoyed touring to the Czech Republic, making incredible friends along the way. 

Morgan also plays principal Euphonium in a competing brass band, partaking in the 2022 second section competition. She placed second in the 2022 East Anglian U18 Slow Melody competition. She is very grateful to all the Suffolk Music tutors for opening the gateway into music, as it had helped shape so much of her life. After she completes her A levels, Morgan wants to study a musical performance degree and join the Army as a musician. 

She is looking forward to becoming a Youth Trustee for Smart to say thank you for everything music has done in her life, and to give back, help and inspire others to discover their musical journeys as well. Music is such a huge part of everyone's lives, but to be able to create, understand and use it in such a positive way is one of the most rewarding things she has experienced, and she would like to share with future musicians this incredible journey.