Ann Humphrey - Chairman:
With over 20 years experience in business as both Marketing Director and subsequently Managing Director, Ann brings a wealth of experience to the team. She has advised many companies on their marketing strategy and was responsible for the very successful launch and subsequent distribution of a unique patented product in the UK and then Worldwide. She is also a qualified teacher and has always had a strong interest in music. She encouraged her own children to play musical instruments and to have a love of music. She also plays the piano.
With over 20 years experience in business as both Marketing Director and subsequently Managing Director, Ann brings a wealth of experience to the team. She has advised many companies on their marketing strategy and was responsible for the very successful launch and subsequent distribution of a unique patented product in the UK and then Worldwide. She is also a qualified teacher and has always had a strong interest in music. She encouraged her own children to play musical instruments and to have a love of music. She also plays the piano.
Sally Tarlton - Ex Officio Advisor:
Sally studied the piano and ‘cello at the Royal College of Music then took a post-graduate répétiteur’s course at The London Opera Centre. She worked in London for many years as an accompanist and coach and played for several opera groups and large choirs as well as regularly accompanying singing master classes. She also played harpsichord continuo for many different choral societies.
She was a founder member of the Helios Orchestra in London and appeared with them in many concerts including the Purcell Room at the South Bank. She has also performed piano concertos with the Dinas Powys Orchestra including Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.
Sally studied the piano and ‘cello at the Royal College of Music then took a post-graduate répétiteur’s course at The London Opera Centre. She worked in London for many years as an accompanist and coach and played for several opera groups and large choirs as well as regularly accompanying singing master classes. She also played harpsichord continuo for many different choral societies.
She was a founder member of the Helios Orchestra in London and appeared with them in many concerts including the Purcell Room at the South Bank. She has also performed piano concertos with the Dinas Powys Orchestra including Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.
Rose Hoskin - Secretary:
Rose is a qualified teacher with a love of music and the arts. She has worked in charitable organisations, on the pay roll and as a volunteer and was a local councillor for many years. She enjoys the continued contact with young people that Music in the Vale allows her.
Rose is a qualified teacher with a love of music and the arts. She has worked in charitable organisations, on the pay roll and as a volunteer and was a local councillor for many years. She enjoys the continued contact with young people that Music in the Vale allows her.
The Executive Committee:
Do you think you might like to join us? Then please contact us at enquiries@musicinthevale.org.uk
Ann Humphrey - Chairman
Rose Hoskin - Secretary
Sheelagh Lewis - Treasurer
Ellie Humphrey - Publicity
Naomi Gaffney
Patricia Read
Lizzy Birchall
Mari Major
Rose Hoskin - Secretary
Sheelagh Lewis - Treasurer
Ellie Humphrey - Publicity
Naomi Gaffney
Patricia Read
Lizzy Birchall
Mari Major
Ellie has worked in Customer Service for many years and has excellent organisational and people skills. She has always had an interest in music and the arts and learnt to play the piano and cello when she was younger. She continues to play the piano on a regular basis. Ellie has two sons and encourages them to enjoy music as she does. She believes it is really important to provide opportunities for young people to develop their musical talent. She brings a new, fresh, young approach to the work of Music in the Vale.
Sally now lives in Llantwit Major and works as an accompanist and teacher as well as performing with her violinist husband and professional colleagues. They have played in Brecon, North Wales and Norfolk and often give concerts in the Cardiff area. They have recently been joined in concerts by their young son who is a talented ‘cellist.
Sally was accompanist for the Cowbridge Amateur Operatic Society for nine years and was musical director for their performance of “Yeoman of the Guard”.
She is the accompanist for the 90 strong Cardiff Bach Choir and plays continuo in their concerts. She is also one of the official accompanists for ‘Music in the Vale’. She gives piano lessons at the Cathedral School, Llandaff and has an extensive private teaching practice.
Sally was accompanist for the Cowbridge Amateur Operatic Society for nine years and was musical director for their performance of “Yeoman of the Guard”.
She is the accompanist for the 90 strong Cardiff Bach Choir and plays continuo in their concerts. She is also one of the official accompanists for ‘Music in the Vale’. She gives piano lessons at the Cathedral School, Llandaff and has an extensive private teaching practice.
Naomi Gaffney - Advisor:
Naomi studied music from an early stage, first on the piano and then the violin. She gained a place at Royal College of Music London, where she stayed for 3 years and then did a post graduate course at the Royal Academy of Music, London. It was during this time that she changed to the viola as she much preferred the sound and register of this mellow instrument.
In 1978 she was appointed to the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra (as it was called then) and quickly progressed to the position of sub principal viola. She left in 2000 to pursue other opportunities and to increase her teaching hours. She now freelances and is also an examiner for the newly amalgamated Trinity Guildhall.
In 1978 she was appointed to the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra (as it was called then) and quickly progressed to the position of sub principal viola. She left in 2000 to pursue other opportunities and to increase her teaching hours. She now freelances and is also an examiner for the newly amalgamated Trinity Guildhall.
Our Patrons:
Artistic Director:
Ex Officio Advisor:
Christopher Vale
Sally Tarlton
Ellie Humphrey - Publicity:
Christopher Vale : Artistic Director
Christopher Vale studied at the Royal College of Music under Kerry Camden. He achieved the highest College Grade, and won the Arthur Somerville Bassoon Prize.
He gained his A.R.C.M. in Bassoon and A R C M (teachers dip) in Piano.
He is at present Sub- principal Bassoon doubling Contra at Welsh National Opera. Previous to this he was principal Bassoon with the New Sadlers Wells Opera, also principal Bassoon for Orchestral Services, involving work with the Cuban, Australian and Houston Ballet Companies.
His Contra work has included Welsh National Opera productions of Wozzeck, and the Wagner Ring Cycle, Salome and Elektra. He has played Contra bassoon for the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet. He is also on call for extra work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of St Johns Smith Square, and has recently been working for S4C film music and BBC Radio Four on both Bassoon and Contra - Bassoon.
He gained his A.R.C.M. in Bassoon and A R C M (teachers dip) in Piano.
He is at present Sub- principal Bassoon doubling Contra at Welsh National Opera. Previous to this he was principal Bassoon with the New Sadlers Wells Opera, also principal Bassoon for Orchestral Services, involving work with the Cuban, Australian and Houston Ballet Companies.
His Contra work has included Welsh National Opera productions of Wozzeck, and the Wagner Ring Cycle, Salome and Elektra. He has played Contra bassoon for the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet. He is also on call for extra work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of St Johns Smith Square, and has recently been working for S4C film music and BBC Radio Four on both Bassoon and Contra - Bassoon.
Christopher teaches bassoon and piano at the Cathedral School Llandaff, as well as working at the Royal Welsh College of music and drama as Contra bassoon Tutor. He has worked on music courses, and has run his own as director of Music for Fun, and The Rez a theatre residential school which puts a musical on in a week.
Christopher also has helped to start the training orchestra at the JMAS. He is involved as coach and conductor with the Welsh National Opera youth opera, performing The Mikado and Sweeney Todd. He worked on a newly commissioned youth opera called the Tailors Daughter by Brian Irvine and is involved as project Co-ordinator for The Young Players Project
Christopher takes part as a performer in MAX projects for WNO. `The Boy Who Went to the West Wind` by John Ohara and `The Real Princess` Helen Woods is taking opera to primary schools in England and Wales.
He has been Acting Head of the Junior Music and Access Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and now works on outreach projects at the College as well as being a MAX project co-ordinator for Welsh National Opera.
Christopher also has helped to start the training orchestra at the JMAS. He is involved as coach and conductor with the Welsh National Opera youth opera, performing The Mikado and Sweeney Todd. He worked on a newly commissioned youth opera called the Tailors Daughter by Brian Irvine and is involved as project Co-ordinator for The Young Players Project
Christopher takes part as a performer in MAX projects for WNO. `The Boy Who Went to the West Wind` by John Ohara and `The Real Princess` Helen Woods is taking opera to primary schools in England and Wales.
He has been Acting Head of the Junior Music and Access Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and now works on outreach projects at the College as well as being a MAX project co-ordinator for Welsh National Opera.
She has also established a major operatic career in America where she has sung Susanna and Zerlina for the Metropolitan Opera, New York; Susanna for the Santa Fe Opera; Pamina and Adèle (Die Fledermaus) for the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and Zerlina, Anne Trulove (The Rake s Progress) and Adina (L Elisir d Amore) for San Francisco Opera.
Her forthcoming engagements include Liu (Turandot) at the Welsh National Opera and Countess Almaviva at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
In concert she has appeared at the Salzburg, Edinburgh, Tanglewood and Ravinia Festivals and she is a regular guest at the BBC Proms. Her engagements include the San Francisco Symphony with Tilson Thomas, the Boston Symphony Orchestra with Tate, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Mackerras, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra with Gardiner, the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra with Otaka and the Accademia Santa Cecilia with Pappano.
In recital, she has sung at the Wigmore Hall, London; and the Barcelona, Ravinia, Buxton, Belfast and Beaulieu-sur-Mer Festivals.
A Grammy Award winning artist, she has recorded prolifically including Marzelline, Pamina and Gretel with Sir Charles Mackerras, Ilia with David Parry and Laila with Brad Cohen (Chandos); Nanetta with Sir John Eliot Gardiner (Philips); a series of Gilbert and Sullivan recordings with Sir Charles Mackerras and a solo recording of Italian songs (EMI). On television she has appeared on the BBC in Maestro , as Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) and as host of her own series A Touch of Classics .
Her forthcoming engagements include Liu (Turandot) at the Welsh National Opera and Countess Almaviva at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
In concert she has appeared at the Salzburg, Edinburgh, Tanglewood and Ravinia Festivals and she is a regular guest at the BBC Proms. Her engagements include the San Francisco Symphony with Tilson Thomas, the Boston Symphony Orchestra with Tate, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Mackerras, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra with Gardiner, the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra with Otaka and the Accademia Santa Cecilia with Pappano.
In recital, she has sung at the Wigmore Hall, London; and the Barcelona, Ravinia, Buxton, Belfast and Beaulieu-sur-Mer Festivals.
A Grammy Award winning artist, she has recorded prolifically including Marzelline, Pamina and Gretel with Sir Charles Mackerras, Ilia with David Parry and Laila with Brad Cohen (Chandos); Nanetta with Sir John Eliot Gardiner (Philips); a series of Gilbert and Sullivan recordings with Sir Charles Mackerras and a solo recording of Italian songs (EMI). On television she has appeared on the BBC in Maestro , as Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) and as host of her own series A Touch of Classics .
Rebecca Evans - Patron:
Rebecca was born in South Wales and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
At the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, she has sung Mimi (La bohème), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Despina (Così fan tutte) and Johanna (Sweeney Todd) and at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, her roles have included Ginevra (Ariodante), Ilia (Idomeneo), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier) and Zdenka (Arabella). Elsewhere she has sung Despina at the Deutsche Staatsoper, Berlin; Ilia for the Netherlands Opera and for the Opera de Lausanne; the title role of The Cunning Little Vixen for Scottish Opera and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Romilda (Xerxes), Ginevra and Governess (The Turn of the Screw) for the English National Opera. A favourite at the Welsh National Opera, her roles there have included Mimi, Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Pamina, Ilia, Marzelline (Fidelio), Norina (Don Pasquale) and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel).
Rebecca was born in South Wales and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
At the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, she has sung Mimi (La bohème), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Despina (Così fan tutte) and Johanna (Sweeney Todd) and at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, her roles have included Ginevra (Ariodante), Ilia (Idomeneo), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier) and Zdenka (Arabella). Elsewhere she has sung Despina at the Deutsche Staatsoper, Berlin; Ilia for the Netherlands Opera and for the Opera de Lausanne; the title role of The Cunning Little Vixen for Scottish Opera and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Romilda (Xerxes), Ginevra and Governess (The Turn of the Screw) for the English National Opera. A favourite at the Welsh National Opera, her roles there have included Mimi, Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Pamina, Ilia, Marzelline (Fidelio), Norina (Don Pasquale) and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel).
Committed to the highest level of music education for young people Owain Arwel Hughes accepted the position of Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 2003, the oldest such youth orchestra in the world.
He has held the titles of Associate Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As Principal Conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Denmark, he raised the orchestra's profile with major recordings of Danish music. Acclaimed for his direction of large scale choral works Owain Arwel Hughes had a highly successful period as Conductor of the world famous Huddersfield Choral Society between 1980 and 1986.
Owain Arwel Hughes enjoys a long-standing relationship with the recording label BIS for whom he has recorded the entire orchestral, concerto and choral output of Vagn Holmboe and all Rachmaninov's symphonies and concertos. Recently released recordings include Holst's Planets with the Royal Philharmonic, the complete Brahms symphonies and overtures with the Stuttgart Philharmonic and the complete Tchaikovsky piano/orchestral works with the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. Releases with BIS in 08/09 include the world premiere recordings of Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso and Symphony No.9 with Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. Future releases in 10/11 include Walton Symphony 1 and 2 with the Orchestre National de Lille and a CD of the music of Arwel Hughes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Arwel Hughes’ conducting commitments include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symfoniorkester, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre National de Lille.
Owain Arwel Hughes’ contribution to music has been marked with honorary doctorates and fellowships at nine universities and conservatoires. In 2004 in recognition of his services to music and charity he was awarded an OBE and in January 2009 he was the recipient of a CBE.
He has held the titles of Associate Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As Principal Conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Denmark, he raised the orchestra's profile with major recordings of Danish music. Acclaimed for his direction of large scale choral works Owain Arwel Hughes had a highly successful period as Conductor of the world famous Huddersfield Choral Society between 1980 and 1986.
Owain Arwel Hughes enjoys a long-standing relationship with the recording label BIS for whom he has recorded the entire orchestral, concerto and choral output of Vagn Holmboe and all Rachmaninov's symphonies and concertos. Recently released recordings include Holst's Planets with the Royal Philharmonic, the complete Brahms symphonies and overtures with the Stuttgart Philharmonic and the complete Tchaikovsky piano/orchestral works with the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. Releases with BIS in 08/09 include the world premiere recordings of Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso and Symphony No.9 with Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. Future releases in 10/11 include Walton Symphony 1 and 2 with the Orchestre National de Lille and a CD of the music of Arwel Hughes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Arwel Hughes’ conducting commitments include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symfoniorkester, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre National de Lille.
Owain Arwel Hughes’ contribution to music has been marked with honorary doctorates and fellowships at nine universities and conservatoires. In 2004 in recognition of his services to music and charity he was awarded an OBE and in January 2009 he was the recipient of a CBE.
Owain Arwel Hughes CBE: Patron
Principal Guest Conductor: Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Camerata Wales
Music Director: National Youth Orchestra of Wales
Principal Guest Conductor: Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Camerata Wales
Music Director: National Youth Orchestra of Wales
In a career spanning 40 years, Owain Arwel Hughes has conducted and recorded many of the world's leading orchestras. In November 2007, he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he has recently conducted and recorded the world premiere of Schnittke's monumental choral work, Nagasaki. As Founder and Artistic Director, Owain Arwel Hughes is the driving force behind the success of the Cardiff Welsh Proms. Inaugurated in 1986, it has become one of the major UK music festivals attracting orchestras and leading artists from around the world.
ORGANISATION
Lizzy Birchall:
Sheelagh Lewis - Treasurer:
Sheelagh studied at Cardiff College of Music & Drama and then taught in London. After moving to Jamaica, she taught Music in a private school there for 6 years. Upon her return to the UK, she moved to Landaff and now lives in Llancarfan. Sheelagh taught in Rhydypenau Primary School for 15 years. She is now enjoying her retirement and her involvement with Music in the Vale maintains her lifelong interest in Music and Young people.