An expert in community arts and creativity has been appointed to head up one of the region’s leading music organisations.
Dr Jane Povey (pictured) is the new chair of Shropshire Music Trust, which stages concerts by top classical, jazz and world musicians and supports music education programmes in schools.
Trust treasurer Roger Terry said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jane to the team. Her collaborative approach and passion for the arts and live music making is ideally suited to our aims and we are looking forward to harnessing her enthusiasm and many bright ideas for enriching cultural life in Shropshire.
“As with all volunteer-led organisations, success depends upon the chemistry of the people involved and we are pleased to report that we are in a very strong position currently and are looking forward to expanding our activities through 2025.”
A keen musician, playing flute in the Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra, Jane has a passion for making creative arts more accessible. She succeeds the late David Waterhouse and her new role complements her study of musical performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
A GP by background, she has held senior clinical leadership roles across Shropshire, being known for her collaborative approaches to health and social care. She was a pivotal figure in advancing social prescribing in Shropshire, which connects patients to non-medical support within the community, including through arts-based activities.
Jane expressed her enthusiasm for her new position, saying: “I am honoured to follow in David Waterhouse’s footsteps and lead Shropshire Music Trust into its next chapter.
“Music and the arts play a vital role in enhancing community well-being and I look forward to building upon the strong foundation David established. I am particularly keen on being involved in further growing the range of music on offer to increasingly diverse audiences in a variety of settings in our communities in Shropshire. We are so lucky to bring a range of such brilliant professional musicians to Shropshire for our enjoyment and inspiration.”
