Dot Griew, Chairperson, Young Musicians of Dyfed

Dot was born in Liverpool in 1948. Most of her working life until 1995, except for a brief early spell in the Department of Defence, was with the NHS, as a manager, particularly of community services. She and Antony came to Wales in 1988 and, following a few jobs for the NHS, entered the voluntary sector, initially as Director of the West Wales branch of the British Red Cross. In the early 90s she fulfilled a long-held wish and obtained an Art History degree though the Open University. She is now the Regional Coordinator of the Institute of Fundraising Cymru (link), the Welsh section of the professional body for charity fundraisers. As such, one of her main activities for Young Musicians and Young Composer is to advise on effective fundraising and marketing.

Dot is a keen gardener, loves travel, good food and wine and is a voracious reader. Both she and Antony enjoy the odd spot of non-obsessional walking and bird watching.

Anthony Lynch, Treasurer of Young Musicians

Born in Yorkshire to an army family, Tony spent his childhood in London, Egypt and South Africa. The wanderlust took hold and he joined the Royal Navy in 1951. This career took him back to South Africa, the Mediterranean, Australia and the Far East.
In 1967, as a Lieutenant Commander, he opted for a more settled life and left to read for PPE at Oxford. This was followed by a five-year stint at IBM leading to his being invited to run a computer programming company for one of his Clients.

Tony is now retired and leads an active life from the wilds of West Wales. His interests include classical music, musical theatre, ballet and jazz.

Ian Barton, Secretary, organizer of Young Ensemble competition

Ian Barton was born in Swansea and brought up in Birmingham. As an under¬graduate in Cambridge he sang in the choir of the university musical society. After university teaching at Keele and in Ghana, he came to Lampeter, where he lectured in Classics and Ancient History at the college until his retirement. For many years he was secretary of Lampeter Music Club, and has been a Trustee of Young Musicians of Dyfed since 1999. It was a suggestion from him that led to the formation of the Young Ensemble competition, for which he is Convenor of the Organizing Committee.

Mrs Philippa Gould, Trustee of Young Musicians

Philippa Gould (ARCM) trained at the Royal College of Music after which she joined the Music Department at the BBC where she met her husband, Peter. The family moved to Cardigan in 1976 to take up farming and when time permitted she took a few piano pupils up to Grade VIII. After the death of her husband in 1992, she and the family set up a trust for the purchase of a concert grand piano for the area and with funding from the Arts Council of Wales, the Steinway grand piano was purchased in 2004. Named after her husband, The Peter Gould Music Trust now runs a highly successful series of concerts at Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. Philippa is also on the Wales Committee for 'Making Music'.

Emyr Wynne Jones, Vice President

Born in Carmarthenshire, Emyr studied at Cardiff University, graduating with a B.Mus and Masters degree. He started his professional career as a secondary Head of Music in schools within Greater Manchester from 1979 to 1993. In January 1994, he and his family returned to Wales when he took up the post of Music Adviser for the County of Dyfed. Since 1996 he has worked as an Adviser, principally within Carmarthenshire, but also serving Ceredigion. He conducts Choirs and Orchestras within both counties, and also directs the Three Counties Youth Choir and Orchestra.

Roger Mills, Trustee, organiser of Young Musician of Dyfed competition

Roger Mills was until recently lecturer in Spanish in the Department of European Languages, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His interest in music was first kindled by the amateur music-making of his father and friends. Much to his regret he is not a performer himself, but he has been involved in promoting chamber music concerts through the Aberystwyth Music Club, of which he has been chairman on two occasions. It was the Club’s activites for young people that brought him into contact with the Young Musicians of Dyfed.

Pamela Ashcroft, Trustee of Young Musicians

 Pamela was born in Sussex in 1939. She began playing the piano when she was 5 years old and was fortunate to become of pupil of Joan Last. She is married with three grown up children. She worked for Bucks County Council and Milton Keynes Music Centre for 25 years teaching piano to people of all ages and abilities in Music Centres and Schools. She has been involved with Music Festivals and Competitions for many years, first as a pupil and then as a teacher. Many of her pupils have made a career in music. She is now enjoying retirement in Wales, loves gardening and bird watching. She became a trustee and secretary of the Young Musicians of Dyfed in January 2007.

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