Welcoming Our Young Trustees
Hi I’m Violet Hunt-Humphries, I joined the Anthem family in January 2022 as a Research and Admin Assistant – Kickstart Placement. Growing up in a house full of art and music, my love for creating, playing and performing has progressively deepened. As a passionate musician and creative industry enthusiast, I jumped at the opportunity to represent this wonderful charity and work alongside such an inspirational team of incredibly driven music lovers. I realise the importance of young people’s views and how they value music in their lives. I believe their ideas and opinions should play a big part in shaping the development of the music industry in Wales. Joining Anthem has given me the chance to act on this value that I hold in such high regard and actively belong to such an impactful purpose.
Youth voice is the heart and soul of the work we do at Anthem and, after putting a call out for young trustees aged 18 – 25 years old, we are thrilled to welcome some new young faces to join our team of Trustees! Introducing Ella Pearson, Tayla-Leigh Payne and Ryan Singh. Read on to hear about their journeys as young music enthusiasts and how their passions are intrinsic to supporting our work.
Ella Pearson
Ella is a RWCMD student studying oboe and cor anglais. She is a member of The Olive Collective (a jazz and folk-influenced trio) and a passionate advocate of music and mental health. Ella did a write up for our website and featured on Anthem’s music and mental health podcast, ‘Don’t Mind the Music.’ Ella is delighted to be named a Young Trustee for Anthem and is excited to be involved with such an incredible organisation!
What brings you to the Anthem team?
I was introduced to Anthem through their first Youth Forum, which was utterly inspiring. I immediately felt like I had been taken in by a new family. Hearing from other young people who spoke so passionately about improving access to music was moving, as was witnessing the important work that Anthem were doing; I became determined to continue my involvement with the team. When I saw that Anthem was looking for Young Trustees, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity for me to continue to advocate for young people in music.
How did your love for music begin?
Music has been prominent in my life for as long as I can remember. From a very young age, my Grandad would make up songs and sing them with his guitar to my brother and I. My Dad has also been a massive influence on my passion for music: he would introduce me to new bands (what other 7 year old would go to a karaoke birthday party and request to sing ‘Losing my Religion’ by REM – in a church?!) and curate special playlists to listen to in the car. My first experience of live music was when my parents took us to Womad Festival when my brother and I were very little. I was exposed to a vast array of musical styles from across the world, as well as seeing my childhood hero Peter Gabriel, and that was the first time I felt true musical euphoria.
What makes you passionate about music and its relation to young people in Wales?
Knowing the importance that music has played in my life, I am determined to ensure that other young people have access to music no matter who they are. I have experienced mental ill-health since I was 12 years old and music has been a vital coping strategy as well as a form of escapism. Unfortunately, so many young people are facing barriers to music that they can’t overcome, and knowing how much influence music has had on my mental health, I don’t want any young person to be without it, especially with the challenges so many are experiencing today. Music has been my therapy and has saved me, and I can’t imagine my life without it.
Ryan Singh
Ryan is a Cardiff University graduate of Law and Politics with a Masters in Law (specialising in Commercial Law and Governance). He enjoys getting outside and being active, playing tennis, paddle boarding and going on beach walks with his four spaniels.
What brings you to the Anthem team?
At 17 I was appointed a Director of a Community Interest Company (CIC) which is where my passion for company direction really began. I am lucky enough to have had a number of opportunities to sit on the Boards of Companies/Charities and have been on the look out for a new challenge! When I heard Anthem was looking for new Trustees I jumped at the chance to make a difference in a sector relatively new to me – music.
How did your love for music begin?
Like most people, the last two years battling through COVID have been incredibly difficult and has meant we have had to make sacrifices. Not being able to socialise and enjoy life as much as I was used to, I turned to music as a way to enjoy alone time and feel part of something bigger. Music made me feel empowered both individually and collectively, hence my interest in exploring the industry further.
What makes you passionate about music and its relation to young people in Wales?
I passionately believe that engaging people in new experiences, such as music, enhances their development. My experiences of working with and for young people as a Director of Human Resources for a CIC and as a Trustee for a Students’ Union (with 30,000 members) have shown that at heart I have a desire for personal and professional development. Through contributing to this development I believe I can make a difference to the lives of my peers living in Wales, and that is what drives me.
Tayla-Leigh Payne
Tayla is a Welsh composer/sound-designer from Swansea. She studied Composition and Creative Technology at the RWCMD. Tayla freelances on various projects such as, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Anfamol production, Ty Cerdd’s CoDI Lead Scheme, Operasonic, and is a Music Youth Support Worker at YMCA, Swansea.
What brings you to the Anthem team?
I was a member of the Anthem Youth Forum and the Wales Music Youth Forum. When both forums came to an end, I wasn’t quite ready to leave and that’s when they announced the Young Trustees position. During my time on the youth forum, it was really refreshing to see that young people’s voices were being inputted and taken seriously, that we could contribute to the development of the music industry. Likewise, Anthem really feels like a diverse and inclusive community, there were so many young people who represented different areas of the industry and similarly for the Anthem board members too. I simply want to be part of that initiative to help young people have opportunities to access music.
How did your love for music begin?
I recall being fascinated by orchestras when I was younger and my grandad was particularly fond of classical music. I started by learning the recorder and violin in primary school but my passion for music started to truly flourish once I was in secondary school where I played the flute. All of which was through peripatetic music lessons, it was the most feasible way to learn at the time and sincerely believe that without those opportunities I wouldn’t be a musician.
What makes you passionate about music and its relation to young people in Wales?
From my personal experience of having a music education, I think seeing how accessible opportunities were made to me through peripatetic lessons (which were far more feasible than private tuition), made me want to find ways for that to continue for young people. Likewise, it’s such a great outlet for young people and I believe there is room for more opportunities. I have witnessed how crucial music can be for young people through my work as a Music Youth Support Worker at YMCA. I believe young people have a great capacity to vocalise what it is that they want and we are producing such great musicians in Wales already, it would be wonderful to continue inspiring young people to pursue music.