Our Board
The Board is a key to the landscape Wiltshire Music Connect is helping to build and sustain – anticipating changes across the sectors in which it works.
Most Board members will have some involvement with Expert Groups
Board members
Tony Spath (Chair – ChairofBoard@wiltshiremusicconnect.org.uk) Following a career as a music recording engineer and producer, Tony joined Dolby Laboratories in 1985. After 28 years in a variety of sales and marketing roles, he left from the role of Vice-President, Business Development. He played a central role in introducing Dolby technology to the music and home video (DVD) businesses in Europe and Asia, the film industries in India and China, and the first broadcast services to include the now ubiquitous 5.1 surround sound in Europe and China. When in 2005 Dolby received an Emmy award for technology from the US Academy of TV Arts and Sciences, Tony was named in the citation. Tony has a degree in music from the University of Surrey. He currently sings with two chamber groups and is organist at Aldbourne Parish Church. Now retired, he spends two days a week in local schools as a volunteer teaching assistant and works as a Mentor for the Prince’s Trust with young people starting new businesses.
Lewis Edney – Lewis is currently Director of Music at Bishop Wordsworth’s Grammar School in Salisbury. He moved into teaching after 15 years working as a professional trombonist, playing with many of the top Orchestras, Opera companies, West End shows and Big Bands across the UK. Lewis is a passionate believer that performance of music should be accessible to all and has worked in Surrey, and now in Wiltshire, to promote the benefits of performance through building relationships and partnerships across multiple school, professional and amateur muscial settings. He is also a committee member of the Music Teacher’s Association and a Foundation Governor for St. Martin’s CE Primary School in Salisbury.
Neville Farmer – Neville has been a performing singer and songwriter for over 45 years, writing with the likes of Andy Partridge, Karl Wallinger, Mo Foster and Carla Ponty. He has performed and/or recorded with Robert Plant, XTC, Jennifer Crook, Stan Webb, Ayub Ogada, Vinny Peculiar, Richard Niles, Richard Strange, Bethany Porter, Dave Edmunds and Matt Owens, among many others. He has produced a number of albums and composed and directed music for film and television. As a journalist, scriptwriter and author he has written for music publications around the world, including being Editor and / or consultant Editor to Studio Week, Pro Sound News US and Europe, Music Week and Music Business International. He has written for Billboard, Mix and Music Technology and broadcast throughout the world. He is currently the News Editor of www.musiceducation.global and www.chorally.co.
Nick Howdle Prior to leading Wiltshire Music Connect on a full time basis, Nick was Manager of Wiltshire Music Service. His professional experience over the last 20 years has covered a broad range of organisations and settings within and beyond the arts & music. He’s backed this extensive experience up by undertaking CPD on an ongoing basis including training in facilitation and effective campaigning. Nick is a former Director of Programmes at Youth Music where he led the development of The Youth Music Programme linked to the National Plan for Music Education. He is a former Director of Sound Connections and served on the Music Manifesto Partnership & Advocacy Group, Music Education Council (MEC) Executive and the Mayor of London’s Music Education Steering Group – in doing so he contributed to the key thinking that informed the National Plan for Music Education. When he gets a chance, Nick also writes and plays songs.
Rob Priestley is now retired after 44 enthusiastic years of instrumental teaching and youth ensemble directing, with more than that of playing trombone professionally. He has taught, and conducted/tutored ensembles, from beginner to advanced level, set the music for two ABRSM Trombone syllabuses, and been involved in the Music Medals series, as well as working with several other music publishers. In Music Service management, he has been an Assistant Head of Wiltshire Music Service, Deputy Head of Coventry Performing Arts Service and Regional Head of Berkshire Young Musicians Trust. He was one of the founding directors (2015-2021) of the Salisbury Area Music Co-operative.
Samantha Saville – I have taught in primary schools for 25 years and worked in school improvement for English in Gloucestershire alongside teaching. I am currently the proud Head teacher of Ashton Keynes CE Primary School, Wiltshire, where I have been in role for almost 8 years.
I am passionate, love being a Headteacher and strive to value individuals and champion them to ensure each and every child is valued and has the very best education and rich life experiences to enable them to flourish. I am always learning, and enjoying offering support to other schools. I take pride in leading a very successful and happy school.
I love music, I am musician with Grade 5 theory of music, grade 5 clarinet and A level Music. I am at heart a singer and song writer: I play the acoustic guitar and I am a whizz on the recorder! I am currently lead singer in a parent band at my school and we perform at many events which I absolutely love! Music is just so important and I have seen and experienced first-hand the positive impact it can have upon children’s learning and lives.