Sarah Derbyshire

Sarah Derbyshire MBE is an independent music professional with extensive experience in the development and management of professional music and music education organisations. She has a deep commitment to the life-changing impact which involvement in high quality music making can have on people of all ages, and its wider impact on the creativity and health of our society.

In a career spanning over 25 years in the music sector, her belief in and commitment to the power of music to change lives and support communities has remained not only a guiding principle, but has been strengthened by a profound understanding gained through experience. Throughout her career, she has been involved the development of young musicians – whether as emerging professional performers, young people seeking new musical opportunities, musically talented children or those becoming involved in music for the very first time.

Sarah had a long association with Live Music Now, which she led for ten years as the UK Executive Director. After a period as the Managing Director of the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain, she resumed a freelance career. Her most recent role is as consultant to CapeUK (the Bridge organisation for Yorkshire and the Humber), developing a Local Cultural Education Partnership for Kirklees.

In September 2015 Sarah Derbyshire produced Musical Routes: A New Landscape for Music Education in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society. The report report examines the current status of music education and recommends practical initiatives to overcome barriers which create unequal access in terms of social background, ethnic background and geographical location.

Sarah Derbyshire is Chair of NYMAZ (the young people’s music development charity for North Yorkshire) and a Board member of Jazz North. She is also a trustee of the Mayfield Valley Arts Trust and has recently joined the Board of the University of York Music Press.

She was awarded the MBE for services to music in 2008.