Passing the Baton
Merton Music Foundation Appoints a New CEO
After 16 years at the organisation and over 40 years working in education, Elisabeth Wigley is due to retire as Chief Executive of Merton Music Foundation (MMF) at the end of the year. The Foundation’s Operations Director, David Rees, has been appointed as her successor from January 2025.
The company’s only other previous Chief Executive, John Mander, established MMF as an independent education charity in 1991 amidst challenging funding cuts. It was during this time that Elisabeth worked locally at Rutlish High School as Head of Expressive Arts, later moving to Perseid School in 2002 supporting children with profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Elisabeth joined MMF in 2008, ‘it was a wonderful opportunity to bring my skills and experience of music education together to support work across the borough’ she recalled, adding: ‘It has been my passion to create the best possible opportunities for our young people – to raise aspirations, to provide excellent teaching, concert opportunities and exciting projects for every child’.
The Foundation’s Chair of Trustees, Edward Hickman added: ‘Elisabeth leaves MMF in a very strong position to continue to deliver outstanding music education to the children and young people in our area. I am very pleased that our next CEO will be David, who was the unanimous choice of trustees following a rigorous selection process’.
David Rees, who worked as a qualified music teacher before first joining MMF in 2018, said: ‘I am honoured to have accepted this position leading an incredible charity in a part of London that I have truly grown to love. MMF is dynamic and forward-thinking, with a rich history of supporting music making in the borough’s schools. I plan to build on this fantastic work, ensuring we deliver on our vision to be an inclusive cultural organisation that enables every child to find their first notes and flourish’.
Merton Music Foundation is an independent charity which aims to advance musical education in the London Borough of Merton and elsewhere. The Foundation teaches over 5000 children in individual, small group and whole-class instrumental lessons every week, operating in over 40 Merton schools and running 4 out of school music centres. MMF is also a member of SWL Music, the newly appointed lead organisation of the London Southwest Music Hub. Music Hubs are a national programme of organisations working to deliver the Government’s National Plan for Music Education supported by funding from the Department for Education.
