Rebecca Thomas (Chair of Trustees)
Rebecca started playing music at primary school, with the traditional recorder and choir. A product of the Cornwall County Council music peripatetic system from the 1980s, she now plays flute and piccolo in several orchestras and bands in Cornwall, ranging from Penzance to St Austell.
She has a love of choral singing and brass bands. Rebecca has 20 years experience in educational administration, where she specialised in business analysis, statistics and the use of computer systems.
Jackie Brant
Jackie was born in London but grew up in Cornwall. She attended St Mary's Roman Catholic School and the Penzance Girls Grammar School before studying at Coloma Teacher Training College, with music as a main subject, from 1975-1978. Jackie began teaching in the East End of London before returning to Cornwall in 1980. She spent the majority of her career working in a variety of local schools, both private and local authority and achieved her first Headship in 1997. Between 2003 and 2010 Jackie also fulfilled a number of education related roles for the Cornwall Local Authority mainly in Special Educational Needs (SEN) Management and as an Early Years Consultant.
Music has always played an important part in Jackie's life, both personally and professionally. She has sung in various choirs ranging from Choral Societies to Chamber and A Cappella choirs thus experiencing a variety of venues such as Churches, Cathedrals and the Minack theatre. For a number of years Jackie was the Honorary Secretary for the Truro Diocesan Choral Union where she was instrumental in co-ordinating the yearly Festival held at Truro Cathedral. She has also co-ordinated a number of Penwith Schools joint musical ventures during her time when teaching in West Penwith; notably the primary schools Bernard Williams Memorial Concerts which continue to be held on a biennial basis.
When undertaking an acting headship at Curnow School in 2005, while in the role of SEN Deputy Manager, Jackie first became aware of the benefits of music therapy and went on to chair the network meetings that were instrumental in raising its initial profile in Cornwall. Since retiring in 2014, Jackie formerly acted as the chairperson for the Cornwall Music Therapy Steering Board, between 2018-2022.
Jackie is delighted to be invited to join the Cornwall Music Service Trust Board. She is looking forward to being a supportive member in the continued delivery of music therapy, but also the broader musical aspect that the Cornwall Music Service Trust provides.
Andy Johnson
Andy was born in Wales and grew up in London, where he attended Westminster School. His interest in music was encouraged there and he has fond memories of playing the French Horn, including the opportunity to perform the first movement of Mozart’s 3rd Horn Concerto with the school orchestra, which he says was definitely the absolute limit of his abilities! He went to University at Downing College, Cambridge, studying History, took a PGCE in Leeds, and started his teaching career in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. From there, he moved back to London to teach at Westminster, where he became a Housemaster. He left Westminster to help set up the London Academy of Excellence as Pastoral Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead, in Newham, East London. Before taking up the role of Head at Truro School in September 2020 he was Deputy Head Academic at St Dunstan’s College in Catford, South East London.
He and his family are thrilled to be in Cornwall and to be able to support the sharing of music, and all the joy and wellbeing associated with it, in his role as a Trustee of CMST. Music has always been a large part of his and his wider family’s life, and he is delighted to be able to continue to support and grow the strong relationship already forged between CMST and Truro School, as a way of promoting participation in music more widely across the country.
Paul Kneebone
Paul has been employed at A&P (Falmouth Docks) for 37 years, for the last 16 years as Human Resources (HR) & Development Manager.
Paul has two main hobbies and interests outside of work – music and sport.
He has always been a keen active sportsman, although in more recent years he has swapped the football pitch for the golf course! Paul learned to play the cornet at the age of seven and has played with a number of brass bands throughout the County. He has been a member of the St Keverne Band for the past 17 years and plays Eb Soprano Cornet. Paul says: "It has been pleasing and encouraging to see a conveyor belt of youngsters come through the band in that time, many of whom have gone on to further and higher musical studies and/or become professional musicians.
"I was fortunate and delighted to be approached about joining the CMST Board of Trustees. It has given me the benefit of seeing first-hand the excellent day to day work undertaken by all CMST staff, and the rewards reaped as a consequence that ensure musical education in Cornwall continues to flourish.
Richard Osmond
Alan Retallack
Alan was born in Cornwall and educated at Helston Grammar School. On leaving school, he gained employment at Goonhilly Earth Station, specialising in TV transmission. During this time he witnessed many events unfold, both joyous and tragic.
Brass Bands have always been in his family, and Alan joined St Keverne Band in 1963 playing both Brass and percussion, and apart from a short spell at Camborne Band, remained until retirement last year. Alan was part of the team that started the highly successful St Keverne Youth Band in 1994. During this time, he arranged many overseas tours for the band to Europe and Canada. He conducted the Youth Band at many concerts, including the School Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, working alongside the band’s professional conductor Derek Greenwood.
In 2006, Alan was privileged to be awarded an MBE for his services to young people in Cornwall.
Over many years he has witnessed the great influence that instrumental tuition and performance has had on the personal development of young people. He is delighted at the success of the Cornwall Music Service Trust and its teachers who continue to provide this great service to the youth of Cornwall.
Liz Sibley
Liz studied Music at Sheffield University with piano as first instrument. Guitar at this time was ‘second’ but came to feature far more prominently in subsequent years. Liz taught individual piano students for many years and presented pre-school workshops with Music and Dance Education; the guitar swiftly revealed how versatile it could be in this creative educational setting. Liz undertook PGCE study with Christchurch, Canterbury whilst working as a peripatetic music teacher with the Cornwall Council Music Service and became guitar team manager in 2011.
Liz joined CMST as a teacher on its formation and has served as one of the Trust’s managers. Liz left CMST in 2018 to work in the family Vineyard and spend time with two grandchildren.