Bridget Whyte
About
I have been working as a freelance consultant for over 15 years. Primarily focusing on music and music education contracts, I have worked for national, regional and local arts and cultural organisations. I specialise in research, evaluation, project development and facilitation, but have also managed concerts, the production of publications, organised conferences and training courses and carried out fundraising campaigns.
I have worked in the Arts and Cultural sector since graduating from Surrey University with a Music Degree in 1989, working for the Arts Council, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Royal Academy of Music before going freelance in 1995.
Finding time (and funding) for training and CPD can be a challenge for freelance consultants, but I have managed to attend some very valuable courses over the years including:
■ A Clore Leadership Programme Short Course in 2005 ■ CLP Leadership Facilitation Skills Programme with Action Learning Associates (2010/11) ■ Group Facilitation Methods with the ICA:UK (2011) ■ Various Fundraising and Board Membership courses with Arts and Business (A&B) (1995-2010)
Currently I am working with the British Council on a programme to research and develop a teaching training programme in over 15 countries around the world which helps classroom teachers use singing as a tool for learning called World Voice (http://music.britishcouncil.org/projects/world-voice). I am also a visiting lecturer at the University of Winchester and University of Surrey, and one of the Arts Council England's team of Assessors. Recent clients have included MusicNet East, Suffolk Music Service, Kent Music, Music for Youth, the Music Publishers Association, Choir of the Year and Sing Up. Before the creation of the National Plan for Music Education I wrote a document for the Department of Education which draws together the 10 evaluation reports of the Music Partnership Projects funded by Government between 2008 and 2010
I am a member of the MEC (Music Education Council) Executive, a member of ISME (the International Society of Music Education), ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) and MusicMark.