Plymouth Music Zone trustees have appointed a second Special Adviser to the charity to help support the further building of international links.
Professor Montserrat Fuentes Romero is Professor in Music and Piano studies for the Contemporary Music Degree at Anahuac University in Mexico City where she delivers accredited training and leads courses in many areas including Mental and Physical Wellness for Musicians. She is also Director of Culture at an organisation called Xacara based in the North West of England who are developing, delivering, managing, fundraising and evaluating a portfolio of international cultural and inclusive music education projects.
Professor Montserrat Fuentes Romero has over 15 years experience managing and developing an inclusive range of cultural and music education projects. This has involved managing, supporting and working with volunteers, young people, schools, Music Education Hubs, freelance artists and cultural organisations developing a range of UK and international contacts with a core focus on inclusion, equality and diversity.
Professor Fuentes Romero says she first came across Plymouth Music Zone’s work when PMZ’s Chief Executive, Debbie Geraghty, was talking about Equality and Diversity as part of a panel at the Culture Sector Network Conference early this year at the London Academy for Music and the Dramatic Arts. She says:
“When we spoke to each other I was so struck by our shared passion for music and inclusion and was very impressed to hear about the sheer breadth and depth of work that PMZ does and the academic links it has already created. I work with music and inclusion projects across the world and was excited to know there is so much I and others can learn from PMZ’s work using music across education, health and social care. I am thrilled to be invited by the Trustees to be a Special Adviser to help support the Leadership Team and to especially help further explore and open up their international links. They are an amazing and inspiring charity and it’s so great to be welcomed to be a part of it.”
Professor Fuentes Romero is the second Special Adviser to be appointed by the Trustees. She joins Professor Norma Daykin who specialises in Arts and Health and is currently based at the University of Tampere in Finland in additional to her many existing academic associations in the UK and worldwide.