Yorkshire Youth and Music is delighted to announce our new Deputy Director!

The brilliant Becky Pugh has joined us to support the delivery of our existing projects and develop new and exciting music education opportunities for the future. Here is Becky to tell you a little bit more about herself:

I came to Huddersfield to study Viola at the University of Huddersfield and made it my home.  I then worked for Kirklees Music School (now Musica Kirklees) where my highlights were leading on the Youth Music Wider Opportunities Pilot and organising the 2012 Stadium Spectacular for over 5000 children. I was School Partnerships Officer (Yorkshire and Greater Manchester) for Artis Education, who delivered the curriculum through the performing arts; I enjoyed receiving feedback from our partner schools about how workshops were engaging the more kinaesthetic learners and those who struggle to focus in a normal classroom situation. 

More recently I worked on the Kirklees Year of Music, working with Kirklees Libraries and Kirklees Early Years Outcomes on their journey to the Year of Music, with the priority of using music to help develop speaking skills for under 5’s. I managed the Heads Shoulders, Knees and Toes Project, filming families who speak languages other than English in their homes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, to help reduce the feeling of isolation caused by lockdown, I initiated a partnership with Huddersfield Town Hall, The Kirklees Concert Season, the University of Huddersfield and the Lawrence Batley Theatre to broadcast the Opera North Lunchtime Organ Concert Season.  I also worked with Kirklees Employees Healthcare to set up Warble for Wellness, an online choir for council workers which had over 100 members.

"My passion is to ensure that music is accessible to as many people as possible, no matter what their social or economic constraints."

My passion is to ensure that music is accessible to as many people as possible, no matter what their social or economic constraints and have focussed my career on trying to find ways to engage young people in music who may not normally have access but benefit greatly from the opportunity.  My role with Yorkshire Youth and Music is part-time, I am also Manager of the Ligeti Quartet who perform internationally and deliver composition workshops to all ages.

Becky will no doubt be a fantastic addition to the team. Thanks Becky!