Jane Hampson

Jane has enjoyed a long and varied career in education and continues to work as a freelance Choral Director having retired in April 2018 as a senior manager in the Bolton Local Authority following her time as the Head of Bolton Music Service (1999-2008).

Jane has been involved in Music Education throughout her career and is committed to creating opportunities for all children, young people and adults to enjoy their music making.

Jane remains connected to the Bolton schools as a governor in two primary schools and is the Life Skills Manager for Christians Against Poverty at Deane Church.

As a choral conductor Jane is the director of The BMS Singers, Tonge with the Haulgh Community Choir, Our Voice - a workplace choir for staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital and the Musical Moments singing group for persons living with dementia and their carers.

Jane was a longstanding board member of the Hallé Orchestra and is currently a trustee for Sing for Pleasure, a national choral charity. She is delighted to be a trustee for Trust Music and to support the charitable arm of Bolton Music Service who provide such wonderful opportunities for all children to make music.

Sally Leyland (Hindley)

I played clarinet and saxophone and was a member of BJYO and then BYO (clarinet) and Stage Band (sax) from around 1984 to 1992 when I left Bolton to go to university. I went on a number of the tours to Paderborne and Le Mans and also went the year that we stayed in a youth hostel in Berlin instead - which was an experience when we got lost late at night and nearly didn’t make it back before the doors were locked!

After university, I had a career in HR, but when I had my children, I began teaching clarinet and piano from home as well as volunteering in their primary school to play the piano for school events. I then ran music classes for children aged 0 – 4 for 7 years and I now teach KS1 children in schools and do training for a national music franchise, as well as singing in a number of virtual choirs.

Nigel M Taylor

Bolton Youth Orchestra member (double bass and percussion) 1971-1979.
Honours graduate of Durham University. Masters from University of Manchester.
Conductor Bolton Youth Concert Band 1982-1986. Head of Bolton Music Service and conductor of Bolton Youth Orchestra 1985-1990. Co-founder International Youth Philharmonic. Founder Bolton Symphony Orchestra, Harmonie 84 and Corus Brass Ensemble.
County Music Adviser for Shropshire 1990-1997.
County Inspector for Staffordshire, Head of Staffordshire Performing Arts, Deputy Head of School Improvement, Assistant Director of Education & Lifelong Learning 1997-2013.
Freelance consultant 2013-2020. Now retired!
Founding Chair of Music Mark (UK Association for Music Education) 2012. Former chair of Federation of Music Services.
Retired Chair of Trust Music, trustee of Bolton & Farnworth CE MAT. Guest music director Corus Brass Ensemble.
Proud dad, foodie, wine aficionado and traveller. Frequent visitor to Germany (Paderborn and Schleswig-Holstein especially.)

Helen Washington

I am currently the Children’s Musical Director on Les Misérables UK tour, run a community choir called 'Happy Voices’, play the piano on shows, and teach.
I moved to London to study piano at the Guildhall, travelled the world playing on cruise ships until I discovered the West End. I performed for about 10yrs in the theatres, as well as on many touring shows.

Bolton Youth Orchestra had a massive influence on my musical career - I loved the orchestra, the professionalism, the heart stopping moment when you played in a rest, the camaraderie we experienced playing music altogether, sowed the seed for me wanting to play in bands rather than solo. The energy in the room on a Saturday morning was so positive and exciting, the pasties at the break! I wish every child could experience it! (Unless you got chosen to demo your efforts at the Academic Overture from the comfort of back desk seconds!) The ageless, classless environment knitted kids together from so many diverse backgrounds, helped by free music lessons, created a limitless feeling for our future possibilities. One of my favourite memories will remain the tour we did to Le Mans and Paderborn - what an amazing experience that was! I feel so lucky to have been part of an era where music was viewed as an important part of children’s education.