Agenda item

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

Governors proceeded to elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 29.  The Town Clerk read out a list of Governors eligible for the Chair, and Alderman David Graves, being the only Governor who signified a willingness to serve was duly declared Chairman for the ensuing year and took the Chair.

Alderman David Graves welcomed Ann Pembroke and Deputy John Barker on joining the Board and thanked Deputy Michael Welbank and Tom Hoffman for their contribution and hard work whilst serving as Governors.

Board of govErnors of the guildhall school of music & drama

resolved UNANIMOUSLY:

THAT at the conclusion of his three year term of office as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, his colleagues wish to convey to

   TOM HOFFMAN

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the extraordinary dedication and interest he has shown in all aspects of the work of the Board and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

SINCE his election in May 2009, he has shown an exceptional capacity to deal with matters which impact on the School and the Board. He has shown great dedication to ensuring that the School maintains its status as a World Class Conservatoire.

HIS tenure has seen a period of transformation for the School, which commenced with the Browne Review and the shift of funding from grants to institutions, to loans for students.  He showed great care and leadership in steering the Board through the various audit and corporate governance reviews that were required, with the School receiving the highest level of endorsement following the full institutional audit by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).

HE has been active in the work of the School and has contributed to the hard work of ensuring that the recently embarked upon major building project, Milton Court, is completed and opened in 2013. Milton Court will provide state-of-the-art performance and teaching spaces for both students and public visitors in a world-class performance venue.

The success of pupils has always been uppermost in his mind, in 2010/11 two of the School’s students reached the final of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. In 2011 an alumna won the Kathleen Ferrier, in the same year an alumna won the Handel Singing Competition final and another alumna was recently made next Royal Harpist to HRH Prince of Wales.

FINALLY, in taking leave of their Chairman, his colleagues wish to thank him for his dedication, for the extremely able and courteous manner in which he has presided over their deliberations during the past three years and convey their good wishes for many more years of health and happiness and the hope that his considerable knowledge and abilities will continue to benefit the School for many years to come.