Making Music renews presidency of Debbie Wiseman

UK leisure-time music organisation Making Music has announced that conductor and composer Debbie Wiseman OBE will continue as president of the organisation for a further year. Appointed in April 2019, Wiseman’s four years with Making Music have seen her support the organisation through the pandemic and beyond.

In her role as president, Wiseman supports the organisation’s members as well as campaigning for leisure-time music-making across the country, presenting at the Making Music annual awards ceremony and championing Making Music’s vision that everyone should have the opportunity to be part of a leisure-time music group.

Making Music CEO Barbara Eifler said: 'We are so pleased that Debbie will continue to help us champion leisure-time music. As a successful female composer, she is a shining role model in a music sector still struggling to give professional women an equal space, and as our first female President in our 88-year history, she is changing perceptions about Making Music, too.'

Primarily composing for film and television, Wiseman is a recipient of the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. She is also a visiting professor at the Royal College of Music, and regularly gives masterclasses to schools and colleges about the art of composing music for media. In the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list Wiseman was awarded an OBE for services to music.

Wiseman said: 'The benefits of making music in groups, choirs and ensembles cannot be underestimated, generating mutual support and encouragement, and bringing the sheer joy of music-making into the lives of communities across the country. I'm thrilled to spread the word about the valuable and lasting contribution of Making Music, and together we will continue to make sure that music is available to enjoy for everyone across all genres and abilities.'