College strengthens board with trustee appointment

The Royal College of Organists has announced the appointment of Gavin Barrett as a Trustee.

Mr Barrett, an experienced business executive, organist and author, has joined the board of Trustees as part of the College’s ongoing process of modernisation. Earlier this year, important changes to the College’s Royal Charter and Governance structure were confirmed by the Privy Council and formally adopted.

Chairman of the Trustees Professor Graham Barber said: “The appointment of experienced people with professional and business expertise is as important for the good governance of the College as it is for any other successful organisation, whether it be a commercial business or a charity.

“As we move on from this year’s governance restructuring and turn our attention to setting and delivering long-term goals for the College, it is imperative that we have that kind of expertise available to us, and Gavin fits the criteria perfectly. We are delighted to welcome him to the College team.”

Mr Barrett is currently chairman or non-executive director of a number of companies including digital TV channels, retail stores, concert venues and a management consultancy.

He is a past Master of The Worshipful Company of Musicians, acting today as chairman of its Finance & Investment committee, a trustee of The Yehudi Menuhin School, where he also chairs the Finance & Investment Committee, Honorary Treasurer of The Loan Fund for Musical Instruments (on behalf of The Royal Society of Arts) and a member of several international advisory boards.

He studied the organ from his early teens and has been organist of St Giles, Cripplegate, London and a number of English parish churches, as well as periods as choral society conductor. He was for the best part of a decade the part-time editor of Organists’ Review, and was also a regular contributor of features on business matters to The Independent, The Guardian and The Sunday Times, as well as TV appearances as interviewer on a number of BBC2 programmes.

Speaking of his appointment to the board of Trustees of the RCO, Mr Barrett said: “I am looking forward immensely to the opportunity to help the RCO in any way I can.

“Many charities are facing substantial challenges of long-term funding, delivering public benefit and remaining relevant to their constituencies. The RCO shares those same challenges, but its venerable history, emphasis on the highest standards of professionalism and commitment to adapt to the changing expectations of organists augur well for its resilience.”