Who We Are

Joanne Yau is Partnerships Manager at York Music Hub, nurturing strong connections and collaborative work with a wide network of schools and organisations in the City of York and beyond. Joanne is a Music teacher with more than 20 years’ experience teaching in Primary and Secondary schools, and was Deputy Head Teacher of an All-Through school (3-18) in East London, in charge of Curriculum. Alongside her teaching career she has continued to tutor Oboe students and Piano students to a high standard while performing semi-professionally for film scores and Musical Theatre.

Throughout her career she has created successful Music Network Groups in various boroughs in London and delivered Professional Development for Music Teachers, including both Instrumental and Classroom teachers. She has kept abreast of developments in teaching and Music Education, delivering CPD to teachers and Music Educators on preparing for Ofsted.

Joanne is passionate about Music Education and accessibility to all, she aims to reach every young person through the variety of Music and cultural opportunities within York and this drive underpins all aspects of her work.

schools.outreach@yorkmusichub.org.uk

Alongside his new position at York Music Hub, Jonty Ward is a bass-baritone, Director of Music, and organist based in Yorkshire. As part of his varied career, Jonty currently sings as Vicar Choral at York Minster having begun his tenure as a scholar in 2018. Jonty is an alumnus of the Genesis Sixteen 2019/20 programme and in 2022 completed two busy years with Ex Cathedra as their bass graduate scholar. Jonty graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in music and subsequently completed his postgraduate studies in Management at the University of York. Jonty is director of music at St Lawrence Parish Church, York and manages the White Rose Consort, a professional vocal consort based in York.

jonty@yorkmusichub.org.uk

Molly was born and raised in York and qualified as a secondary music teacher in 2000 after training at Homerton College, Cambridge. She has worked in York teaching music and singing in various guises ever since. She spent four years as a Head of Music in a school in challenging circumstances before leaving in 2007 to start a family.

After the birth of her first child, she made the transition to teaching music in primary schools and after the arrival of her second in 2009, spent some time as a peripatetic singing teacher before co-founding “York Mini-Musicians” offering pre-school music classes to babies and toddlers.

She spent two years as strategic manager for York Music Hub and currently works at Archbishop Holgate’s School as Arts and Culture Lead. In addition, she works freelance delivering primary music INSET as well as CPD focusing on voice protection and is founder and co-director of the annual York Schools Choral Festival. She is thrilled to be returning to York Music Hub as Learning Lead.

molly@yorkmusichub.org.uk

Alongside her work at York Music Hub, Faye is a recent MA Music (Vocal Studies) graduate from the University of York. Originally from Corbridge, Northumberland, she developed a deep passion for choral music while singing with the St Andrew’s Church Choir, Hexham Abbey Girls’ Choir, and youth choirs at Sage Gateshead (now The Glasshouse International Centre for Music). These experiences provided her with the opportunity to tour with choirs to Hannover, Berlin, and Tallinn, as well as perform at prestigious UK venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, King’s College Cambridge, and The Royal Albert Hall (Proms, 2015).

In York, Faye sings with the touring choir Caelestis and holds choral scholarships with The Chapter House Choir of York Minster (2018–present) and Leeds Cathedral (2021–present). Alongside York Music Hub and her musical pursuits, she also teaches Singing at Fulneck School and works as a Digital Marketing and Social Media assistant for the University of York.

faye@yorkmusichub.org.uk