English Folk Dance and Song Society welcomes four trustees

The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has announced the appointment of four new trustees to its board, after it received “a strong response” in its applications.

Cultural consultant ANGHARAD COOPER is director of operations at international NGO the Centre for Music Ecosystems and vice chair of the European Music Council.

An advocate for better conditions for musical and cultural life, Cooper leads the Music Policy Resilence Network and led the European Music Policy Exchange in 2023, bringing together best practices in EU music policy.

As managing director at Proper Music Distribution, DREW HILL provides services to independent labels and artists, including distribution, publishing and sales.

He will also bring his experience as current chair of the Official Charts Company to the folk society’s board, alongside his role as director on the board of the Entertainment Retailers Association.

Director of international at the British Library, MARCIE HOPKINS, will also be joining the folk arts development agency as a trustee, having worked on major transformational capital and change programmes including an International Library Leaders Programme.

Hopkins was previously secretary general for the Conference of European National Librarians.

JEREMY ILES has a wealth of experience in environmental charities, at organisations including Friends of the Earth, London Wildlife Trust and the Federation of City Farms.

As well as being part of the Oral History of the Environmental Movement team at Royal Holloway University, Iles curates a local folk club in Bristol and sings with the Island Folk Choir.

A spokesperson for EFDSS said they were “delighted” to welcome the new members as they help to promote the folk arts.

“We look forward to working with them over the coming years,” they added.