Music Generation has announced the appointment of Dr Don Thornhill as Chairperson. He succeeds Dr Danny O’Hare.

Dr Thornhill is a former civil servant and was Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science from 1993 to 1998. He is also a former Executive Chairman of the Higher Education Authority, and is currently Chairperson of the Boards of the Chartered Accountants Regulatory Board, the Joint Standing Committee of the Dublin Maternity Hospitals, the Fit for Work Coalition, and Clann Credo.

On his appointment, Dr Thornhill commented,

I am delighted to take up the role of Chairperson of this terrific organisation. Music Generation’s achievements in its first five years have been remarkable, working closely with both philanthropic donors and with government departments in developing a ground-breaking approach to public private partnership… I look forward to working with fellow Board members and the Executive of Music Generation, in addition to the programme’s partners… to advance the important mission of this organisation.

Also newly appointed to the Board is Mr Martin Drury. Mr Drury is a former Director of Strategic Development at the Arts Council and worked on Music Network’s 2003 Feasibility Study A National System of Local Music Education Services, which was the catalyst for Music Generation.

The other members of the Board are Leo Blennerhassett, Ellen Cranitch, Dr Clíona Doris, Jackie Maguire, Shaun Purcell and Bill Whelan.

For more on Music Generation’s work, visit http://www.musicgeneration.ie