Music Mark Chair Wins Classic FM’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to Peter Smalley, Chair of Music Mark’s Board of Trustees, on winning the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards with ABRSM! He told us more about his career as a music educator, his proudest achievement, and what inspires his work.

I am a lifelong music educator with a passionate belief in the transformative power of music education, which can be a benefit to all children and young people.

My background was as a trumpet and cornet player, with an interest in arranging and composition. I studied at the University of Birmingham, with lessons at what is now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and later studied at Newton Park College, Bath, before entering the teaching profession.

I worked as a secondary curriculum music teacher, and then as a member of the brass team at the Staffordshire Music Service, later making a move to the Northamptonshire County Music Service, as Head of Brass in 1993. I famously told my family that I thought I would be in post for three or four years, but seem to have stayed in the same place ever since.

In Northamptonshire I found an amazing team, committed to high standards of instrumental excellence, incredible performance outcomes, and a commitment to child-centred learning and growth. I had found my people.

After 19 years as Head of Brass, with involvement in the development of “A Common Approach 2002”, syllabus design for Trinity College, and involvement in the creation and design of several leading tutor books, I was given the task of overseeing the transition of the Northamptonshire Music Service into an independent charitable company, outside of the Local Authority. The transition process was challenging, scary, and led us into uncharted territory, but all driven by the need to ensure that musical pathways for young musicians in the County were retained.

In 2012, we became NMPAT – Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust, I became Chief Executive, and we became the lead organisation of the newly formed Northamptonshire Music Education Hub, shortly after also incorporating Rutland.

Although the subsequent 13 years have gradually taken me further away from frontline delivery of music education, I have always been driven by my belief in the importance of the work that we do, and I draw energy from young people making music.

My proudest single achievement is the 25 years I spent as Musical Director of the Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band, with whom I performed in many of the major concert halls in the country, and across Europe, and with whom I experienced some of the highlights of my musical career. We commissioned and premiered works for symphonic wind orchestra from many of the leading composers for the medium, and recorded demonstration discs for leading publishers.

My favourite initiative has been the development of our provision for children and young people with additional needs, whose energy, determination and commitment to performing is the perfect tonic to any tired soul, at any time of the week. “Y-Not Arts” and “Reach the Stars” are constant reminders of why what we do is so important.

I am delighted to hold a national role as Chair of Music Mark, and to be retaining this position when I retire from Northamptonshire at the end of October. I am retiring from my post at NMPAT, but not from my commitment to children and young people’s music education, and will be tireless in my support of the sector.

I am humbled and honoured to have been offered the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and I am delighted to accept on behalf of the dedicated staff team, the astonishing children and young people, and the amazing alumni of NMPAT. They are all incredible.

Peter Smalley

Chief Executive: Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust

Chief Operating Officer: Northamptonshire and Rutland Music Hub

Chair: Music Mark