The management committee is very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Timothy Softley as Chairperson of Thames Vale Youth Orchestra. We are all looking forward to working with Tim and benefitting from his expertise.Tim is a Professor of Chemistry at Birmingham University at present having previously been a Professor at University of Oxford and (simultaneously) a Tutorial Fellow of Merton College for 25 years. He is now an Emeritus Fellow of Merton and continues to live in Oxfordshire. He is an active amateur musician, being a diploma level oboist playing in chamber groups and singing in Oxford Bach Choir since 2002. Tim has experience of youth orchestras through his children who played in the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra for many years. When he was a Sub-Warden of Merton College, he played a vital role in the work to plan and advocate for the launching of the Choral Foundation in 2008.  We are sure that Tim's involvement and experience with other charitable organisations (including The Royal Society of London and the Leverhulme Trust), will allow TVYO to go from strength to strength.