Marketing freelance consultant Melanie Paris will be leaving the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) at the end of the year after working for the organisation since it opened its doors 17 years ago.
Due to a re-structuring of the organisation and the marketing role being taken in-house, Melanie will leave to concentrate on running York Stay Holidays, a finalist in the York Tourism Awards 2016, a new holiday business set up with her husband David Grant.
She will available to take on new freelance marketing, training and project management work.
Melanie has played a significant and influential role in the development of the NCEM, which
- runs three world-renowned early music festivals
- organises an innovative education programme in York and the Humber
- is home to a high-quality folk, world and jazz programme
- and has a successful commercial hire business focusing on wedding receptions and conferences.
Creativity and energy
NCEM director Delma Tomlin has worked with Melanie for over 25 years.
She said: “Melanie has been key to the success of the NCEM’s marketing operation – engaging audiences locally, regionally and nationally – and helping to establish the NCEM as one of the major touring venues for music in the north of England.
“A keen jazz enthusiast, Melanie has supported emerging talent across all ages and successfully launched the NCEM’s family-friendly programme, as well as cultivating new income streams through conferencing and parties.
“Melanie’s creativity and energy have been an inspiration to us all and we will continue to look to her for advice and support as we develop a new marketing team into the future.”
Very rewarding
Melanie said it had been a privilege to work for the NCEM and to have been part of such a talented and hard-working team.
“I’ve been involved in every aspect of marketing, including creating the brand; developing websites and digital content; designing iconic print and selling high quality music experiences.
“My musical tastes are now very eclectic having had the wonderful opportunity to listen to such a wide range of music across many different genres.
“During my time at the NCEM, I have been fortunate enough to run the jazz programme and have had the pleasure in inviting some of the UK’s ‘jazz greats’ to York including: Martin Taylor, Andy Sheppard, John Williams, John Etheridge, Snake Davis, Ian Shaw, Liane Carroll, Alan Barnes and Claire Martin, to name but a few.
“It’s been very rewarding to witness jazz musicians and audiences reeling from such special intimate musical experiences and I will treasure those memories.”
Information about the new marketing position at the NCEM will be advertised soon.
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