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Deborah Keyser awarded RWCMD Honorary Fellowship



Tŷ Cerdd Director Deborah Keyser has been made an Honorary Fellow by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in recognition of her contribution to Welsh music.


She received her award alongside David Childs (RWCMD graduate and International visiting tutor and Distinguished Research Professor of Euphonium, University of North Texas), Grahame Davies (award-winning poet, librettist and lyricist), Lisa Tregale (Director of BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales) and David Adams (leader of the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera).


Director of Music, Tim Rhys-Evans remarked, "Our Honorary Fellows are very important to us at RWCMD. This is our chance to publicly acknowledge the work of senior figures in the music world that have made a significant contribution to the cultural life of Wales and beyond.


This year’s music list is made up of five fantastic individuals who have all made their mark in their various fields, but I’m especially delighted that we work closely with each of them, and they’re great ambassadors for the work we do here."



Citation from Zoe Smith, Head of Postgraduate Programmes (Music):


Deborah Keyser is a Welsh Arts Manager who has been Director of Ty Cerdd here in Cardiff since 2016. A graduate of both Cardiff University where she studied music as an undergraduate and Goldsmiths’ College in London where she did postgraduate work in Orchestral Studies, Deborah’s career began at the BBC, working at Radio 3 and for the BBC Music Magazine.


After a period of work in both orchestral management and opera production,

Deborah returned to Wales in 2005 as Director of Creu Cymru, the pan-Wales

development agency for theatres and arts centres in Wales.


Since taking up leadership of Ty Cerdd (Music Centre Wales), Deborah has done

extraordinary things for the music of Wales across so many genres and sectors,

transforming Ty Cerdd and its work. She has been President of the ISM and is now

Vice President of the International Association of Music Councils. She has also

supported RWCMD and our students in many different ways through our partnership, in particular through developing our joint presence at the National Eisteddfod since 2018.


Deborah's commitment to advocacy and widening access across so many musical genres and different protected characteristics continues to be sector-leading and influential beyond the borders of Wales. She has created many different pathways into music, supporting newcomers, young professionals and experienced practitioners in developing their craft, as well as leading a recording label that showcases the extraordinary richness and versatility amongst Welsh musicians. In collaboration with arts organisations and individual artists across Wales, Deborah is someone who really makes things happen for the music of Wales!

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