Chair and founder of OHMI music charity steps aside

Dr STEPHEN HETHERINGTON will leave his role as Chairman at The One-Handed Musical Instrument (OHMI) Trust, a charity that supports physically disabled people to fully participate in musical life.

Hetherington co-founded trust in 2011 after his hemiplegic daughter was unable to take part in her school orchestra. The charity sought to make all musical instruments playable for people with upper-body motor impairments, train music teachers and undertake research. It also has a long-established instrument hire scheme supporting musicians to try different instruments.

A former professional musician, after playing in a number of leading UK orchestras, Hetherington went on to present theatre, opera, ballet and orchestras with his company, Hetherington Seelig. He later led the development of Britain’s largest tri-Lottery funded project, The Lowry, for which he acted as initial Chief Executive.

Reflecting on his departure from OHMI, Hetherington said: “Our work has changed from the particular challenges we faced at its conception into the current management of a maturing and burgeoning organisation. 

“We have now over 300 instruments and pieces of equipment (and growing), we work with over 600 schools and many adults both in the UK and overseas, while our research collaborations are ever-widening.
 
“There is still a very long way to go, but OHMI is now firmly established and with a strong and experienced board. With all this in mind, I have decided that it is time for me to step aside to allow new energy and ideas to carry forward the trust’s work.”
 
Hetherington is succeeded by CLARE SALTERS, who joined the Board of Trustees in early 2022.

Commenting on the role, Salters said, "It's a real honour to be asked to take up the baton from Stephen and to lead OHMI in its next phase of life.

"Stephen's vision in setting up OHMI has been nothing short of inspirational, and I have seen first-hand how the trust's work has, quite literally, transformed lives.”