We believe that music enriches lives; using our long-standing expertise in music education to meet and anticipate the needs of today’s learners and tomorrow’s musicians. Whilst ABRSM exams will continue to evolve in the times ahead, examiners will remain absolutely core to our mission of inspiring musical achievement throughout the world.

The examiner panel has adapted well to meet the challenges of the last few years including the many changing contexts, including the dynamics of digital examining. Building on the outstanding work and achievements that have gone before, in March this year we made the decision to form a group of Chief Examiners to better reflect the increasing range of responsibilities and matters now handled by the examiner panel.

The new Chief Examiner Group will ensure that all of the appropriate skills in examining, communication, quality assurance, professional support and teamwork are fully represented as our activities continue to evolve. The aim is to utilise to best effect a greater number of voices and the range of experiences and perspectives they will bring.

The first Group will be led by Mervyn Cousins as Chair, who will be responsible for the direction and management of the Group as well as for leading examiners as a whole. Mervyn has examined for ABRSM for almost 20 years and has made an invaluable contribution as Deputy Chief Examiner since his appointment to that post in 2015. He also brings wide experience in building and leading teams in different contexts in the arts and music performance sectors. We warmly welcome Mervyn’s leadership of the group in its first iteration and know that he will fulfil this role with significant expertise as well as with commitment to ABRSM’s mission and aims.

We will shortly be recruiting for membership of this group; further details will be available here from 10 June.