Staging a sell-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall is one of the roles for Soo Bishop, who has been nominated for a Merton Civic Award for her dedication and sense of humour.

As programmes director at the Merton Music Foundation (MMF), Ms Bishop helped organised the Music is for Life event at the Royal Albert Hall, which showcased the singing and instrumental talents of 1,500 youngsters and adults from the borough.

Stunning: 1,500 young singers and musicians from Merton sell out Royal Albert Hall

She works with schools to ensure all young people receive the opportunity to sing, play and engage with music in a way that enriches and deepens their understanding of the people and the world around them.

Having run Play-a-Round music and drama classes in the early 1990s, she has been the music coordinator at the Priory C of E Primary School in Wimbledon and has been working full time at the MMF for ten years.

Ms Bishop has been nominated in the Arts and Entertainment category by Sarah Nassim, who said she was an "inspirational and highly talented leader who has brought music to hundreds of children across the borough who would otherwise not have had access to this wonderful experience."

Ms Bishop said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been nominated for a Merton Civic Award.

"I have lived and worked in Merton since 1983 and am proud to be part of a local community that is rich in its cultural and creative diversity."

She added she believes passionately in the power of music to transform lives and bring communities together by offering opportunities to share and enjoy the wonders of music-making across all genres and styles.

Ms Bishop said: "In this digital age, where so much time is spent engaging with a virtual world, my extraordinary job keeps me constantly involved face-to-face with real people of all ages and backgrounds. How lucky am I!"

There is still time to nominate someone special. Nominate them here at www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/mertoncivicawards or fill out a form in the Wimbledon Guardian newspaper.