Somerset's Marta Fontanals-Simmons has joined the Jackdaws Music Education Trust's board of trustees.

Ms Fontanals-Simmons, an international mezzo-soprano from Castle Cary, previously won the Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards, a competition organised by Jackdaws, in 2011 while studying at the Guildhall.

Ms Fontanals-Simmons said: "I am delighted to become a Trustee for Jackdaws.

"It is my great honour and a real pleasure to contribute to Jackdaws and be an ambassador in general."

Saffron van Zwanenberg, artistic director at Jackdaws, said it has been "wonderful to watch Marta’s career continue to flourish.

Ms van Zwanenberg said: "We are so thrilled that she is willing to take up this important post and is supporting Jackdaws in what remains a challenging time for the arts.

"She will be a great asset, of that I am sure."