John Irving joined the IMR as its second Director in August 2009. He was educated at The University of Sheffield, where he graduated in 1980, continuing there for his PhD studies (working on Elizabethan and Jacobean keyboard and consort music). Subsequently, his research focus turned to Mozart's instrumental music and to historical performance practice. He has taught at The Royal Northern College of Music; Birmingham University; New College, Oxford; and Bristol University, where he is Professor of Music History and Performance Practice. He is on secondment to the IMR until 2014. John is on Academia at http://sas.academia.edu/JohnIrving

Valerie James joined the IMR as Administrator in March 2006. After undertaking research at Oxford on 17th century French history, she has enjoyed a varied administrative career in the public and the not for profit sectors. In 2004 she co-edited the Bede Roll of the Parish Clerks' fraternity for the London Record Society, a text which throws light on local, ecclesiastical and musical history. She is responsible for all aspects of the Institute's administration.