Eleanor Gussman, Chief Executive, will not be returning to Spitalfields Music this Autumn. Following the birth of her daughter she has decided to pursue a freelance career. The Spitalfields Music Board has expressed their appreciation for her very significant contribution to the company.
The Board is delighted that Stephen Newbould, who has covered the Chief Executive role for Eleanor’s maternity leave, will stay on as Chief Executive for the 2018/19 season, pending a succession plan beyond that.
Spitalfields Music brings artists, audiences and communities together to find, explore and share extraordinary music experiences in one of the most vibrant areas of London. Artistic highlights over recent years include:
- Revitalised Festival with Artistic Curator: working with the inimitable André de Ridder as inaugural curator in 2017, watch this space for his Festival later this year
- Royal Philharmonic Society music award for Schumann Street: the landmark performance of André de Ridder’s 2017 Festival “captivating and quirkily brilliant” The Guardian
- New Open Call for music creators: laboratory-style commissions, offering opportunities to challenge compositional practice and explore working in new ways
- Expansion of Trainee Music Leaders scheme with regional partners: 12-month training programme for music leaders across the UK
- Launched Endless Imagination: a three-year project that reimagines care homes as arts centres
Professor Maurice Biriotti, Chair of Spitalfields Music commented: “Eleanor was a great success at Spitalfields Music. She set the organisation on course for a new direction that has built on 40 years of excellence in music making and powerful engagement with local communities. Eleanor was an inspiration to work with for all of us and we will feel the benefit of her vision and her wisdom for a long time to come. I am sad to see her go but her influence will live on and I am sure she will go on to great things.”
Eleanor Gussman commented: “It has been a great privilege to lead Spitalfields Music and I am proud of what we have achieved. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our artists, audiences and supporters who have together enabled us to create astounding new work rooted in the communities of East London. I am thrilled that Stephen will be staying on and look forward to what this continued collaboration will bring.”
Stephen Newbould commented: “Whilst saddened that Eleanor will not be resuming her role, I am thrilled to be able to build on her work here for another year with the fantastic Spitalfields Music team, our artists, audiences and partners, and the diverse communities who inform our work and give it such a special sense of place.”