We are delighted to announce the appointment of Stephen Newbould as Interim Chief Executive, covering Eleanor Gussman’s maternity leave from September 2017. Stephen will oversee Spitalfields Music’s Learning & Participation programme and Spitalfields Festival 2017, working closely with festival Artistic Curator André de Ridder.
Stephen served as the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) from 2001 – 2016. Under his leadership BCMG premiered over 100 new works and toured world-wide. He is an Honorary Fellow of Birmingham Conservatoire, an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and in 2011 received the RPS Award for Services to Contemporary Music in the UK.
Professor Maurice Biriotti, Chair of Spitalfields Music commented:
“We feel very lucky indeed to have found such a talented, experienced and dynamic person to cover for Eleanor’s maternity leave. We are very confident that Stephen will continue the outstanding work that Eleanor has been leading with the organisation and will bring something of his own vision and creativity to Spitalfields Music. The Trustees on the Board have all expressed their delight and excitement at what this new collaboration will bring.”
Eleanor Gussman commented:
“I am absolutely delighted that Stephen will be joining us, his artistic integrity and collaborative approach make him the ideal leader for Spitalfields Music as we relaunch our festival with Artistic Curator André de Ridder later this year. The whole team are hugely looking forward to working with Stephen to realise André’s fantastic plans, our innovative year-round Learning & Participation work alongside delivering the first year of our recently expanded artist development programme.”
Stephen Newbould commented:
“I am thrilled to be joining the inspirational team at Spitalfields Music, having loved working with them for a succession of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group projects at recent festivals. I am particularly excited by André de Ridder’s plans for his brilliantly imaginative festival, and by the ambition and range of the Learning and Participation programme which embeds this fantastic organisation, year round, in this vibrant part of London. I look forward to working with the Board and Spitalfields Music’s many partners and individual supporters to deliver a great year’s programme.”