Chair of the Board of Directors

The English Concert is one of the world’s leading period instrument orchestras, celebrated for its performances of baroque and classical music. Through live concerts, recordings, digital initiatives and outreach, we bring this music to audiences worldwide. We are currently undertaking Handel for All, an ambitious project to create a comprehensive digital legacy of Handel’s complete works, making them freely accessible to global audiences. As a charity, we rely on the expertise and commitment of our trustees to guide our work and ensure our future.
Becoming Chair of The English Concert is an opportunity to help shape the future of a globally recognised orchestra at an exciting time of digital transformation and audience development. You will play a key role in ensuring we remain financially secure, artistically ambitious and accessible to all, while helping to realise our vision of making baroque music available to everyone.
The Chair will oversee the organisation’s strategy and act as the orchestra’s key ambassador. Leading the board of trustees, they will foster a culture focused on vision, strategic goals and long-term planning, setting high standards of governance, compliance, transparency and accountability. They will build strong relationships with board members, the executive team, the artistic director and key partners, and will line manage the Chief Executive. They will support the artistic director to realise the full potential of their artistic vision, play an active role in fundraising, and serve as an ex officio member of the board of The English Concert in America.
The role is unremunerated. The appointment is for an initial three-year term, renewable. The time commitment includes four board meetings per year in central London, regular contact with the Chief Executive, and attendance at several orchestra performances per year.
Initial term is 3 years, renewable.