Cheltenham Festivals is appointing a new artistic director for Cheltenham Music Festival, as Jack Bazalgette takes up the post from the 2025 season onwards.
Co-founder of classical music promotions company, through the noise, Jack has programmed over 130 classical music events since 2020, which have been described as 'industry-changing' and offering a 'vision for the future of live classical music.'
He'll be joining the team as Cheltenham Music Festival gears up for its 80th year in 2025 and will be supported by the festival's producer, Tamsyn Hamilton.
Jack's appointment forms part of a long-term plan to bring new audiences to the event.
He said: 'Cheltenham Music Festival has been at the heart of the UK’s classical music landscape for nearly 80 years — it’s a real honour to have the opportunity to help take it into a vibrant future.
'Cheltenham has an astonishing history of commissioning new works and showcasing the world's most talented musicians. Its year-round work with young people and schools is also crucial to introducing diverse audiences to the joy of classical music. As Cheltenham’s artistic director, I will be continuing this work while also seeking to expand its audiences — and our understandings of what live classical music can and should be in the twenty-first century.'
Cheltenham Festivals co-CEO, Ian George, added: 'We could not be more excited about our future with Jack coming onboard for 2025. In his trail-blazing concerts at KOKO, Camden Jazz Cafe and elsewhere, he has shown that it is possible to expand classical audiences while placing an absolute premium on artistic integrity and quality.
'That’s the place where we want Cheltenham Music Festival’s sustainable future to be located. We can’t wait to welcome audiences returning and new, this summer and many more to come.'
For more information about the event, see Cheltenham Music Festival; or for more information about Cheltenham Festivals, visit cheltenhamfestivals.com.
