BBC Proms director David Pickard to step down
David Pickard will step down as director of the BBC Proms, the corporation has announced.
The director, who was appointed in the role in 2015, will remain in post until October 2024.
Pickard said: “It has been an immense honour and privilege to run the world’s greatest classical music festival alongside an incredible team, working with many of the most exciting orchestras, musicians and artists on the planet.
“By the end of next summer I will have planned and delivered nine Proms seasons and it feels like the right time to move on and explore new projects. After the critical and box office success of the 2023 Proms, I look forward to delivering one more season in 2024.”
During his last year, he will work on the Proms 2024 and plan for future seasons.
Recruitment for his replacement will begin in the New Year, the BBC said.
Advocate for supporting young musicians
Mr Pickard’s tenure as Proms director will come to an end next October after almost a decade in the job following his appointment in 2015.
At the time, he was a surprise pick – after a search that took over a year – because of his focus on opera during the previous 14 years as the general director of the Glyndebourne Festival.
Throughout his tenure there, which began in 2001, he was credited with creating an extensive digital programme including online streaming, big screen and cinema relays.
He also expanded the opera company’s audience base through specially priced performances for young people and an education programme.
During a celebrated career spanning four decades, Mr Pickard has been a passionate advocate for supporting young musicians in the field.
He has worked in theatres such as the Open Air and Regent’s Park, as well as opera houses such as the Royal Opera House – where he began his career – and Glyndebourne.
During his time as director of the Proms, he has focused on attracting new audiences to classical music and identifying and nurturing emerging talent in the field.
Pickard ‘championed classical music at BBC’
Sam Jackson, the controller of BBC Radio 3, said Mr Pickard has done a “fantastic job” and thanked him for his work.
Mr Jackson added: “It was a pleasure working alongside him this season, where I saw first-hand his commitment to musical excellence and reaching broader audiences – leading to record-breaking figures on BBC Sounds and iPlayer.
“David has consistently championed classical music at the BBC, in particular the BBC’s own orchestras and choirs, ensuring they remain the beating heart of every Proms season. I look forward to working with him again next year and giving him a proper send-off after the Last Night of the Proms.”
