Jules Buckley has been appointed as the first guest curator for Cheltenham Music Festival from 2020.
Composer, orchestrator, conductor and Grammy Award-winner, Buckley is currently musical director of the UK’s Heritage Orchestra and chief conductor of Holland’s Metropole Orkest, which gave him his Grammy for Sylva with their collaboration with Snarky Puppy. Buckley previously curated several BBC Late Night Proms and will work alongside Cheltenham Music Festival’s head of programming to devise the 2020 festival programme.
Buckley said: “It is so exciting to be involved in Cheltenham Music Festival for next year as guest conductor. I’m looking forward to working with the team on delivering some truly unique experiences at one of the country’s most renowned classical music festivals.”
Following the festival’s 75th anniversary, artistic director Alison Balsom, who was appointed in 2018, announced that she would be stepping down to focus on her international performing and recording career.
“I am extremely proud of the programme for the 75th anniversary this year which encompassed a host of unique events and world-leading performers,” Balsom commented. “Cheltenham are hugely fortunate to have the wonderful Buckley as guest curator and I’m so looking forward to seeing his visions come to life next year.”
Chair of Cheltenham Music Festival, Edward Gillespie, added: “We applaud everything Alison has achieved this year. She has established an amazing rapport with audiences and raised the profile of Cheltenham Music Festival. I am certain that Buckley’s pioneering artistic vision will equally resonate with audiences.”
The full programme for Cheltenham Music Festival 2020 will be announced in spring 2020.
