2025 Festival focus

Welcome to the March issue and our 2025 Festival focus.

Welcome to the March issue and our annual festival focus. This month, we delve into the transformative power of festivals, exploring how they unite communities, celebrate artistic excellence and spark global conversations. From Edinburgh to Ljubljana, Tongyeong to Colorado, this issue highlights the diverse ways festivals continue to shape the cultural landscape.

News

• American Guild of Musical Artists and Cincinnati Opera sign landmark agreement 
• Manchester Theatre adopts four-day working week
• Liverpool Phil and Help Musicians launch wellbeing toolkit
• Mellon Foundation’s $35 million jazz initiative
• Welsh Government funding boots arts and culture 
• IAMA Conference returns to London
• Theatres Trust and Race Furniture reveal plan for new seating
• Celebrating with New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
•  Upcoming events

Musical Chairs

• From promotions to retirement – find out who’s on the move

Classical Music Signings

• Keep up to date with the latest industry news

Competitions and Awards

• Competitions and Awards news
• sideNotes: Shifting gears through Winterreise

Festival Focus:

• 2025 Edinburgh International Festival
• 73rd Ljubljana Festival
• Tongyeong International Music Festival 
• We are Five: Colorado Music Festival

Rebel in the Arts

• Grace Okereke questions the true gains of internationalism in the arts

APAP: A View from Here: 

• Lisa Richards Toney on going local to stay whole

Pianist Alexandra Dariescu: 

• A champion of women composers

Chamber Music America Conference report 

Diary: Samuel Pott

• A week with the Founder and Artistic Director of Nimbus Dance