Jack Bazalgette, co-founder of the music marketing company 'Through the Noise,' has been named the new artistic director of the Cheltenham Music Festival for the 2025 season.
The appointment of Bazalgette comes with Cheltenham's new three-year plan, which the festival says aims to "take the storied Festival to new heights and audiences."
Speaking of his appointment, he said that Cheltenham Music Festival has been at the heart of the UK's classical music landscape for nearly 80 years. He claimed that it is a real honor 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," he added.
Balzagette pledged as new Cheltenham's Artistic Director that he would continue this work while also seeking to expand its audiences and their understanding of what live classical music can and should be in the 21st century.
His first year as Artistic Director will coincide with Cheltenham Music Festival's 80th year. The Festival's producer, Tamsyn Hamilton, will support him.
Ian George, co-CEO of the Music Festival's parent charity, Cheltenham Festivals, said that as they approach this year's Festival in July, they are hugely excited to welcome the likes of Clare Hammond, Roderick Williams, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to Cheltenham.
George shared that their 2024 program will feature everything from choral to chamber music, new commissions alongside favorites from the repertoire, and the return of their signature Mixtape event, which emphasizes "rules-free" music-making.
Furthermore, Bazalgette's appointment is initially for three years. The Festival will announce its first program in March 2025.
