Edinburgh International Festival appoints Nicola Benedetti as first female festival director
Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Benedetti will also be the first Scottish festival director in the festivals 75-year history
Violinist Nicola Benedetti CBE will become festival director of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) on 1 October this year. From today she will take the role of director designate in the interim period.
Benedetti will be the first Scottish and the first female festival director in the festival’s history. She succeeds Fergus Linehan, who held the role for eight years and expanded the programme to incorporate underrepresented music genres include larger free events.
Benedetti said: ‘This festival was founded on principles of reconciliation and the ideals of art transcending political and cultural fracture. Following in the footsteps of the wonderful achievements of Fergus Linehan and his predecessors, I will uphold these values and greatly look forward to serving this festival, its mission of cultural exchanges, and the people of Scotland.’
Born in Irvine, Scotland, of Italian heritage, Benedetti has played the violin since the age of four and has studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School. In 2020, she formed the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra and in 2017 became the youngest ever recipient of the Queen’s Medal for Music.
Rt Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister of Scotland said: ‘I welcome Nicola Benedetti’s appointment as Director - especially as she becomes the first woman to ever hold the role. Her experience in promoting Scotland’s cultural scene to audiences around the world will be invaluable and I wish her every success.’
Benedetti established The Benedetti Foundation in 2019 reaching over 29,000 participants of all ages through workshops and sessions both in-person and online. Nicola will continue to lead the Benedetti Foundation and perform internationally alongside her new role.
This news follows yesterday’s release (28 February 2022) of a media statement from the EIF explaining that the festival ‘has asked for, and accepted the resignation of, Valery Gergiev as honorary president of the Festival. Edinburgh is twinned with the city of Kyiv and this action is being taken in sympathy with, and support of, its citizens.’
The International Festival celebrates its 75th Anniversary this August. You can find out more about the festival here.
