Entire Dartington Summer School and Festival team resigns

Broadcaster Sara Mohr-Pietsch has announced her resignation from the post of artistic director of Dartington Music Summer School and Festival, alongside her entire team. The decision follows the news that, amid a financial review, the Music Summer School and Festival will not be going ahead next year.

Devon-based Dartington Trust, the organisation which hosts the Summer School and Festival on the Dartington Estate, yesterday confirmed that the 2024 edition has been ‘put on hold’ while the Trust’s current financial review continues.

In a statement released yesterday, Dartington Trust said: ‘As it will not be possible to commit the planned 4-week programme for 2024, Artistic Director Sara Mohr-Pietsch and the rest of the team have decided to step down from their roles. Dartington Trust is grateful to them for their hard work over the years, and for the success of their 2023 programme, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Summer School with an incredible programme of 86 courses, 85 public events and 96 bursary places for emerging talent.’

Having been held at Dartington Hall since 1953, the Summer School and Festival provides vital development opportunities for musicians and ‘holds a unique place in the eco-system of classical music’. A petition has been launched calling for action in saving the Summer School. You can sign it here.

In a tweet published yesterday Mohr-Pietsch said: ‘Time for some sad news: I'm stepping down as Artistic Director of Dartington Music Summer School & Festival. Dartington Trust's ongoing Financial Review has made delivering our 2024 plans impossible. They were great plans, and I'm sorry they won't come to fruition.

‘However, it has been a huge honour and privilege to hold the post since 2020, and I'm so proud of all we achieved. Thank you to everyone who made it so special! And I really hope the Summer School survives - it is an amazing thing, 75 years old and still utter magic.’