New directors revealed for BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic

The BBC has today announced the appointment of Bill Chandler as director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, while Adam Szabo has been appointed director of the BBC Philharmonic. Chandler begins will take up his new role in December and Szabo will begin his directorship in February next year.

This news comes as the broadcaster continues to ‘explore alternatives’ to the proposal, announced earlier this year, to make 20% of the players in its English orchestras redundant in a bid to reduce the orchestras’ salary base, ‘investing in our freelance colleagues’ and ‘resetting the model’ within the orchestras. The two directors will work closely with BBC head of orchestras and choirs, Simon Webb.

Webb said: ‘With these two appointments I am thrilled that the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC Philharmonic will be led by Directors who are passionate about the role music and musicians play in society, both have served their previous ensembles so brilliantly, with creativity and innovation at the fore.’

Chandler will step down from his role as director for the BBC Concert Orchestra, which he has held since September 2021, to move across to the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The Concert Orchestra’s concerts and planning manager Carolyn Hendry will step up as interim director while recruitment for Chandler’s replacement gets underway. Having started his career as a violinist in the Houston Symphony, Chandler brings to his new role experience over 26 years with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, starting as associate leader before moving to become director of artistic planning and engagement, then of concerts and engagement.

He said: ‘Having accepted this post as Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, it’s a delight to be working with yet more exceptional BBC musicians, working to bring this ensemble’s work to the widest possible audience, and continuing to champion the best of orchestral music.’

Szabo moves to join the BBC Philharmonic from Manchester Collective, where he is artistic director and chief executive. He also brings extensive experience as an orchestral cellist. To his new roleC.

He said: ‘Nothing compares to the experience of hearing a symphony orchestra at full throttle, and at their best, the BBC Philharmonic is unmatched by any group in the country… My work at Manchester Collective has been about creating radical experiences for audiences through live music. I can’t wait to bring that spirit to the BBC Philharmonic – working with these world class players to tell unique and powerful musical stories.’