Philharmonia Orchestra appoints Thorben Dittes as CEO

London-based Philharmonia Orchestra has announced that Thorben Dittes will take up the role of chief executive officer in August 2022. He will take over responsibility from interim chief executive Kate Collis.

Dittes joins the Philharmonia from his role as director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia & Classical Music Programme at the Sage Gateshead. His previous arts management experience also includes periods as chief executive at Glasgow’s Scottish Ensemble and as artistic planning manager at Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra in London.

The Philharmonia’s principal conductor, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, said: ‘I’m excited to see what plans Thorben has for the Philharmonia over the coming years. I’m looking forward to him joining me on my journey with this fantastic group of musicians and exploring what we can create together.’

Born in Germany, Dittes studied Arts Management at London South Bank University. In addition to his current role as a director for the British Association of Concert Halls, Dittes has served on juries for the European Concert Halls Organisations, Royal Philharmonic Society and Royal Over-Seas League.

Dittes said: ‘The Philharmonia… was the first orchestra I experienced in London as a student over twenty years ago, when I fell in love with its distinctive sound. It is an honour and a privilege to join the organisation at this artistically exciting moment and to…. shape a future which connects the orchestra’s tremendous legacy with a truly 21st-century vision of what a symphony orchestra can be.’

Founded in 1945, by classical music record producer, Walter Legge, the Philharmonia is a resident orchestra at London’s Southbank Centre. Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali is the orchestra’s sixth conductor principal conductor, having taken up the role in September 2021.

You can find out more about the Philharmonia here.