Southbank Sinfonia co-director steps down

Richard Heason, co-director of Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square has announced that he will be stepping down after ten years in the role and will be leaving the organisation, effective from today (7 September).

Originally director of the St John’s Smith Square venue, Heason became a co-director alongside Southbank Sinfonia principal conductor Simon Over when the two organisations merged in 2021. In a statement released this afternoon, Heason states that he is leaving the role to ‘pursue new opportunities and for the organisation to seek new leadership’.

Over said: ‘I’ve greatly enjoyed working with Richard over the last eighteen months; his experience and skills have been invaluable as we have sought to unite two different entities and explore the great potential of the merged organisation.’

Throughout his decade as director of St John’s Smith Square, Heason has worked to preserve the historic venue, and also oversaw the move of Queen Elizabeth Hall's programme to St John’s Smith Square when the Southbank Centre venue underwent a two-year refurbishment from 2015 to 2017.

Heason said: ‘Running a venue is not without a fair share of challenges at times, and these can be magnified when the building is 300 years old and Grade 1 listed. However, these challenges are more than worth confronting when the reward is such a rich and energetic diet of great music making and deep friendships. I look forward to seeing St John's continue to thrive over the years ahead.’

Heason received the ABO/Classical Music Award for Concert Hall Manager of the year in 2018. His varied career includes experience as vice-president of the European Early Music Network and as a board member and treasurer of the British Arts Festivals Association. Heason also holds the role of chairman of the Dartington International Summer School Foundation and of executive director of the London Festival of Baroque Music.