Role and Person Specification
About The English Concert
The English Concert is one of the world’s leading period instrument orchestras, celebrated for its performances of baroque and classical music. Through live concerts, recordings, digital initiatives, and outreach, we bring this music to audiences worldwide. We are currently undertaking an ambitious project, Handel for All, to create a comprehensive digital legacy of Handel’s complete works, making them freely accessible to global audiences. As a charity, we rely on the expertise and commitment of our trustees to guide our work and ensure our future.
Why Join Us?
Becoming Chair of The English Concert is an opportunity to help shape the future of a globally recognised orchestra at an exciting time of digital transformation and audience development.
You will play a key role in ensuring we remain financially secure, artistically ambitious, and accessible to all, while helping to realise our vision of making baroque music available to everyone through groundbreaking initiatives.
Role Specification
- Oversee the organisation’s strategy and monitor its implementation.
- Act as the orchestra’s key ambassador and advocate for its mission.
- Lead the board of trustees and chair its meetings, fostering a board culture focussed on vision, strategic goals and long-term planning.
- Ensure the effectiveness of the board as a whole and of its members, including skills audits and succession planning.
- Set high standards of governance, compliance, transparency and accountability (supported by the board’s Finance, Governance and Risk Committee).
- Build and maintain strong relationships with individual board members, the executive team, the artistic director and key partners.
- Line manage the chief executive, conduct annual appraisals and provide guidance and constructive challenge.
- Support the artistic director to realise the full potential of their artistic vision.
- Play an active role in the orchestra’s fundraising, especially for major grants, transformational gifts and corporate partnerships.
- Encourage all trustees to support fundraising efforts and expand development networks.
- Serve as an ex officio member of the board of The English Concert in America (a US charity).
Person Specification
- Demonstrable track record of successful leadership and strategic thinking, ideally at board or senior management level of an arts organisation.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to moderate discussions with clarity and tact.
- Experience in summarising complex debates and identifying key issues for decision-making. A prior role as a board chair would be highly advantageous.
- Clear understanding of charity governance and finances.
- Expertise in leveraging personal and professional networks, inspiring trust and expanding support for the orchestra by building strong relationships.
- Ability to establish and maintain an effective and supportive working relationship with the Chief Executive. Previous line management experience would be desirable.
- Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive organisational culture.
- A passionate, confident and charismatic advocate for baroque music.
Time Commitment
- Four board meetings per year, held in the early evenings in central London (can also be attended remotely if necessary although attendance in person is preferred).
- Regular contact and occasional meetings with the Chief Executive.
- Attendance at several orchestra performances per year.
Terms of Appointment
- The role is unremunerated.
- The appointment will be made for an initial term of three years and is renewable.
How to Apply
You are invited to apply in confidence by submitting a letter outlining your interest in The English Concert and a brief CV to Alfonso Leal del Ojo, Chief Executive, by 21 June 2026: alfonso@englishconcert.co.uk
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this role or the appointment process in confidence, please contact Alfonso Leal del Ojo (as above).
