This is a summary of the year 2017 in
British music.
Events
12 January – The City of London Corporation announces a pledge of £2.5M to a feasibility study, previously halted in November 2016, for a proposed new London concert hall.[1]
17 January –
UK Music announced that Jo Dipple is to stand down as its CEO in June 2017.[2]
The London Festival of Baroque Music announces that
Lindsay Kemp is to stand down as artistic director, and Lucy Bending is to stand down as festival manager, in May 2017, at the conclusion of the 2017 festival.[3]
13 February – The
European Union Baroque Orchestra (EUBO), currently with its administrative base in
Hordley, announces its intention to relocate to AMUZ (Augustinus Muziekzentrum),
Antwerp, in 2018, in the wake of the
Brexit referendum. In parallel, the EUBO announces its plan to discontinue the EUBO Mobile Baroque Academy (EMBA) project at the end of March 2017.[6]
28 February – The
St Paul's Cathedral Choir announces the appointment of Carris Jones to its roster, the first female chorister in the choir's recorded history, effective 1 September 2017, as alto vicar choral.[7]
The
Academy of Ancient Music announces the appointment of Alexander Van Ingen as its new chief executive.[9]
The
BBC announces the appointment of Neil Ferris as the new chorus director of the BBC Symphony Chorus, effective May 2017. In parallel, Grace Rossiter is to join the chorus as deputy chorus director.[10]
8 March – New Music Scotland presented the inaugural Scottish Awards for New Music:[11]
5 April – The
Southbank Centre announces the appointment of Elaine Bedell as its next chief executive, the first woman to hold the post, effective May 2017.[12]
18 April –
Opera North announces the resignation of
Aleksandar Marković as its music director, with his contract formally to terminate in July 2017, but where he is not to appear with the company for the remainder of the 2016–2017 season.[13]
9 May – The BBC announces the appointment of
Sofi Jeannin as the next chief conductor of the
BBC Singers, the first woman to be named to the post, effective July 2018.[15]
4 June – At the
Old Trafford Cricket Ground, the
One Love Manchester benefit concert takes place, to benefit the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. The performers included Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, Chris Martin, Liam Gallagher, and Marcus Mumford.[19]
7 June – Glyndebourne Opera announces the appointment of Nicholas Jenkins as its new chorus master, effective 4 September 2017.[20]
27 June –
Arts Council England (ACE) reports its national portfolio funding decisions for the scheduled period of 2018–2022, which include the following music-related items:[25]
The Reverend David Ingall of the
St Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church in London (known as the National Musicians' Church) announces that the church is to close its hiring programme and acceptance of new bookings effective 2018.[27]
Music Theatre Wales announces the appointment of Richard Baker as its consultant music director, with immediate effect.[28]
11 October – The European Union Youth Orchestra announces its intention to relocate its administrative functions to Ferrara and Rome, Italy, in the wake of the Brexit referendum.[31]
23 November – The
BBC Concert Orchestra announces the appointment of
Bramwell Tovey as its next principal conductor, effective January 2018, with an initial contract of 5 years. In parallel,
Keith Lockhart is to stand down from the principal conductorship of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and to take the title of chief guest conductor.[32]
28 November – The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) announces the election of Gavin Reid as its new chair.[33]
4 December –
Glyndebourne Opera announces that Sebastian F. Schwarz is to conclude his tenure as its general director in 2018.[34]
Sinfonia Cymru announces the appointment of Peter Bellingham as its next chief executive. In parallel, Sophie Lewis is to stand down as the ensemble's chief executive at the end of January 2018.[37]
21 December — The
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra announces the cancellation of concert appearances by principal conductor and artistic director
Charles Dutoit, pending the resolution of allegations of sexual assault against him.[38]
^"Transitioning to EUBO @ AMUZ"(PDF) (Press release). European Union Baroque Orchestra. 13 February 2017. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
^"The New Year's Honours list 2018" (Press release). Cabinet Office, Department for Communities and Local Government, Department of Health, Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Home Office, United Kingdom. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
This is a summary of the year 2017 in
British music.
Events
12 January – The City of London Corporation announces a pledge of £2.5M to a feasibility study, previously halted in November 2016, for a proposed new London concert hall.[1]
17 January –
UK Music announced that Jo Dipple is to stand down as its CEO in June 2017.[2]
The London Festival of Baroque Music announces that
Lindsay Kemp is to stand down as artistic director, and Lucy Bending is to stand down as festival manager, in May 2017, at the conclusion of the 2017 festival.[3]
13 February – The
European Union Baroque Orchestra (EUBO), currently with its administrative base in
Hordley, announces its intention to relocate to AMUZ (Augustinus Muziekzentrum),
Antwerp, in 2018, in the wake of the
Brexit referendum. In parallel, the EUBO announces its plan to discontinue the EUBO Mobile Baroque Academy (EMBA) project at the end of March 2017.[6]
28 February – The
St Paul's Cathedral Choir announces the appointment of Carris Jones to its roster, the first female chorister in the choir's recorded history, effective 1 September 2017, as alto vicar choral.[7]
The
Academy of Ancient Music announces the appointment of Alexander Van Ingen as its new chief executive.[9]
The
BBC announces the appointment of Neil Ferris as the new chorus director of the BBC Symphony Chorus, effective May 2017. In parallel, Grace Rossiter is to join the chorus as deputy chorus director.[10]
8 March – New Music Scotland presented the inaugural Scottish Awards for New Music:[11]
5 April – The
Southbank Centre announces the appointment of Elaine Bedell as its next chief executive, the first woman to hold the post, effective May 2017.[12]
18 April –
Opera North announces the resignation of
Aleksandar Marković as its music director, with his contract formally to terminate in July 2017, but where he is not to appear with the company for the remainder of the 2016–2017 season.[13]
9 May – The BBC announces the appointment of
Sofi Jeannin as the next chief conductor of the
BBC Singers, the first woman to be named to the post, effective July 2018.[15]
4 June – At the
Old Trafford Cricket Ground, the
One Love Manchester benefit concert takes place, to benefit the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. The performers included Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, Chris Martin, Liam Gallagher, and Marcus Mumford.[19]
7 June – Glyndebourne Opera announces the appointment of Nicholas Jenkins as its new chorus master, effective 4 September 2017.[20]
27 June –
Arts Council England (ACE) reports its national portfolio funding decisions for the scheduled period of 2018–2022, which include the following music-related items:[25]
The Reverend David Ingall of the
St Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church in London (known as the National Musicians' Church) announces that the church is to close its hiring programme and acceptance of new bookings effective 2018.[27]
Music Theatre Wales announces the appointment of Richard Baker as its consultant music director, with immediate effect.[28]
11 October – The European Union Youth Orchestra announces its intention to relocate its administrative functions to Ferrara and Rome, Italy, in the wake of the Brexit referendum.[31]
23 November – The
BBC Concert Orchestra announces the appointment of
Bramwell Tovey as its next principal conductor, effective January 2018, with an initial contract of 5 years. In parallel,
Keith Lockhart is to stand down from the principal conductorship of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and to take the title of chief guest conductor.[32]
28 November – The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) announces the election of Gavin Reid as its new chair.[33]
4 December –
Glyndebourne Opera announces that Sebastian F. Schwarz is to conclude his tenure as its general director in 2018.[34]
Sinfonia Cymru announces the appointment of Peter Bellingham as its next chief executive. In parallel, Sophie Lewis is to stand down as the ensemble's chief executive at the end of January 2018.[37]
21 December — The
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra announces the cancellation of concert appearances by principal conductor and artistic director
Charles Dutoit, pending the resolution of allegations of sexual assault against him.[38]
^"Transitioning to EUBO @ AMUZ"(PDF) (Press release). European Union Baroque Orchestra. 13 February 2017. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
^"The New Year's Honours list 2018" (Press release). Cabinet Office, Department for Communities and Local Government, Department of Health, Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Home Office, United Kingdom. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.