English Symphony Orchestra appoints a new CEO

The English Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Seb Lovell-Huckle as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Seb joins ESO from Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, where he has been Executive Director for three years. He will take up his new role on 8 August 2022.

Before BCMG, Seb has held roles at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and City of London Sinfonia. He is Chair of the board for Birmingham Conservation Trust (which runs the award-winning Coffin Works museum in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter), Chair of Stafford Sinfonia, and is a trustee of Constella OperaBallet. A passionate amateur cellist, Seb performs with many orchestras across the Midlands and enjoys playing chamber music when time allows.

Seb said, “I am enormously excited to join ESO at a critical moment in its history, and look forward to working with its outstanding musicians, its Artistic Director Kenneth Woods and the board and staff in its next phase of development.”

Chair of Trustees, Jonathan Godfrey commented, “ I am delighted that someone of Seb’s proven experience and  enthusiasm is joining the orchestra to lead us in meeting the challenges we face as we emerge from the impact of Covid. Under the artistic direction of Kenneth Woods, the orchestra has a national reputation for the quality of its performances, innovative programming, education work and community projects and I am confident Seb will lead us to even greater heights.”

In welcoming Seb, Kenneth Woods stated, “I couldn’t be more excited about working with Seb as we endeavour to build the future ESO. He’s more than just a very, very capable professional and great colleague. He has vision, creativity, energy and nerve in abundance. It’s a very happy moment for all of us at the ESO”.