John Harte appointed managing director of London Symphony Orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra has announced that John Harte will be its next managing director, replacing Dame Kathryn McDowell, who steps down after 20 years in the role at the end of the summer. Harte has been chief executive of Aurora Orchestra since 2009, where, alongside principal conductor Nicholas Collon and creative director Jane Mitchell, he helped build the group from a startup into what the announcement described as one of the most successful and innovative new British arts organisations in recent decades.

Prior to Aurora, Harte worked for the British choral label Collegium and completed a doctorate in Middle Eastern history at the School of Oriental and African Studies. "It’s a privilege to be appointed to the MD role at a moment of such artistic and organisational strength, and I look forward to working closely with players, staff, board and collaborators to take the London Symphony Orchestra to still greater heights in the coming years," he said.

Harte will join a senior team that includes chief conductor Sir Antonio Pappano and conductor emeritus Sir Simon Rattle. The orchestra, established in 1904, is resident at London’s Barbican where it gives around 70 concerts a year, and also has residencies in Paris, Tokyo and at the Aix-en-Provence festival.

Sarah Quinn, chair of the LSO, said: "John has led outstanding work at Aurora Orchestra, which has become a significant force in UK music in an impressively short period of time.

Key Topics

Culture, London Symphony Orchestra, John Harte, Aurora Orchestra, Kathryn Mcdowell, Antonio Pappano