City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is an internationally celebrated symphony orchestra, at home in Birmingham. A family of 90 incredible musicians, led by Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor Kazuki Yamada, proud to make exciting musical experiences that matter to the people of Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. Resident at Symphony Hall, our musicians perform over 150 concerts each year in Birmingham, the UK and around the world, with music that ranges from classics to contemporary, soundtracks to symphonies, and everything in between. With a far-reaching community and education programme, alongside a family of choruses and youth ensembles, we are involved in every aspect of music-making in the Midlands – and have been for more than 100 years.

With the recent appointment of an ambitious new Chief Executive, a fresh new brand and an incredible season lined up for 23-24, the CBSO now seeks candidates for the role of Chair. The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for the CBSO’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. They will also support, and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the organisation to achieve agreed objectives. The Chair will also work in partnership with the Chief Executive as an ambassador and the public face of the CBSO.

Candidates will have a passion for the arts and for music and will bring a strong track record of strategic leadership and good business acumen. They will ideally bring an awareness of current opportunities and challenges in the orchestral and wider arts sector, as well as an altruistic approach, excellent relationship-building and communication skills, and the energy and drive to support the development of the organisation’s strategic vision for the future. They will be excited to act as an ambassador for the sector in general and the CBSO specifically, particularly in regard to generating and securing support for the organisation through fundraising. Candidates will also bring the skills and drive to engage with local, regional and national stakeholders and partners for the benefit of the CBSO and will have a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in alignment with the mission and values of the organisation.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference EBGQB. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Friday 21^st July 2023.