Ed Smith Appointed Interim Executive Director
Ed Smith has been appointed Liverpool Philharmonic’s Interim Executive Director (Orchestra & Ensembles). He takes up the role with immediate effect following Andrew Cornall’s departure to EMI Classics where he has been appointed Vice President of Artists and Repertoire.
Ed’s role will include the provision of artistic management support to the Chief Executive and Executive team and providing leadership focus to the Orchestra and Ensembles department whilst a new Executive Director is appointed.
A Liverpudlian, Ed began his career in orchestral management at Liverpool Philharmonic as a “dogsbody” after graduating with a degree in music from Durham University. He was manager of the Merseyside Youth Orchestra where he first met Simon Rattle as a 15 year-old percussionist. He became Deputy Chief Executive in 1975.
At 27, (the youngest orchestra CEO in Britain at the time) he was appointed Chief Executive to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra where he stayed for 22 years. During his time there, he installed a 25-year-old Simon Rattle as principal conductor and began a professional partnership that established the orchestra’s world-class credentials. He was also instrumental in the conception, design and building of Symphony Hall. Ed has since worked with orchestras worldwide including the Toronto Symphony, the China National Symphony in Beijing and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra where he appointed Gustavo Dudamel as Music Director in 2006. He returned to the UK after 6 years in Sweden to pursue a freelance career.
More about Ed at www.edsmithconsulting.com
Further information from Jayne Garrity, Head of Communications
0151 210 3791/07967 364241;
