The Cheltenham Music Festival has announced the appointment of Jack Bazalgette, co-founder of music promotion company ‘through the noise’, as its Artistic Director from the 2025 season.

Bazalgette’s appointment coincides with a new three-year strategy for Cheltenham with the festival says aims ‘to take the storied Festival to new heights and audiences.’ Bazalgette’s first year as Artistic Director will coincide with Cheltenham Music Festival’s 80th year. T Festival’s Producer, Tamsyn Hamilton will remain in post following her work on implementing the Festival’s 2024 programme.

Speaking of his appointment, Jack Bazalgette said: ‘Cheltenham has an astonishing history of commissioning new works and showcasing the world's most talented musicians. Its year-round work with young people and schools is also crucial to introducing diverse audiences to the joy of classical music. As Cheltenham’s Artistic Director, I will be continuing this work while also seeking to expand its audiences – and our understandings of what live classical music can and should be in the twenty-first century.’

Cheltenham Music Festival was in the news last year when it came to light that its Composer Academy was to be paused in 2024 due to financial issues, with the summer’s Festival going ahead, but with a reduced programme.

As part of the announcement, co-CEO of Cheltenham Festivals Ian George said of Cheltenham Music Festival’s future: ‘with Jack coming onboard for 2025, we could not be more excited … he has shown that it is possible to expand classical audiences while placing an absolute premium on artistic integrity and quality. That’s the place where we want Cheltenham Music Festival’s sustainable future to be located.’

The 2024 Cheltenham Music Festival will take place from 6 - 13 July | cheltenhamfestivals.com/music