The BBC Concert Orchestra has named Keith Lockhart as its new Principal Conductor, with immediate effect.

The ensemble is one of the corporation’s most versatile orchestras whose repertoire embraces classical, jazz, light music, contemporary and crossover – they’re as likely to be heard as the house orchestra for BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night, appearing at the Electric Proms, or working with their composer-in-association, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood.

Lockhart is best known for his work with the Boston Pops, another orchestra devoted to exploring and celebrating orchestral music in all its diverse forms, and which he has conducted since 1994. No stranger to working with the BBC Concert Orchestra, he makes his Proms debut with the ensemble later this month, with a concert on Monday August 30 of music by Bernstein, Walton and Gershwin – the orchestra will also give the world premiere of a BBC commission from Graham Fitkin under the composer.

“It has been a joy to make music with the BBC Concert Orchestra,” said Lockhart, “and I am honoured to be embarking on a more formal relationship with this virtuosic and versatile group of musicians.”

Johannes Wildner, whose former roles include both Chief Conductor of the Prague State Opera and violinist of the Vienna Philharmonic, has also been announced as the BBC Concert Orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor.