The BBC Concert Orchestra has announced the appointment of Bramwell Tovey as its new Principal Conductor, starting in January, for an initial five-year period. 

Renowned for excellence in an extraordinary diversity of repertoire - from light music to cross-genre collaborations - the BBC Concert Orchestra can also boast being part of the world’s longest-running live orchestral music radio programme, BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night. Tovey takes over from Keith Lockhart, who has been Principal Conductor for seven years and who now becomes Chief Guest Conductor. 

‘The BBC Concert Orchestra is a wonderful ensemble of exceptional musicians whose focus is devoted to sharing the art and spirit of music with its diverse audience,’ said Tovey. ‘The orchestra’s activities in the field of music education, its commitment to contemporary music and the work of composer-in-residence Dobrinka Tabakova are all of particular interest to me. I am very excited about leading the BBC Concert Orchestra in the years ahead.’ 

Tovey has been Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 2000, stepping down next year; other posts have included Music Director of Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg from 2002 to 2006, and of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra from 1989 to 2001.