Gijs Elsen, has announced his intention to leave his position as Chief Executive of The English Concert by 1st January 2019. Since Gijs joined in 2011, the orchestra has seen a period of unprecedented growth both artistically and commercially. Elsen and Artistic Director Harry Bicket built a series of ground breaking, high-profile cross-artform collaborations and a flagship annual Handel opera tour commissioned by Carnegie Hall New York which is already programmed through to 2021. In 2014 he was rewarded for his efforts by winning the ABO/Rheingold Orchestra Manager of the Year award. In August 2018 The English Concert announced a new 5-year residency at Garsington Opera.

George Burnett, Chairman of The English Concert Board said: ‘Gijs has been a real asset for The English Concert. He has led an exciting and successful commercial development of the orchestra’s work, brokering important new national and international relationships and opening up touring markets in the USA and the Far East. We want to thank him for everything he has done and are sorry to see him go.’

Gijs Elsen said: ‘After 7½ years at the helm, I have reached a point where I feel that I have taken the orchestra as far as I can. I am particularly delighted that it has been possible to bring to fruition the partnership with Garsington, but now I feel it is the right time to hand over to somebody else. I want to thank Harry Bicket, the musicians, staff and the Board for their support and tireless enthusiasm. The orchestra’s music-making is and remains world-class and I will continue to be a fan.’