Job Ladders

Barry Kempton explains the path he took to his current post

Arts Professional
3 min read

CHIEF EXECUTIVE City of London Sinfonia (2007–present)

Running a professional orchestra is a role I have long aspired to, but it took me nearly 20 years of other management positions to feel properly ready to be the CEO. I draw on past experiences all the time. When I joined City of London Sinfonia in 2007 I certainly wasn’t planning on initiating the kind of transition we’ve been through, following Founder and Music Director Richard Hickox’s untimely death and a change in Arts Council England funding status that we were ill-prepared for. But this is truly a resilient orchestra with spirited and supportive musicians, and so leading it – now with new artistic leadership in Stephen Layton and Michael Collins – has been a thrill and a privilege. I’m particularly interested in exploring new ways to plan programmes which engage audiences more directly and to see our musicians continue to expand their community outreach skills in the fields of corporate training and health and well-being.

VICE-PRESIDENT FOR ARTISTIC PLANNING Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (2005–2007)

Working at America’s only full-time chamber orchestra was a fantastic chance to stretch my programming skills, working with multiple artistic partners (rather than one music director) and developing new chamber music and contemporary music series – and even the occasional late-night jazz concert.

GENERAL MANAGER Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (1995–2005)

I moved to the States in 1995, to experience a new country and a very different orchestra culture. The repertoire that Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) plays is similar to many British chamber groups, but the planning, the scheduling process and the rigorous labour agreement were new and eye-opening. One of the highlights of my time was to see through the conception, planning and construction of the orchestra’s new home, the SPCO Center.

VARIOUS ROLES Scottish Chamber Orchestra (1986–1995)

I recognise the good fortune I had to experience several different roles early in my career and I’m grateful that I had opportunity to do so at such a high quality organisation – and to live in beautiful Edinburgh for nine years. Preceding three years as Concerts Director, I had a stint as Education Manager, at a time when British orchestras with pioneering and inventive leaders like Gillian Moore and Kathryn McDowall were expanding the role of orchestras in the community. It was a great privilege to work with composers like Nigel Osborne, Alec Roth and Peter Maxwell Davies. My early years at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra were as fixer, librarian, stage assistant and publicity assistant (not all at the same time), which taught me the fundamentals of how a professional orchestra functions. All in all I’ve had a fascinating working life so far and I’m hopeful for more of the same in the future.