BACKThe Academy of Ancient Music, the world-renowned period instrument orchestra and choir, has appointed Alexander Van Ingen as its new Chief Executive.
Alexander joins from Decca Classics where he was an Executive Producer in charge of Artists and Repertoire. At Decca, Alexander worked on some of the label’s best-selling classical albums of recent years with Nicola Benedetti, Voces8 and the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral; operatic recordings from Baroque opera premieres to ‘Simon Boccanegra’; projects with new composers such as Ola Gjeilo and Rebecca Dale; award-winning albums with Alisa Weilerstein and Benjamin Grosvenor; and the digital work of artists such as Valentina Lisitsa and Janine Jansen. Alexander has created and managed several major classical music events including collaborations with the iTunes Festival, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. With the Bowerman Charitable Trust, Alexander founded Champs Hill Records to champion the work of new artists, a label that won a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in 2014.
Alexander said: ‘The Academy of Ancient Music boasts an enviable reputation for its energy and enthusiasm, and a proud legacy of popularising period performance. I am very pleased to be working with Richard Egarr and the players and singers of the Academy of Ancient Music to develop the orchestra’s audience reach, along with their outreach and participation programmes. The AAM’s ambitious and fresh music-making is infectious, and I am greatly looking forward to this exciting new role.’
Richard Egarr, Music Director, commented: ‘We are all very excited to be working with Alex, one of the true movers and shakers working in classical music today. The AAM will grow under his leadership and we look forward to many years ahead.’
Terence Sinclair, Chairman of the Academy of Ancient Music, said: ‘The Academy is entering a very exciting phase. We recently announced the appointment of our first Hogwood Fellow, Robert Levin, and our collaboration with The Grange Festival, whose inaugural season opens this summer. We are thrilled that Alex will bring to the AAM his ideas, musicianship, and commitment to new audiences.’
Alexander was previously a client with WildKat, and so we are especially delighted with this news, and look forward to working with Alexander in the coming months.
Image: Alexander Van Ingen