Joint Artistic Directors announced on the Eve of the 2015 Bath International Music Festival

Bath Festivals is delighted to announce the appointment of James Waters and David Jones as Joint Artistic Directors of the Bath International Music Festival from 2016 to 2018.

Bath International Music Festival, founded by Ian Hunter in 1948, is the city’s most prestigious and largest annual musical event. Historic, adventurous and admired throughout Europe, it continues to attract world-class artists to perform in its beautiful Georgian venues.

James Waters and David Jones, leading figures in the music industry and experts in their own musical fields, have worked closely to produce this year’s festival, bringing the finest classical, jazz, world and folk musicians to Bath. They will go on to produce the festival together for the next three years.

 David Jones is one of the directors of Serious, one of the UK’s leading producers of international music.  Serious created and produces the EFG London Jazz Festival, which has become one of the world’s major festivals of jazz and beyond, and David remains fully involved in the year-round work of Serious.  He says:

“Programming the Bath International Music Festival with James this year has been a delight, in particular because Belinda Kidd and the Bath Festivals team have been so enthused about our choices.  I look forward to bringing all of the passion and experience of Serious into our work together in Bath, and exploring new ways of working with major artists and exciting talent in a powerhouse festival”.

James Waters is Associate Director of UK based festival consultants Festivals and Events International (FEI) was Associate Festival Director of the Edinburgh International Festival from 1992 – 2006. He is currently Artistic Director of the Lammermuir Festival, and Creative Director, Classical Music, at Perth Concert Hall. He says:

“It is an honour to be involved with this, one of the UK’s major cultural events. Bath International Music Festival has always had music making of the highest standard at its heart and this will continue to inform and dictate our programming in the years to come”.

 Belinda Kidd, Chief Executive of Bath Festivals says:  

“It gives me huge pleasure to make this announcement. James and David joined us for 2015 on a one year basis, and I am very pleased that they will be continuing with Bath Festivals through to 2018.   They have delivered an excellent programme for us this year that is worthy of this festival’s illustrious history and international standing. It is a privilege to work with such experienced and highly regarded figures in the music sector. I look forward to working with them through to 2018, and to building an ever more popular and critically acclaimed festival”.

John Cullum, Chair of Bath Festival says:

“The appointment of James and David as Artistic Directors through to 2018 is an important and exciting prospect for Bath International Music Festival. Retaining the highest calibre of artistic direction is vital for Bath Festivals, especially in an era of major challenges from traditional financial sources. Building on the success of this, their first year’s programme, they will continue to lead us towards an increasingly vibrant and inventive programme that reaches ever wider audiences”.

Bath International Music Festival, 15-26 May 2015

Bath International Music Festival takes place in venues in and around Bath from 15-26 May 2015. Concerts are individually ticketed and prices range from £12- £28. All tickets are available from Bath Box Office on 01225 463362

ABOUT BATH FESTIVALS

Bath Festivals brings leading international performers, writers and thinkers to Bath every year to inspire, entertain and challenge audiences of all ages and artistic tastes.  The festivals champion diversity and collaboration, open people’s minds, and showcase the work of both established and up-and-coming performers, all in the special setting that is Bath: a World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Bath Festivals is the charitable organisation responsible for the internationally acclaimed Bath International Music Festival, the thought provoking Independent Bath Literature Festival and the inspirational Telegraph Bath Children’s Literature Festival.

Bath Festivals provides year-round learning and participation opportunities for children, young people and adults through creative workshops, gigs, and master classes.

Bath Festivals acts as a central hub for the arts in Bath and North East Somerset serving 120 festivals, events and local arts organisations through the Bath Box Office.  The majority of Bath Festivals income comes from ticket sales and fundraising, and the remaining quarter comes from public sector support via Arts Council England and   Bath and North East Somerset Council.  Bath Festivals brings significant economic benefit to its local economy, worth an average of £5million each year.

ABOUT FEI AND SERIOUS

Festivals and Events International provides advice and project management for festivals across the world, including the Edinburgh Festivals, Cambridge Folk Festival and the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. feiuk.com

Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers and curators of live jazz, international and new music. Serious produces events that range from major concerts, festivals and national and international tours through to learning and participation programmes, conferences and specially-commissioned bespoke events. serious.org.uk