The National Concert Hall has announced that CEO Simon Taylor will retire in January 2021. Taylor took up the role in 2011 and led the NCH through significant redevelopment and programme changes, including the complete refurbishment of the Kevin Barry Recital Room, and the establishment of the current development plan which will see an expansion of the Hall’s facilities.

Taylor previously worked as CEO of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and prior to that spent six years working with BBC Northern Ireland as Senior Producer of Classical Music. In the 1990s he was Head of Orchestras and Performing Groups at RTÉ and also worked as a presenter for RTÉ Lyric fm and BBC Radio Ulster, as Administrator with Newpark Music Centre in Dublin, and served on various boards of music and arts organisations including the Association of British Orchestras (of which he was Chairman), Arts University College Bournemouth, Bristol Music Trust, Great Music in Irish Houses, the Sonorities Festival of Contemporary Music in Belfast and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. He is also an accomplished classical guitarist. 

Commenting on his retirement, Taylor said: 

It has been, and remains, an honour to lead this important cultural institution. I am particularly proud of leading the transition of the National Concert Hall into a national centre for music, with its family of resident ensembles, organisations and individual artists. Part of this journey has seen the development of an extensive and diverse programme of own promotions including the chamber music programme in the Kevin Barry Recital Room and initiatives such as New Music Dublin and our NCH Lifetime Achievement Award, along with the growth and expansion of our learning and participation programme. I look forward to witnessing the NCH’s continued development, both artistically and physically, and the hard-won redevelopment plans present a wonderful opportunity to create a world-class centre for music in Dublin.  

In the meantime, I am devoting all of my efforts to ensuring we can get through the Covid-19 crisis which has so heavily impacted the arts and music sector. 

Maura McGrath, Chair of the Board of the NCH, said:

Simon has made a hugely significant contribution to the National Concert Hall during his two terms as CEO. I am proud to have worked alongside him. His leadership is marked by great achievement for which musicians, audiences and our staff and supporters are extremely grateful. His natural empathy with the music sector and his ability to balance the cultural and commercial needs of the organisation ensure we are in a strong position for the future.  

Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht Catherine Martin added: ‘Simon has contributed so much to the music sector throughout his career, both in Ireland and overseas. He has led the National Concert Hall with distinction during the last decade…  I was particularly taken with the leadership he has shown in ensuring the Hall’s redevelopment plans have been advanced. On behalf of everyone in my Department, I would like to thank him for all he has done and wish him the very best in the future.’

The NCH will begin the process of recruiting a new CEO shortly. 

For more, visit https://bit.ly/3lffgrC.