Aurora Orchestra combines world-class performance with uniquely creative concert presentation, collaboration across art forms, and a deep commitment to music education. Founded in 2005, it has quickly established a reputation as one the most innovative forces in classical music worldwide, expanding the frontiers of orchestral performance and inspiring new audiences of all ages.

Collaborating widely across art forms and musical genres, Aurora has worked with an exceptional breadth of artists, ranging from Nicola Benedetti, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Patricia Kopatchniskaja to Wayne McGregor, Edmund de Waal and Björk. In recent years, Aurora has pioneered memorised performance (without the use of printed sheet music), and is thought to be the first orchestra worldwide to perform whole symphonies in this way. Aurora’s recent appearance at the 2023 BBC Proms – performing Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring from memory complete with a new theatrical presentation of the piece, was widely seen as a landmark achievement in classical music and one of the highlights of recent seasons, with a slew of five-star reviews. This distinctive approach forms part of a broader commitment to Orchestral Theatre: adventurous productions that rethink the concert format and offer bold new ways to engage with orchestral music. Based in London, Aurora is Resident Orchestra at the Southbank Centre and Resident Ensemble at Kings Place. The orchestra regularly tours to major venues across the UK and internationally.

Aurora has ambitious plans to increase the impact of its work over coming seasons. Key areas of focus include:

• The expansion in partnership with Southbank Centre of Aurora Classroom, a major new digital initiative aimed at helping primary school teachers embed music in the classroom
• Developing ambitious new Orchestral Theatre productions which further reimagine the limits of orchestral performance and set a new bar for artistic innovation and quality
• An expanded series of orchestral adventures at Southbank Centre, including a range of cross-art form commissions and collaborations, electrifying performances from memory, and guest appearances from world-class guest artists
• Building on recent experimental projects at London’s Printworks nightclub, the continued development of a new strand of immersive work in warehouse spaces aimed at bringing first-time concert-goers physically inside a symphony
• An expansion of Aurora’s international touring programme, showcasing its signature Orchestral Theatre work in leading concert halls across Europe and beyond, including debut appearances in Paris, New York and Berlin

For more information about the role, please click here. 

This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in shaping and supporting the future of one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative performing ensembles as it emerges to full maturity.

Aurora Orchestra is a charitable organisation, and its governance structure ensures that it meets its requirements to ensure probity, good governance and outstanding performance. As Trustee, candidates will be expected to:

• Contribute to the continuing success of Aurora by offering support, guidance and constructive challenge to Aurora's management team
• Be an Ambassador for Aurora
• Think strategically, creatively and for the long-term
• Bring strong personal networks, and a willingness to leverage them in support of the orchestra
• Actively support the orchestra’s fundraising activities
• Fulfil the core responsibilities of being a charity trustee

The orchestra is also seeking to reinforce its commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion and embed this throughout its programme, aiming to ensure its work is relevant to the broadest possible audience.

Aurora is looking to appoint two new trustees, with backgrounds in Finance or Fundraising, to help the Board drive forward its ambitious artistic vision. The Board welcomes applications from individuals who bring a passion for music and the arts more generally; a track record in innovation and strategic contribution to organisations; a broad professional skill set; and great networks which could be mobilised in support of the orchestra.

Specifically, candidates will bring one of the following skillsets:

Finance: One successful candidate will have a background in finance, and will ideally be a qualified accountant with experience of charity governance and internal audit processes. This individual will join the Finance & Operations Committee.

Fundraising: One successful candidate will bring exceptionally strong personal networks who can help Aurora expand their current range of prospects and plan for a more ambitious programme of creative fundraising activity aimed at high-net-worth donors. Aurora’s ambitious artistic and educational plans will require a step change in fundraising, with a particular strategic focus on realising more fully the potential of their distinctive artistic offer to attract major individual donors. 

Dame Liz Forgan DBE (Chair)
Nicholas Hardie
Andrew Hochhauser
Mike Laven
Jenny Lewis
Alistair Lomax
Ben Lumsden
Rachel Mortimer
Suzanne Szczetnikowicz
Sharon Zhu

There are four ordinary board meetings per year – these are generally held on a weekday evening in central London and last c. 2 hours.  Additionally the board also holds an annual strategy day.  Attending meetings in person is encouraged where possible, though provision for remote participation is made where necessary. In addition to main board meetings, trustees are appointed to one of the board’s committees, which usually meet quarterly over Zoom.  Average time commitment is likely to be approximately 5 hours per month.  In addition it is also expected that trustees will attend Aurora performances and other events throughout the year on a reasonably frequent basis.  

This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be paid. This role is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.

Candidates may be based anywhere in the UK.  Although the majority of the orchestra’s performances take place in London, Aurora is acutely aware of the value of perspectives from outside the capital and encourage applications from candidates based in other parts of the UK.

Aurora welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. It is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices and it positively encourages applications from all sectors of the community, and is willing to make adjustments to the application or interview process as needed. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.

Aurora believes that diversity of views and backgrounds makes for a stronger and more effective board, and is particularly keen to encourage candidates from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the arts to apply. One of the historic strengths of Aurora’s board has been its combination of trustees of widely varying stages in their professional careers, and we welcome applicants of all ages and levels of professional experience.