Dunedin Consort announce new chair

The Dunedin Consort is delighted to announce that Sir Muir Russell was appointed chair of its board of directors today. Sir Muir, who retired as Principal of the University of Glasgow last month brings a wealth of experience to the Consort. He succeeds the Consort's founding chair, Andrew Kerr, who is standing down after 13 years.

Sir Muir joins the Consort at a time of growing international acclaim for its performances of 17th and 18th century music.  Winner of the ClassicFM Gramophone Award for Baroque vocal music in 2007 and the Midem Award for Baroque music in 2008, its recent recording of Handel's Acis and Galatea was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award this year. Expectations are already running high for the forthcoming release of Bach's B Minor Mass, which was recorded this September (as ever, for Linn Records), and the 2010 diary is filled with engagements from within Scotland, across Europe and as far away as Tel Aviv. Dunedin has expanded its activity, profile and ambition in a way that is beginning to outrun the capabilities of its existing infrastructure, so Sir Muir's leadership will be key to building the managerial, marketing and fundraising capability of the organization as a whole.

John Butt, musical director and co-artistic-director of the group (and also Gardiner Chair of Music at the University of Glasgow), is very enthusiastic about the new development: "I am delighted to welcome Sir Muir onto the team; his work in recent years at Glasgow University was absolutely outstanding, transforming the morale and financial position of the institution beyond all expectation.  I would also like to thank our retiring chair, Andrew Kerr for all his work over the years, wisely guiding the group through some very difficult financial times, and never stinting in his support of artistic excellence. He leaves the consort at a time when it is enjoying a world-leading reputation for its historically-informed performances of Baroque music."