Sarah Bardwell reflects on her first few weeks as Managing Director

© Tim Lutton

I joined the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as Managing Director on 23 September 2024, and, one month in, I am taking a moment to reflect on what I have discovered about this amazing organisation. My initial observation is, simply, WOW! The RPO does a lot and wants to do a lot, it is nimble, flexible and keen to make anything work and aims for excellence in everything it does. A can-do and will-do attitude runs throughout the organisation, which is essential in the current challenging cultural and financial context.

It has been a whirlwind start to the role and I am getting to know the Orchestra and team through the wide variety of performances and activities it undertakes. I spent my second day in post at a concert at Windsor Castle which was part of the Windsor Festival. This was followed by concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall, at both of which we warmly welcomed supporters and donors who really believe in the RPO as a charity and the work that we do. Week one ended with watching the RPO perform alongside the Saudi National Orchestra at Westminster Central Hall as part of a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission project.

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