BBC picks suit for Scottish orch
mainDominic Parker is to be the new Director of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
He is currently head of External Relations at Sage, Gateshead and he apparently ticks all the boxes of the bureaucratised BBC music leadership.
Here’s a set of stereotypes from his new bosses.
Alan Davey, Controller of BBC Radio 3, commented: “We are looking forward to welcoming Dominic to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the wider BBC Performing Group and Radio 3 family. He brings with him a wealth of experience in connecting audiences to great music, and joins at a time when the BBC SSO welcomes a new Principal Conductor, Thomas Dausgaard, who will take the orchestra to new places and new heights. There are exciting times to come for the orchestra and for the audiences who experience their work live and through broadcasts locally, nationally and internationally. Our profound thanks and best wishes to Gavin Reid, who leaves the orchestra in great shape. “
Donalda MacKinnon, BBC Scotland Head of Programmes and Services said: “Dominic has an impressive track record in leading and motivating creative teams. He has an excellent knowledge of musical repertoire and conductors and will make a major contribution to the artistic direction of the SSO.”
“Head of External Relations” – that means marketing, basically. They’ve put a marketing man in charge of an orchestra.
Of course he may be superb; one hopes so. But the BBC (like most major UK arts organisations) does have a depressing habit of appointing from the same pool of networkers, careerists, committee-sitters and quangocrats. Makes everyone feel more secure, I suppose, although many of these people are professional talkers rather than do-ers and there’ve been some shockingly unskilled people put in some quite senior positions.
Lucky orchestra to get Dausgaard. I do not remember reading that here (forgive me if I missed it)– far more significant.
Umm the jury is out on Dausgaard unfortunately. Some good and some scrappy performances.
Indeed. Ask the DSO Berlin what they thought of his last concert with them!