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Arcangelo is seeking enthusiastic and committed new trustees to bring expertise, fresh perspectives and practical assistance to help us to realise our ambitious plans.
About Arcangelo
Arcangelo is one of the world’s leading period performance ensembles, whose collective energy and spirit continue to generate many critical awards and five-star reviews, spark audience ovations, and prompt invitations to the foremost international venues and festivals. The ensemble, which has developed an outstanding reputation in the musical world since its creation in 2010, comprises hand-picked musicians under the dynamic leadership of its Artistic Director and founder Jonathan Cohen. The group’s ethos is shaped by a determination to apply the deep listening skills and artistry of chamber music-making to every piece in its repertoire, from trio sonatas to oratorios.
Widely recognised as producing a quality of musicianship beyond its years, Arcangelo has also been an incubator for young talent, consistently collaborating with leading soloists at breakthrough career moments and, since 2020, running its own young artist programme for period instrumentalists, the Arcangelo New Ensemblists.Â
The group’s most recent successes include a UK and EU concert tour with violinist Vilde Frang (***** The Guardian) and the internationally-acclaimed release of its 30th studio recording, of Handel’s ‘Theodora’. Since 2010 the group has received more awards and nominations from the Gramophone Awards than any other UK period ensemble, with further awards and nominations from the BBC Music Magazine Awards, the Limelight Recordings of the Year, the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the ECHO Klassik Awards, and the GRAMMYs.Â
In 2024, Arcangelo was announced as the new Principal Ensemble in Residence at the London Handel Festival. The ensemble will make three concert appearances as part of its debut festival in 2025.Â
Trusteeships
We are looking to find new trustees to expand the existing team and are keen to encourage applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience to bring expertise, fresh perspectives, and practical assistance to help Arcangelo to realise its ambitious plans.
Role and person specification
The Board of Trustees meets quarterly in London, with additional quarterly meetings for appointed subcommittees. The key trustee responsibilities are governance and oversight of the charity’s activities and finances, guidance in strategic discussions and a willingness to act as ambassador for the ensemble, attending performances, bringing guests, and introducing potential supporters.
Beyond these responsibilities, the Arcangelo Board is, for a lean organisation, the crucial partner to the executive team in steering an ambitious strategic plan for the ensemble in this second decade of its life, at a generational transition point in the UK period performance scene. New artistic projects, extended UK and EU partnerships, an innovative young artist programme (Arcangelo New Ensemblists), and the exciting new collaboration with a major UK festival (London Handel Festival) demand not only the oversight of trustees, but their active involvement in helping Arcangelo fulfil its potential.
We are looking for trustees who can bring a real enthusiasm for what the charity does and for the phase of growth into which it is entering, for the music, musicians and the music-making, as well as a willingness to put energy, time and fresh thinking into finding solutions to the challenges we face. Currently, these include:
- Fundraising to support our growth;
- Building and marketing our brand;
- Developing our use of new media for business and creative goals.
All trustees accept a responsibility to help find sources of funding, and those who are able to make personal donations do so. The board’s combined giving to Arcangelo is specified in the charity’s annual accounts.
Terms of appointment
This role is unremunerated. Reasonable pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. Normally we aim to meet in person in London for board meetings, which take place in London on weekday evenings and last for two hours.
The appointment is for a three year term, renewable at the discretion of the board. (The maximum recommended term limit for trusteeship is currently set by the Charity Governance Code at nine years.)
How to apply
To apply, please write to the board by email via the button below with a short explanation of why you are interested in becoming a trustee of Arcangelo, and what you feel you could bring to us in the role. Please also supply a CV or LinkedIn profile. If you would like the opportunity for an informal conversation to find out more before making your application, please email our Chair of Trustees, Sir Nicholas Kenyon, who will be happy to arrange a call. chair@arcangelo.org.ukÂ
All applications will be considered by our full board of current trustees to determine whether we would like to meet you for a formal interview. All applications will be replied to.Â
If the board would like to meet you for a formal interview, we will be in contact with further information to arrange a suitable meeting.Â
When to apply
Arcangelo welcomes applications for trusteeship on a rolling basis, and has no upper limit on board places. We will consider and reply within two weeks of receipt to all applications received.
The board is currently (December 2024) looking to proactively drive recruitment, and is running a campaign over December 2024 and January 2025 to support this.Â
If you would like to make an application for immediate consideration, please do so by 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025. We will consider and reply to all applications received by this date by 5pm on Friday 24 January 2025. If this timeframe is not suitable for you, but you nevertheless would wish to be considered, please be in touch with us at any time to discuss an application. Â
Your data
Your letter of application and any CV attachments will be stored securely by Arcangelo, and will only be accessible to our trustees and our General Manager. If you are not invited to interview, or to join the board, or if you decide to withdraw your application, we will retain these materials for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months, in line with current best practice.
