Ex Cathedra appoints James Burton as next Artistic Director
Ex Cathedra has announced the appointment of James Burton as its next Artistic Director, marking a major leadership transition as founder Jeffrey Skidmore prepares to retire after 57 years at the helm.
Burton will join the organisation in Spring 2026 as Artistic Director Designate, working alongside Skidmore during the transition period. Skidmore will retire in Autumn 2027 and take the title Founder and Conductor Emeritus. An internationally respected conductor, composer and advocate for singing, Burton was appointed following an extensive and inclusive search process involving musicians, trustees, staff and Skidmore himself. His career spans leading British and international choirs and orchestras including the BBC Singers, Tenebrae, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Hallé, Handel and Haydn Society, Ulster Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and Mexico’s National Symphony Orchestra. He has spent eight seasons as Choral Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and four years as Director of Orchestral Activities at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. Education and youth music-making have been central to Burton’s work. He conducted the Schola Cantorum of Oxford for 15 years and founded both the Hallé Youth Choir and the Boston Symphony Children’s Choir. His compositions are published by Edition Peters. James Burton said: ‘Ex Cathedra represents so much that I feel passionate about as a musician – not only its striving for excellence, but also the way it cultivates the power of singing to inspire people across its community. I am looking forward to leading Ex Cathedra into its next chapter, and building on the incredible legacy which Jeffrey has given us.’ Skidmore welcomed the appointment, saying: ‘I am absolutely delighted. James is an eloquent and persuasive musician with a bold and adventurous approach to repertoire and music-making. I look forward to working closely with him over the next year or so to ensure a smooth transition and guarantee a secure and flourishing new era for Ex Cathedra.’ The 2026–27 season will be Skidmore’s final season as Artistic Director and Conductor, and will include a series of concerts celebrating his legacy with the choir, beginning with a French Baroque programme on 15 February 2026, close to his 75th birthday. Further details of these events will be announced in due course. Peter Phillips, Chair of Ex Cathedra, said: ‘This is an exciting appointment. James is a musician of extraordinary accomplishment and breadth, and I know he will build on Jeffrey Skidmore’s legacy as founder and take Ex Cathedra to ambitious new heights.’