Barbara Palczynski

Barbara has worked for over 25 years with classical music NPOs including London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Philharmonia Orchestra delivering large-scale projects ranging from orchestral to opera, cross-arts, multi-media and digital. Always committed to talent development, she set up and managed the International Conductors’ Academy of the Allianz Cultural Foundation to model a professional development programme for emerging conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, and as Producer at Sound and Music she commissioned and supported emerging composers. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to become a founding member of the pioneering pop-up club inégales, an open space for multi-genre free improvisation and collaboration. She oversaw CONNECT: The Audience as Artist, an international collaboration between Art Mentor Foundation Luzern, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, Asko Schoenberg and Casa da Música. She believes firmly in the importance of cultural exchange and creating an environment in which partnership working, ambition and creativity can flourish. Her projects have been nominated for RPS Awards.

 

Since 2016 Barbara has been the Managing Director of Creative Society, an arts employment charity that supports fair access for young people to develop their creative talents and careers. She has channelled her wealth of knowledge of the creative sector to strengthen the strategic development of the organisation and has advocated to government to support the widest talent pipeline for a more diverse sector.

 

Barbara works with the Creative Director and the Board of Trustees to lead National Youth Ballet of Great Britain to drive forward its mission.

Barbara Palczynski Chief Executive