News

Ivan Rockey takes up the post of Chief Executive at Gabrieli.

Ivan Rockey, General Manager of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), has been appointed new chief executive of the Gabrieli Consort & Players with effect from 27 October 2008.



Paul McCreesh, Founder and Artistic Director of Gabrieli Consort & Players said:
I look forward to working closely with Ivan Rockey to substantially develop the activities of Gabrieli Consort & Players. I am confident that Ivan will be able to maintain and further develop the Ensemble’s touring and recording activities as well as supporting our new developments in the area of youth and education, an area that we have recently explored very successfully through collaborations with Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and Tees Valley Youth Choir.

Ivan Rockey said:
I'm very excited to be joining an ensemble that has become known not only for its vivid historically-informed performances, but also for an ever-broadening repertoire, both choral and instrumental. I look forward to working with Paul McCreesh in continuing to build on the Gabrieli Consort & Players' already enviable reputation.

Ivan Rockey leaves a successful post as General Manager (since 2002) of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO).

Since the three-year refurbishment of the Brighton Dome, the BPO’s home since 1928, Ivan Rockey significantly extended the orchestra’s reach to new venues while introducing new types of events including films, family concerts, previews and pre-concert talks. He broadened the repertoire of the ensemble to include 40 works never played before in the BPO’s 82-year history and instigated annual education projects in local primary schools. Ivan Rockey also secured the orchestra’s first broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and oversaw the hosting of the Association of British Orchestras’ conference in 2008.

Prior to the BPO, Ivan Rockey was Concerts & Marketing Manager for the English Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Personal Manager to Christopher Hogwood CBE (Academy of Ancient Music).

Ivan Rockey follows Ole Baekhoej, General Manager of Gabrieli since 2002 who is moving to take up the post of Artistic and Executive Director of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Ole Baekhoej has successfully managed the Gabrieli for six years and in this time has secured a major sponsorship deal with international law firm Eversheds as well as substantially growing the network of friends and supporters. He also established new relationships with major international festivals including the first visit of the Gabrieli Consort to Salzburg Festival and coordinated a 'bench mark recording' (BBC Music Magazine) of Haydn's Creation in a spectacular production with 213 musicians.

Further Gabrieli Staff Updates
From 1 October, Gabrieli also welcomes a new PA to the Artistic Director and Development Officer, Andra East. Andra became involved with Gabrieli in February as an intern and organised an exclusive dinner-concert event, a project that formed the practical part of her Diploma in Cultural Management at City University. An active cellist and choral singer, Andra earned a BA in music from Royal Holloway University.

Nicola Loughrey, Concerts & Tours Manager, has been at Gabrieli since June 2005. She graduated from Canterbury Christ Church University College in 1999 with a BA in music and business studies. Since graduating she has spent time travelling and working for various arts organisations, including the Incorporated Society of Musicians from 2001 – 2005. Nicola’s mains duties at Gabrieli are fixing the orchestra and choir and overseeing each project from start to finish, including concert, tour and recording management for all engagements.

Marina Vidor, Administrator, joined Gabrieli in 2006 after completing an internship with the Association of British Orchestras. A native of northern California and viola da gamba player, Marina has a BA in music from Smith College (Massachusetts, USA). Her principal duties at Gabrieli, in addition to general administration, consist of rehearsal manager, music librarian, webmaster, marketing officer, and front of house manager for London concerts.

Déarbhaile Nairn is Gabrieli’s summer intern, helping to cover during our time of transition. In the autumn, Déarbhaile starts her final year reading music (BMus) at Royal Holloway University. An avid recorder player, flautist, pianist and singer, she is proving a great help by cataloguing and reorganising Gabrieli’s music library and filling all music requests. Déarbhaile comes from Derry, Northern Ireland.