ZOË BEYERS ANNOUNCED AS NEW LEADER OF BRITTEN SINFONIA
Britten Sinfonia has announced that violinist Zoë Beyers is to become the orchestra’s new Leader. She will replace Jacqueline Shave and Thomas Gould, who shared this role for over a decade.
South Africa-born Beyers’ association with Britten Sinfonia began over 20 years ago, when she was a frequent guest in then-leader Jacqueline Shave’s first violin section. In the past year, she has worked regularly with the orchestra as Leader and Director - notably in a Pärt-Shostakovich tour in February and in a Westminster Abbey concert that featured her as soloist in Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.
Her first concerts as Leader take place this August at the BBC Proms in Bristol Beacon (23 August) and Snape Maltings Concert Hall (27 August), where she will direct and lead Britten Sinfonia in music by Sibelius, Arvo Pärt, Gavin Higgins and Mozart. She then returns for several further performances in early 2026, before taking on the role fully for the 2026/7 season.
In her new post, Beyers’ versatility will enable her to lead the orchestra in conducted projects, to direct the orchestra in unconducted projects, and take on the role of soloist and chamber musician. Britten Sinfonia will also continue to collaborate with a range of guest directors, including Jacqueline Shave, who returns for a project with Jeneba Kanneh-Mason this September, and Max Baillie with his ZRI Quintet next April.
Zoë Beyers commented: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Britten Sinfonia as Leader. I’ve felt a special affinity with this brilliant group of players since Jackie first introduced me to them when I was fresh out of music college. The orchestra’s adventurous spirit, dedication to new music and deep chamber music sensibility make it a very inspiring place to work. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter together.”
After 20 distinguished years with Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Gould will step down following concerts in October 2025. He said:
“Working with Britten Sinfonia for the last two decades has been one of the great privileges of my career. The creativity, camaraderie and sheer musical energy of this orchestra are unmatched. I know Zoë will bring something very special to the role and I wish her the very best.”
Meurig Bowen, Britten Sinfonia’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director, added: “Zoë is an exceptional violinist, a thoughtful and expressive musician, and has a warmth and collaborative spirit that takes everyone along with her. She has established a strong rapport with our players in recent months, and I’m thrilled she is taking on this new role. Her projects at the BBC Proms and Summer at Snape will set the tone for exciting collaborations in the future, and will carry on the great work that Thom has gifted Britten Sinfonia over the years. His stylish and riveting performance of Max Richter’s Vivaldi Recomposed at the BBC Proms in September 2023 typified the commitment and charisma he brought to this role, and with much gratitude we wish him all the best for the future.”
South Africa-born Beyers is one of the UK’s most accomplished and versatile violinists, performing internationally as a soloist, orchestral leader, chamber musician and educator. In addition to her new post with Britten Sinfonia, she will continue to serve as Leader of the BBC Philharmonic.
Zoë Beyers directing a rehearsal at Westminster Cathedral earlier this year
Thomas Gould and Britten Sinfonia receiving applause after our 2023 BBC Prom (photo: Mark Allan)
Jacqueline Shave directing the orchestra at the Barbican Centre in 2019 (photo: Benjamin Ealovega)
Further information:
About Zoë Beyers
South-African born Zoë Beyers has established a reputation as one of the finest and most versatile violinists based in the UK, and performs worldwide as soloist, chamber musician, director and orchestral leader. In 2020 she was appointed Leader of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2024 she took up the role of Artistic Director of the Northern Chamber Orchestra.
Zoë appears as guest leader of the Hallé, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras, the CBSO, the Philharmonia, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Orquesta Nacional de España at the invitation of Juanjo Mena. Since 2017, Zoë has been the Principal Artist and Leader of the English Symphony Orchestra, collaborating closely with them as director and soloist. Her 2024 recording of Steve Elcock’s Violin Concerto (ESO/Kenneth Woods) was one of Gramophone Magazine’s records of the year.
As a chamber musician Zoë performs and records with Britten Sinfonia, Hebrides Ensemble, Nash Ensemble, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and London Sinfonietta. From 2019 until 2024 she was first violinist of the renowned Dante Quartet. Zoë has a passionate interest in education, teaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, coaching at the RNCM and working with violinists and ensembles at the start of their careers. When not playing the violin, she can be found in the garden or up one of her favourite Shropshire hills.
About Britten Sinfonia
Britten Sinfonia creates impactful and inspirational musical experiences through its adventurous programming and innovative formats – such as its immersive Surround Sound Playlist – and through its programmes created especially for school pupils, hospital patients and local communities.
Rooted in the East of England, where it is the only professional orchestra working throughout the region, Britten Sinfonia also has a national and international reputation as one of today’s finest ensembles. “Innovative as always” (Guardian, 2025), it is equally renowned for the remarkable breadth of its collaborations – from Steve Reich, Mahan Esfahani and Alison Balsom to Anoushka Shankar, Jacob Collier and Pagrav Dance Company – and for its nurturing of new compositional voices: over three decades, Britten Sinfonia has premiered more than 300 new works.
Britten Sinfonia’s main concert activity is in London, Saffron Walden, Cambridge and Norwich, and it also performs in Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Peterborough and Chelmsford. The orchestra often performs at London’s Wigmore Hall and appears at UK festivals including Aldeburgh, Brighton, Norfolk & Norwich and the BBC Proms. Its prolific discography features many award-winning recordings on labels such as Harmonia Mundi, Chandos, Warner and Hyperion.