David Pickard will step down as director of the BBC Proms, the corporation has announced.
The director, who was appointed to the role in 2015, will remain in post until October 2024, the BBC said on Thursday.
Mr Pickard said: "It has been an immense honour and privilege to run the world's greatest classical music festival alongside an incredible team, working with many of the most exciting orchestras, musicians and artists on the planet.
“By the end of next summer I will have planned and delivered nine Proms seasons and it feels like the right time to move on and explore new projects. After the critical and box office success of the 2023 Proms, I look forward to delivering one more season in 2024.”
Mr Pickard is credited by the BBC with having expanded the breadth of the annual festival over the years, reaching new audiences across the UK and increasing the diversity of artists, composers and collaborators.
The 2023 season featured the first ever weekend-long Proms festival outside London, at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead, North East England.
It also marked the first time in the festival's 128-year history that both the first night and last night were conducted by women.
During his last year as director, Mr Pickard will work on the Proms 2024 and plan for future seasons.
Recruitment for his replacement will begin in the New Year, the BBC said.Prior to his current role, Mr Pickard spent 14 years as General Director of Glyndebourne and eight years as Chief Executive of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Sam Jackson, Controller of classical music station BBC Radio 3, said: “David has done a fantastic job as Director of the Proms and I thank him for all his hard work over the years.
"It was a pleasure working alongside him this season, where I saw first-hand his commitment to musical excellence and reaching broader audiences – leading to record-breaking figures on BBC Sounds and iPlayer.
"David has consistently championed classical music at the BBC, in particular the BBC’s own orchestras and choirs, ensuring they remain the beating heart of every Proms season. I look forward to working with him again next year and giving him a proper send-off after the Last Night of the Proms.”The Proms was founded in 1895, and is now organised and broadcast by the BBC. Each year, it consists of an eight-week summer season of daily orchestal classic music concerts and other events, held primarily a the Royal Albert Hall in central London.
