Page 872 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

Colin’s Column

17 September 2024

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Chief

Executive Michael Eakin to retire in 2025.

Sep 18, 2024 | News | 0 comments

MICHAEL EAKIN OBE is to stand down as Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Society in March 2025 after over 16 years leading the organisation.

During his tenure, Eakin has led the Liverpool Philharmonic team in a period of remarkable
growth and innovation, including a £14m refurbishment of the Hall, the creation of a new
second performance space, The Music Room; the development of the industry-leading In
Harmony Liverpool programme and NHS Music and Health programme, and expansion of
the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Choir. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Chief Conductors Vasily Petrenko
and Domingo Hindoyan has grown its reach and reputation through its concert seasons,
recordings and international tours including first ever visits to Japan and China. Liverpool
Philharmonic Hall, one of the UK’s leading concert halls, now presents over 400 concerts per
year and the organisation has seen sustained growth in audience numbers as well as
philanthropic support.

Eakin has led the organisation through challenging times, winning plaudits for his prudent
management during Covid, where Liverpool Philharmonic presented a series of live
orchestral concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, one of the earliest organisations world-
wide to do so.

Eakin is also Chair of the Liverpool City Region Music Board. He was awarded an OBE in
2023 for services to the music and the community in Liverpool.

Michael joined Liverpool Philharmonic from Arts Council England, with whom he had been
Executive Director North West. Previously, he was Director of Arts and Leisure for Reading
Borough Council, with a portfolio including the arts and theatre, libraries, museums and
archives, sport and leisure, and tourism.

He is a former Chair of the Association of British Orchestras and a former Vice President of
the Theatrical Management Association (now UK Theatre). Eakin was awarded an Honorary
Degree by the University of Liverpool in 2022 in recognition of his contribution to arts and
culture in Liverpool.

LOUISE SHEPHERD CBE, Chair of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society Board, said: “On
behalf of everyone at Liverpool Philharmonic – our talented musicians, loyal audiences,
dedicated stakeholders, generous donors, and the countless children and young people
who are part of the Liverpool Philharmonic family – I would like to express our deepest