Judith Serota, OBE - Associate Director

Judith ran the Spitalfields Festival in London’s East End from 1988 until 2007, latterly as Executive Director. For nearly twenty years she managed and developed the organisation, launching the award-winning Festival Education & Community Programme and the Spitalfields Winter Festival in 1996. She has been responsible for commissioning over 30 new pieces of music during her time at the Festival and the organisation won the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award in both 2006 and 2007.

Judith has spent her whole career in the classical music industry as a promoter, manager, educator and musician. She trained as a clarinettist at the Royal Manchester College of Music and her career began when she started promoting professional concerts there as a student. She went on to curate concerts at Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre, the National Museum of Wales and the Arnolfini in Bristol. After moving to London in 1976 she worked in early music management for the Taverner Consort, Choir and Players and then for London Baroque.

Judith was vice-chair of the British Arts Festivals Association executive committee between 1996 and 1999. In 2007 she was given the first BAFA Award for outstanding contribution to British Arts Festivals. She has served on Arts Council England early music panels, chaired the Early Music Network Advisory Committee and is currently Chair of Schools Specialism at Mulberry School for Girls in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. She is also involved in improving aspects of cancer services in the South East London Cancer Network. She has been a school governor at both primary and secondary level for inner-London schools for many years.

ith over 30 years experience in the music industry, Judith’s expertise and passion is for arts education. She also has considerable experience of community involvement, regeneration and diversity, organisational development, corporate fundraising, and successful grant applications. She is currently an External Assessor of National Performing Companies for the Scottish Government, and a member of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust’s Arts & Heritage Committee. She lives in London and in 2009 was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honors.