Festival says goodbye to artistic director of 24 years

An artistic director in post for some 24 years is to retire in 2026, calling his near quarter of a century at the helm of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival “a huge privilege”.

GERAINT BOWEN leaves his role overseeing the Hereford iteration of the Three Choirs Festival, the longest-running classical music showcase of its kind in the world.

He will also step down as organist and director of music at Hereford Cathedral, which he joined in 2001.

One of three artistic directors at the Three Choirs Festival, each of whom programmes the festival in their home cities, Bowen paid tribute to his collaborators in Gloucester and Worcester, including PETER NARDONE and SAMUEL HUDSON.

He said: “It has been a huge privilege to have been associated with the Three Choirs Festival for nearly twenty-five years. My thanks go to the many hundreds of choral singers with whom I have worked over that time, as well as the incomparable Philharmonia Orchestra, who have contributed to so many memorable concerts.”

Thanking the “many other festival personnel who ensure that the festival approaches its 300th edition in 2028 in such good health”, he added: “Long may it continue to flourish.”

DAVID FRANCIS, chief executive of the Three Choirs Festival, commented: “I have enjoyed working with Geraint for the 2025 festival, and I’m sorry not to have the opportunity to work with him on delivering another Hereford festival.

“The success of the 2025 festival was undoubtedly down to Geraint’s skilful and thoughtful programming, which allowed us all to experience core repertoire alongside lesser-known works and new commissions.”