Basel Sinfonietta Appoints New Managing Director

Fiona Stevens, a British violinist and historically informed performance specialist, will join the organization

The Basel Sinfonietta announced the appointment of the British violinist Fiona Stevens as its new Managing Director, and she will succeed Daniela Martin in the role.

Stevens comes to Basel from a position as the Executive Director of Concerto Köln, and she is presently a fellow at the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, where she focuses on sustainability and strategic planning for cultural institutions.

A graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, Stevens studied the violin in Düsseldorf and then completed courses on Historically Informed Performance in Frankfurt and The Hague. Her performing career has included regular work with figures such as John Eliot Gardiner, Jos van Immerseel, Rüdiger Lotter, and Andreas Spering, in major concert halls across Europe and the USA.

She holds a PhD from the University of Southampton and has taught students there, as well as at the Hochschule für Musik in Bremen and the Universität der Künste in Berlin. In addition, she has coached players from the Bremer Philharmoniker in Historically Informed Performance.

"We are convinced that we will continue with Fiona Stevens on the successful path of recent years," said Fran Lorkovic, President of the Orchestra Board of the Basel Sinfonietta. She also thanked the outgoing managing director, Daniela Martin, saying that she "took over the management of the Basel Sinfonietta during pandemic seasons and has since been very dedicated to the Basel Sinfonietta. Her tireless efforts have significantly shaped the success of recent years."

"The programmatic boldness, openness to experimentation, and democratic ethos of this orchestra are unique in the music world," Stevens said of her appointment. "It is an honor to contribute to its artistic vision and social relevance. I look forward to working with the Basel Sinfonietta team to spark new ideas and initiatives."