Live from the conference for classical and art music Classical:NEXT in Berlin: In this “Notenköpfe” episode, Chris Lloyd sits down with Kelly Lovelady of the chamber orchestra Ruthless Jabiru and Bill Chandler of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Together they examine funding crises, audience shifts, diversity debates and the creative tension between tradition and innovation. A sharp, candid conversation from the centre of the international classical scene.

Live from the conference for classical and art music Classical:NEXT in Berlin: In this “Notenköpfe” episode, Chris Lloyd sits down with Kelly Lovelady of Ruthless Jabiru and Bill Chandler of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Together they examine funding crises, audience shifts, diversity debates and the creative tension between tradition and innovation. A sharp, candid conversation from the centre of the international classical scene.

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Bill Chandler has been General Manager of the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus since 2025. Previously Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra, the American-British former violinist is known for bold partnerships that have taken BBC orchestras into new venues and media — from Alexandra Palace and Great Yarmouth to film soundtracks, CBeebies and the London Jazz Festival. He is currently leading the BBCSO into a new era of artistic risk-taking and broader public engagement.


Australian-British conductor and curator Kelly Lovelady is the founder and Artistic Director of Ruthless Jabiru – the London-based chamber orchestra known for fearless programming and its unflinching advocacy for living composers and its politically engaged, genre-defying projects. Described as a “cultural activist with a baton,” she creates and self-produces large-scale, cross-artform performances that have appeared at major festivals across Europe, Australia and North America. Her work focuses on experimental concert dramaturgy, social justice themes and building new audiences for contemporary music.

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Discover more fascinating stories from the world of classical and jazz music on our website. The playlist of our podcast, featuring the music of our guests, is available on Spotify.

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Hosting: Chris Lloyd
Executive Producer: Verena von der Goltz
Recording & Post-Production: Robert Niemeyer
Online Editorial & Back Office: Mario Felix Vogt
Music: Markus Zierhofer
Voiceover: Paul Sies