The BBC Concert Orchestra is delighted to announce the signing of Keith Lockhart as Principal Conductor, signaling the beginning of a new era for the BBC's most versatile performing group, renowned for their dynamism in classical, jazz and light music.

Keith Lockhart makes his BBC Proms debut with the BBC CO on Monday August 30 at the Royal Albert Hall leading an evening of English classics and US pizzazz, featuring music by Bernstein, Walton and Gershwin.

Keith joins the BBC Concert Orchestra while continuing his successful work with the celebrated Boston Pops, where he has been Conductor since 1994, bringing music to a wide audience throughout New England and across America. Previous positions include Music Director for the Utah Symphony Orchestra from 1998 to last year. His formidable experience in broad repertoire, allied with his love of all things British make him perfectly positioned to lead the BBC Concert Orchestra through to its 60th year in 2012 and beyond.

Having already conducted the BBC CO on a number of acclaimed recordings, broadcasts and concerts over the past two seasons, Keith says:
"It has been a joy to make music with the BBC Concert Orchestra and I am honoured to be embarking on a more formal relationship with this virtuosic and versatile group of musicians. The unique variety of the BBC Concert Orchestra's concert offerings in the UK and their unrivalled role on BBC TV and Radio, together with their ambitious touring plans, provide an immense opportunity for audience connection at the most meaningful level. I'm excited to get started, and look forward to our upcoming Proms concert, as well as our United States tour later in the fall."

The BBC CO's General Manager, Andrew Connolly, says:
"In securing Keith Lockhart as the BBC Concert Orchestra's seventh Principal Conductor we welcome a musician who embodies the international appeal and ambition of the Concert Orchestra - 2010 style! From its roots in the British Light Music tradition the BBC CO now embraces music awesomely broad in range and style. Under Keith Lockhart's direction we look forward to making evermore musical discoveries through a shared, open-minded approach to stretching the limits of orchestral possibilities."

Full information at bbc.co.uk/concertorchestra

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