Background
The Temple Music Foundation, a registered charity, was founded in 2002 in The Temple, just off Fleet Street in the City of London. It was established to raise the funding to present Sir John Tavener's commission
The Veil of the Temple
, a choral work of over seven hours, performed overnight in the historic Temple Church between dusk and dawn. Since the success of
The Veil of the Temple
, the TMF has planned and promoted an annual programme of up to 40 high-quality performances in the spectacular spaces of the Temple, including the Elizabethan Middle Temple Hall, the Parliament Chamber of Inner Temple and the 12th Century Temple Church. The repertoire is a mixture of choral music, solo song recitals, instrumental chamber music and occasional orchestral concerts and staged works. The performances are spread across the three legal terms of the year, none being programmed in August. TMF works closely with the Temple Church Choir and the Temple Church, and has strong relationships with Middle Temple and Inner Temple and with barristers' chambers within the Temple.
Recent and forthcoming highlights include concerts with Gabrieli Consort and Players, Early Opera Company, Britten Sinfonia, and London Mozart Players; festivals celebrating the life and works of William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons, alongside our Winter and Holy Week festivals; and recitals by guitarist Plínio Fernandes, cellist Jonathan Aasgaard, and saxophonist Christian Forshaw. Our long-running Temple Song series, curated by pianist Julius Drake, continues to attract nationally and internationally renowned singers including Gerald Finley, Allan Clayton, Roderick Williams, and Louise Alder.
The Role
The CEO will lead a small team based in the Temple in presenting the annual programme of performances and managing the business of the company. The CEO will be responsible for devising and implementing a balanced and imaginative programme of events across the year and for securing the funding necessary to support the artistic programme and the administrative costs of the organisation by developing and maintaining relationships with existing and potential funders. The TMF has a loyal network of support within the Bar and the Judiciary, as well as outside the Temple and further afield, with generous support from individuals, chambers and corporate sponsors as well as trusts and foundations. The CEO will be responsible to the Chair and Board of Trustees for the leadership, management and financial security of the company. The role of the CEO is broadly to plan and deliver a high-quality programme of performances, to secure the funding necessary to realise the performances and to ensure the smooth and financially prudent running of the company.
Key Responsibilities
* Devising and implementing an imaginative programme of events suitable for the venues in Middle and Inner Temple and the Temple Church, including choral and chamber music, solo song recitals, orchestral and staged works and other performances that fit within the series and are appropriate for the different venues.
* Refining and implementing a fundraising strategy that will secure sufficient funding to support the artistic programme of events as well as the core costs of the company; the total funding requirement from all sources is currently in the region of £350,000 per annum. Inner Temple and Middle Temple have for some years supported TMF's administrative costs and maintaining the relationship with the two Inns is a vital part of the role. A key aspect of devising the fundraising strategy will be to work out and implement an appropriate mix of (i) annual sponsorship and concert by concert sponsorship, (ii) individual supporters and corporate sponsors and (iii) maintaining existing relationships and finding new ones. TMF has traditionally secured funding from all of these sources and a structured and targeted approach to fundraising is crucial in order to realise the events planned for the future.
* Building relationships within the Temple – with the Inns, the Temple Church, the Temple Church Choir and with members of chambers – in order to realise the artistic plans and secure funding necessary to support the programme of events. While some remote working is possible, the role is expected to be based largely in the Temple, including attendance at all performances, at board and finance meetings – each usually four a year - and at other meetings as necessary.
* Overall responsibility for the financial stability of the company, preparing annual and event budgets for approval by the Trustees and delivering in accordance with them.
* Overall responsibility for branding of the company and the performances, ensuring consistent high-quality branding of all marketing material and social media.
* Ensuring the smooth running of the company throughout the year including managing the other members of the team.
* Ensuring compliance with charity law.
Essential experience and skills
* Sound knowledge of and enthusiasm for classical music.
* Experience of programming performances and of liaising with artists and agents to agree repertoire, negotiate fees and agree the technical details of an event.
* Experience of presenting events for public performance and an understanding of what goes into making a performance successful artistically and financially.
* Excellent written and verbal communication and inter-personal skills.
* Proven experience of raising significant funding from multiple sources including individuals, corporate supporters, trusts and foundations and statutory bodies.
* Ability to develop strong relationships with partner organisations and with existing and potential funders.
* Experience of collaborating with a team to plan and manage successful events.
* A practical understanding of how artistic events are marketed in order to grow audiences.
* Experience of prudent budget management.
Remuneration
This will be a full-time post with a salary of £47,500 per annum, plus enrolment into a defined contribution pension scheme (with employer contributions of 10% of qualifying earnings) after a probationary period.
Application details
Please apply by letter demonstrating how your experience and skills match the requirements of the post and email it with your c.v. to by 12 noon on 15
th
October 2025. Please also include the names of two referees; references will only be taken up at final interview stage and with your consent.
If you would like to discuss the role informally, in advance of applying, please contact Jane Whittaker by telephone or email ) so that we can arrange this for you.