Sarah Bardwell

Sarah has been the Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra since September 2024. During which time she has joined the Orchestra on tours to Japan, America, South Korea and Germany as well as representing the Orchestra as part of the British Government’s Trade and Cultural delegation to China in January 2026. Sarah was the Executive Director of Britten Pears Arts – the music, arts and heritage charity based in Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings in Suffolk. Previously she was the CEO of the Britten Pears Foundation where she led the merger with Snape Maltings to create Britten Pears Arts. Prior to that Sarah ran Handel House in London transforming it into Handel Hendrix House. She undertook a mid-career, year-long arts leaders fellowship at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and has worked at the Royal Albert Hall and English National Opera.