MusicFest Names New Program Director

MusicFest Vancouver has announced the appointment of Matthew Baird as the festival's program director. Mr. Baird brings to the position a wealth of experience in music programming, production and recording gleaned from his extensive thirty-year career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

A trained musician, Mr. Baird's musical interests range from classical and jazz to world music and crossover projects, qualities that make him the ideal person to carry on and expand the work of George Laverock, the Festival's founding Program Director.

"I'm honoured and excited to have the opportunity to work with the strong team at MusicFest Vancouver. I've been following the festival since its inception, first via national broadcasts on CBC Radio 2, and over the last four years as a resident of Vancouver. We have a wealth of talent to showcase this summer in what I'd like to think of as a musical banquet, with something for all tastes and appetites.”

In announcing the appointment, Morris Biddle, president of the festival's Board of Directors, said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to welcome Matthew to MusicFest Vancouver in his capacity as program director. He has big shoes to fill but I am already confident of his ability to keep our organization very much on track. He is creative, experienced, patient and industrious - all necessary qualities in successfully performing this critical role.”

The 2012 Festival line up of over forty concerts and events runs August 10 - 19, 2012, with performances in a dozen venues ranging from the Chan Centre and the Vogue Theatre, to the intimacy of Pyatt Hall (at the VSO School of Music) and the warmth of downtown Vancouver's Christ Church Cathedral. Full details will be released at the end of May.