Toks Dada to join Southbank Centre as Head of Classical Music
We’re pleased to confirm Toks Dada will be joining the Southbank Centre as Head of Classical Music from December 2020 onwards.
Toks joins us from Town Hall Symphony Hall, Birmingham where he is currently Classical Programme Manager. Toks will work alongside Bengi Unsal, Head of Contemporary Music within the music team, under the direction of Gillian Moore CBE, Director of Music and Performing Arts.
“It is a tremendous honour to be appointed Head of Classical Music at Southbank Centre, particularly at this time. Following what has been an incredibly turbulent year for us all, I am really looking forward to collaborating with artists, colleagues, and partners, across Southbank Centre and the wider community, as we work together to re-imagine the future of classical music.”
Toks Dada is a Classical Music Programmer, Curator & Producer, currently serving as the Classical Programme Manager at Town Hall Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Committed to engaging new audiences with classical music, Toks is Guest Curator for the 2021 edition of Wonderfeel – the Netherlands’ biggest outdoor classical music festival. Toks is also a Board Director at Welsh National Opera, an Advisor at PRS for Music Foundation, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Performing Arts.
In 2010 Toks founded the music commissioning and producing company Sinfonia Newydd in Wales, providing a platform for established and emerging professional composers, including as part of cross-artform collaborative projects. Toks has also been a Board Director of Sinfonia Cymru where he contributed towards the development of Sinfonia Cymru Curate – Sinfonia Cymru’s Youth Board and creative hub of young musicians and arts entrepreneurs.
As an advocate for change, Toks has championed new approaches for the classical music industry including attracting new audiences and engaging young people. Most notably Toks has presented at the International Society for the Performing Arts Congress and the Association of British Orchestras Conference, and written articles for Classical Music Magazine and BBC Proms Guide.
Toks holds a Masters in Arts Management and Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
“Over the last ten years, Toks has been a pioneer within our industry, advocating for inventive and engaging ways of bringing new audiences to classical music. At this key juncture in the Southbank Centre’s history, I’m looking forward to collaborating closely with him as we plan for the future.”