The Academy of Ancient Music has announced that John McMunn has been appointed as its new Chief Executive.

McMunn is set to assume the role starting on Sept. 1, 2020, taking over for Alexander Van Ingen.

McMunn started off his career as an opera singer, having trained as a musicologist at Harvard and Cambridge Universities followed by some studies at the Royal College of Music’s International Opera School. He would perform with such companies as the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, the BBC Symphony, and several other local UK festivals.

Then he made a career transition into the world of management where he held roles at the Tenebrae Choir and Academy of Ancient Music as well as Artistic Director at Cambridge Summer Music Festival in 2016

Since 2016, he has been the General Manager of Gabrieli.

“Since its founding in 1973, the Academy of Ancient Music has been at the forefront of the period-instrument movement, pioneering new modes of performance practice and practical scholarship, and more recently driving the development of digital engagement,” McMunn stated in a press release. “As a long-time admirer of this work I am delighted to join the orchestra’s sterling musicians and its committed staff and board to help shape the next chapter of the organization’s long and storied history.”