Become Chair of The Queen’s Hall and help shape the next chapter of one of Edinburgh’s most cherished and distinctive live performance venues.
The Queen’s Hall is one of Edinburgh’s most cherished and distinctive live performance venues, renowned for its extraordinary acoustics, intimate atmosphere and diverse programme. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2029, we are seeking a new Chair to help shape our next chapter.
Collaborating closely with the Chief Executive, the Chair will lead and support our evolving Board, strengthen our external profile and help us articulate our place within Edinburgh and Scotland’s cultural landscape. They will build relationships with funders, politicians, cultural partners, promoters and supporters, while ensuring the Board provides effective governance, constructive challenge and meaningful support.
We are looking for a credible, progressive and inclusive leader who genuinely loves music. You will bring the confidence to lead the Board, support Trustees to contribute effectively and provide the Chief Executive with appropriate support and guidance.
Who we are
The Queen’s Hall holds a special place in Edinburgh’s and Scotland’s cultural life. Renowned for its world-class acoustics and intimate atmosphere, we welcome more than 100,000 people to over 200 performances each year, and artists and audiences alike love us.
Our wide-ranging programme includes all genres of music: classical, indie, rock and pop, folk, jazz and blues, hip hop and experimental, as well as comedy and spoken word. We program around 20–25% of performances, with the remainder of the diary hired out to global and local promoters, festivals, educational establishments and community groups. We work hard to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, both on and off our stage.
Our Grade A-listed building opened as Hope Park Chapel in 1823 and was converted into a performance venue in 1979. Today, it remains home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2029, we are developing our artistic programme, supporting emerging talent and working to reach younger and more diverse audiences while safeguarding our historic building for future generations.
About the role
As Chair, you will lead the Board in providing effective governance, strategic oversight and collective accountability. You will ensure meetings remain focused and constructive, creating an inclusive environment in which every Trustee is supported to contribute effectively. We have successfully recruited 6 new Trustees in the current year to bring different skills to our diverse Board, and the role of the Chair is key to ensuring that Trustees are encouraged to develop and participate fully in Board meetings
You will develop a strong relationship with the Chief Executive, providing appropriate support, guidance and challenge while maintaining a clear distinction between governance and operational leadership. You will also work with and support the other core members of the excellent team at The Queen’s Hall.
An important part of the role will be representing and advocating for The Queen’s Hall externally. You will develop relationships with cultural partners, politicians, promoters and other stakeholders, helping to strengthen our visibility and support our future ambitions. A key part of the role will be developing fundraising through relationships with donors, grant funders and charities.
You will also support the development and delivery of our new Artistic Strategy, helping The Queen’s Hall clarify its distinctive place within Edinburgh’s cultural landscape, broaden its reach and prepare for its 50th anniversary in 2029.
We will be hosting an online information session on Thursday 22nd October at 1 p.m., where you can hear more about the opportunity and ask questions. Register for the session here.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for a credible, confident and inclusive Chair who can lead our Board and maintain a clear focus on The Queen’s Hall’s purpose, ambitions and impact. Previous Chair experience would be valuable, although we are equally interested in candidates with Board-level leadership experience who are ready to step into a Chair role.
You will bring a genuine passion for music and live performance, alongside a strong understanding of Edinburgh and its cultural, civic and political landscape, or the ability to establish credibility within it quickly. Experience within music, arts, culture, venue leadership or a closely related environment would be particularly valuable.
You will be able to provide the Chief Executive with appropriate support, guidance and constructive challenge, while helping Trustees contribute effectively. You will also be comfortable building relationships with a range of stakeholders, for example with donors, cultural partners and funders.
You will be prepared to put time into being visible externally to funders, politicians, donors and internally to staff.
Sound financial literacy, an understanding of effective charity governance and an approachable leadership style will be important. We particularly welcome candidates who would bring different perspectives and experiences to the Board
Time commitment
The overall time commitment is approximately 3-4 days per month.
The Board meets in person at least four times each year in Edinburgh, alongside occasional Board and staff away sessions.
The Chair will need to commit additional time between meetings to maintain regular contact with the Chief Executive, prepare for and lead Board meetings, support effective governance and represent The Queen’s Hall externally. This will include attending events and meeting funders, partners, politicians, donors and other stakeholders.
The Chair will also be a member of the Finance & Governance Committee and the Strategy Working Group and will contribute to the work of the Buildings Working Group, the Audience & Development Working Group and other ad hoc working groups.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
David Hingley | david@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07534 244249
The Queen’s Hall is a registered charity in Scotland (No. SC012294).
Welcome from the Acting Chair
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in becoming the next Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Queen’s Hall.
We are at an interesting time as we approach our fiftieth anniversary in 2029, with a successful, star-laden past providing a foundation for an exciting future.
As the current Chair, it’s a pleasure to introduce you to a venue that holds a special place in Edinburgh’s cultural life.
The Queen’s Hall is a much‑loved performance space—intimate, characterful, and proudly eclectic—hosting everything from world‑class classical concerts to boundary‑pushing contemporary music, spoken word, jazz, folk and community events.
It is a venue with history, but also one with a clear sense of purpose and momentum.
What truly defines The Queen’s Hall is the passion of the people who make it work. The Board members have a breadth of knowledge and skills and support a small, dedicated team led by Emma Mortimore, the Chief Executive. We are now seeking a Chair who is strategic, collaborative, and confident in leading an organisation with both artistic ambition and civic responsibility. You will bring clarity of vision, strong governance experience, and the ability to support and challenge our leadership team in equal measure. Most importantly, you will care deeply about the role The Queen’s Hall plays in the cultural fabric of Edinburgh and will champion its future with enthusiasm and integrity.
If this resonates with you, I’m delighted you’re exploring this opportunity.
Yours sincerely,
Moira Sibbald
Acting Chair, The Queen’s Hall
About The Queen’s Hall
The Queen’s Hall is renowned for its acoustics and special ambience, and can showcase many styles of performance to great effect. This is due in no small part to the building’s history and the various modifications made over its 200-year history.
We are working to foster the artists and audiences of the future with programmes such as the emerging talent-focused AMPLIFI and curated strands in contemporary folk and jazz. A galaxy of musical talent has graced our stage, drawn by our intimate atmosphere and world-renowned acoustics.
We program around 20–25% of shows, guided by our Artistic Strategy. For the remaining 75–80%, we are a receiving house for global and local promoters, festivals, educational establishments and amateur groups. Our programme spans classical music, rock and pop, folk and traditional music, jazz and blues, experimental work, comedy and spoken word.
Our Building
The fine Grade A-listed Georgian building of The Queen’s Hall was built in 1823 as a church, with a church hall added in 1934 and converted to a concert hall in 1979. Since then, the building has undergone various modifications and extensions.
An extensive programme of fabric consolidation works was undertaken in 2017–18, including stonework repairs and reroofing. During the COVID shutdown, a project to improve audience facilities on the north side of the Hall resulted in much better audience circulation space, as well as improved bar and toilet facilities. More recently, a project to improve backstage facilities has been successfully completed.
Future Projects
The Hall has a comprehensive strategy and detailed project concepts for the building’s future development, aiming to achieve net and ultimately zero carbon emissions, alongside further improvements to audience facilities and staff working areas.
Finance & Funding
The Hall is currently in a strong financial position after a challenging few years due to pandemic-related disruption.
As an organisation, we derive our income from three main sources. Firstly, we earn income from operating the Hall through hall hires and our own events as The Queen’s Hall promotions, plus commissions on ticket sales and the hire of equipment and space.
Our second source is voluntary income. We receive grants and donations from both local and national government, private trusts and individuals. These donations typically fund larger capital projects, equipment and programming.
The final source of income is trading through a bar at the shows. This is done through a subsidiary company, with any profits being donated to the parent company.
The Queen’s Hall currently receives a small annual grant of £60,000 from the City of Edinburgh Council. It receives no other regular funding; income otherwise comes from the box office, venue hire and the bar.
The Queen’s Hall (Edinburgh) Limited publishes its annual accounts on the Companies House website. The annual accounts for The Queen’s Hall (Edinburgh) Catering Limited are also publicly available.
We continue to actively seek funds to implement the various projects supporting this strategy in what is currently a challenging funding environment.
Governance
The Queen’s Hall is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status (registered Scottish charity SC012294). A Board of Trustees oversees it, and a senior team led by Chief Executive Emma Mortimore manages it.
The Board currently has ten Trustees with a broad range of skills and diverse backgrounds. The Board meets at least four times a year, usually with senior management in attendance.
Trustees are asked to serve on one or more working groups and Board subcommittees, each chaired by a Trustee with relevant experience.
Currently, a Finance & Governance Committee, chaired by a board member with recent, relevant financial experience, a Buildings Working Group and an Audience & Development Working Group all have appropriate terms of reference. There is also a Strategy Working Group.
Our Next Chapter
The appointment comes at an important point as The Queen’s Hall approaches its 50th anniversary in 2029. With a new Chief Executive in post, the organisation is updating its strategic plan and developing a clearer sense of its identity, distinctiveness and place within Edinburgh’s music and performing arts landscape.
The next phase will focus on strengthening the organisation’s profile and engagement, sharpening its external proposition and building connections with younger and more diverse communities across music, performance and the arts. An impact study is also being commissioned and is expected in early 2027.
Learn more about The Queen’s Hall
Accessibility information
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
David Hingley | david@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07534 244249
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: The Queen’s Hall—Chair” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
David Hingley | david@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07534 244249
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
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Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Friday 6th November
Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 12th November
First stage interviews (online): Thursday 19th November
Second stage interviews (in person): Monday 30th November
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and The Queen’s Hall are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
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