Biography

Toby Chadd is an artistic curator, director, and programmer, dedicated to harnessing music’s power to inspire and transform. With a career spanning leading roles in broadcasting, marketing, and artistic planning, he has shaped bold, cross-disciplinary projects and forged dynamic collaborations across the classical, jazz, and contemporary music worlds. As Opera and Music Advisor to the Adelaide Festival, Artistic Consultant to the BBC Philharmonic, and Artistic Advisor to UKARIA and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Toby curates ambitious programs, fosters relationships with world-class artists, and develops innovative audience experiences. His career highlights include leading the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s artistic vision (2021–2024), overseeing ABC Classic & ABC Jazz (2017–2021), and producing recordings with Sir Simon Rattle, Zubin Mehta, and Eurovision artist Kate Miller-Heidke.

Toby is passionate about supporting early-career musicians and has played a key role in talent development initiatives such as Musica Viva’s Futuremakers program. He has managed large teams and negotiated landmark collaborations, from bringing UNESCO’s International Jazz Day to Australia to securing ACO residencies in Tokyo, Boston, and San Francisco. An experienced speaker and writer, he recently presented at the Leipzig Bach Festival. Now based in the UK after a decade in Australia, Toby continues to shape the global musical landscape through his innovative and audience-focused approach.