Auveen Sands will become Chief Executive of the Ulster Orchestra at the end of October 2022, taking over from Richard Wigley, who has been Managing Director of the Orchestra since February 2016. Ahead of the handover, Richard and Auveen sat down to reflect on the past few years and what comes next.
Richard Wigley: I have loved my time in Northern Ireland, the positive change that we have seen in the Ulster Orchestra has been both exceptionally challenging and equally fulfilling. Relentlessly, the journey goes on and the challenges won’t let up, so I am delighted that the Board have appointed you to succeed me. Becoming CEO represents your own outstanding qualities and also, in my view, faith in the strength of the people across the company.
Auveen Sands: I would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication over the last six years which has transformed the Ulster Orchestra into a modern, innovative organisation which embraces change and employee leadership. I have worked alongside you during this period and have learnt so much about orchestra management, which has provided me with the right experience to take on this role. Although there will obviously be challenges ahead, you are leaving the Orchestra in the best shape it has been in a long time and I am very excited about the future.
RW: Modesty prevents… You grew up in Northern Ireland, have worked in Paris and Dublin and you now live on a farm in rural Rathfriland. What excites you most about these times and the opportunities your three children will experience?
AS: Living in Paris as a working student was wonderful and tough all at the same time. Some of my stand-out moments relate to experiencing the Arts – having a restricted view ticket for the Nutcracker ballet at the Palais Garnier as it was free, only to discover ‘restricted view’ meant hardly being able to see it! Also being blown away by watching an opera sung in Italian while reading the subtitles in French.
My 15-year corporate banking career began in Dublin working firstly for KBC Finance Ireland, then Aviation Finance followed by Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking on the European Leveraged Acquisition Finance team. It was an exciting time as a young person living and working during the Celtic Tiger period while also having the opportunity to travel weekly across Europe assessing companies for future financing.
Going back to Belfast was important as it represented coming home, back to the people I love who have a warmth far beyond anywhere else I have lived. I moved into SME [Small and Medium Enterprise] lending but saw banking change dramatically when the property market collapsed. That was a difficult time and ultimately ended up in redundancy. It was such a career transformation to begin working for the Ulster Orchestra in 2014 as Head of Finance and Operations which developed into my current role of Chief Operating Officer.
Living on a farm is a grounding and challenging experience for me and certainly is very different from my work. I have been very lucky to have experienced all these different lives and I would like that my children also experience special stand-out moments. My parents were very supportive and I try to pass onto my children that if you work hard, you can become whatever you want.
You also have had such a varied and experienced working life, having been a player and then leading orchestras. What have been your most significant moments?
RW: That’s a surprisingly tough question as I’ve had so many shifts in my career. I can list concerts I’ve played in (Bruckner 4 at the BBC Proms around1990); those I’ve planned (Tippet’s Mask of Time to see in the new millennium in Manchester);the clear impact of reintroducing schools concerts and rebuilding symphonic audiences in Manchester; moving the BBC Philharmonic to MediaCity in Salford and numerous international tours with them; building a family of conductors for the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra; revitalising the conducting programme at the Royal Northern College of Music… All fantastic to have led, but my time in Northern Ireland encouraging the re-energising of the Ulster Orchestra creatively and securing our future is the career-defining time in my life.
This long list surprises me with its range (being a modest Kiwi boy at heart) when my one stand-out moment, from which all this grew, was being appointed as a bassoon player to the Hallé Orchestra in 1988 – everything else flows from that. All I had ever wanted to be was a professional bassoonist.
An unanticipated late-career joy for me is the success of the Find Your Way leadership programme for all UK orchestras which I lead. With 100+ alumni, the influence of that programme will be felt for a generation or more… humbling and exciting in equal measure.
But enough about me. You and I talk often about the impact that moving to Townsend St Church and School Building can have on the Ulster Orchestra. What is your take on this big change for us?
AS: Townsend will finally provide a home for the organisation where players and administrative staff can collaborate with each other as well as the community and other arts organisations. Although we are still testing the church for orchestral rehearsals, there is an energy already from the potential that Townsend offers just by being in the community and having a space where we can hold workshops, auditions, recordings, rehearsals and performances, not just for us, but also other arts and community organisations.
Not only do we have Townsend to look forward to, but our successful relationship with Music Director Daniele Rustioni continues into the 22/23 season and beyond.
RW: Yes, the chemistry between the Orchestra and Daniele is very very special, and I felt lucky to see him conduct the Orchestra’s outstanding performance at this year’s BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. Love him to bits.
Onwards and upwards my friend, you have the helm now and that makes me very happy.