My guest today is artistic director of the Wigmore Hall, John Gilhooly.
Hailing from Castleconnell in Limerick in Ireland, he studied history and political science in University College Dublin, alongside singing lessons with the legendary Dr Veronica Dunne.
Following his university studies, he transitioned into Arts Administration, with stints at the Harrogate and Excel centres, before joining Wigmore Hall as executive director in 2000, and then taking up the post of artistic director five years later, aged just 32. Under his leadership Wigmore Hall has increased its public performances, expanded its audiences and repertoire, and has numerous learning and participation programmes.
John has been awarded both an OBE And CBE for his services to music, the star of Italy, German order of merit and Austrian cross on honours among others, and in September 2025 the Spectator Newspaper dubbed him “The man who can save classical music”.
Curious to find out more about his journey and transition into arts administration, what running a world famous concert hall entails, and what he sees as the challenges facing classical music today, I say down with John at his office at 21 Wellbeck Way, where I began by asking about his first experiences with classical music and their influence on him...
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