James Baillieu to take over from Tamsin Waley-Cohen as artistic director of the Two Moors Festival

James Baillieu (Photo: David Ruano)

Having first played at there in 2016 and now with a home on Dartmoor, pianist James Baillieu is to take over from Tamsin Waley-Cohen as artistic director of the Two Moors Festival.

The Festival takes place each October in venues across Dartmoor and Exmoor. In October 2027, Tamsin Waley-Cohen will be sharing the role of artistic director with James Baillieu. This will be a handover period with James who will take over as sole artistic director of the Two Moors Festival in 2028. 

Since it was founded in 2001, the Two Moors Festival has evolved into one of the most distinctive classical music festivals in the UK. It usually welcomes over 4,000 people to its rural venues. The Festival also nurtures young artists through its Young Musicians’ Competition and its Residency programme.

Tamsin Waley-Cohen became the festival’s artistic director in 2020 [see my 2024 interview with her]. When she leaves after the festival in 2027, she will have programmed the festival for eight years. In that time, the festival has gone from strength to strength with a wide variety of concerts and events, including new commissions, poetry, family events and talks. 

James Baillieu has played a significant role in recent festivals and created and worked with Tamsin Waley-Cohen in running the Residency programme in 2025 which will take place again in 2026. James Baillieu's appointment presages a very exciting future for the festival.

James Baillieu said, "It is a tremendous privilege to be taking on the artistic direction of the Two Moors Festival. Tamsin has created something remarkable during her tenure, bringing a wonderful family of artists to these beautiful landscapes with imagination, generosity and ambition. 

I first came to the festival in 2016 to give a recital in Ashburton Church. Ten years on, my partner and I have made our home on Dartmoor, and I feel a deep connection to its landscape and communities. I am delighted that Tamsin and I will work alongside one another next year, giving me the opportunity to build thoughtfully on everything she has achieved. I am enormously excited about the festival’s future and about shaping the next chapter of this very special organisation."

Further information from the festival website.