The Board of Piano+ has announced the departure of former Chief Executive Marcus Barker who stepped down on Thursday 19 September. The Board thanks Marcus for his committed leadership over nine years with the organisation.
During his time at Piano+, Marcus played a key role in transforming the Sydney International Piano Competition, taking it online during the pandemic in 2021 and bringing back the live event in 2023 to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Sydney Opera House. In 2023 he also guided the organisation through a strategic overhaul and was instrumental in spearheading the launch of Piano+.
Marcus championed young artists and expanded opportunities for audiences across Australia, including establishing the ‘Out West Piano Fest’ festival in Bathurst in 2022 and this year developing a strategic partnership with the New England Conservatorium to create the ‘Autumn Piano School’.
Throughout his tenure, Marcus actively promoted Australian pianism on both the local and global stage, representing Piano+ and the Sydney International Piano Competition at international forums and contributing to the broader music community. The Board wishes him well in his future endeavours.
Marcus said, “After 9 years leading an incredibly hard-working team, instigating positive directional change and having brought Piano+ neatly to its next juncture, it is an appropriate time to hand over the leadership baton. Having invested heart and soul into the organisation makes it difficult to say farewell, however I look forward to seeing how Piano+ flourishes into the future.”
In announcing Marcus’s departure, chair Tracie Elvidge said “We are in the process of searching for an artistic leader to take Piano+ through the next stage of its development. In the meantime, the team will report to the Board to continue carrying out the activities of the organisation.”