Leading Australian arts and cultural figure Mary Jo Capps AM has been appointed Chair of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM). She takes over the leadership baton from Sandra Yates AO who is stepping down after eight years leading the celebrated festival. Jane Seawright has been named Deputy Chair.
Mary Jo Capps brings a wide range of experience, expertise and knowledge to the AFCM Chair, as well as an intimate understanding of the Australian arts and cultural sector. She served for nearly 20 years as CEO of Musica Viva Australia and, over the past 40 years, has held senior management and consultancy roles with all the major Australian orchestras, Create NSW, Company B Belvoir Theatre, Australian Dance Theatre, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and a range of small to medium arts organisations, as well as serving on a number of business and pro bono boards.
She was awarded the first Creative Partnerships Australia Arts Leadership Award in 2016, an honorary Doctor of Visual and Performing Arts from the University of Melbourne in 2017, and Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 in recognition of her services to the arts and business. Board roles have included Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne; Chair, Australian Major Performing Arts Group; and Chair, Peggy Glanville-Hicks Composers House.
“It is a great honour and responsibility to follow in Sandra Yates AM’s footsteps as Chair of AFCM, especially as it coincides with the new artistic leadership of Jack Liebeck and the progressing plans for a built for purpose Concert Hall in Townsville,” said Mary Jo Capps AM.
“I am thrilled to be working with Jane Seawright as Deputy Chair, and the rest of the AFCM Board, to assist artists, audiences, supporters and the leadership team to reach even greater heights for the Festival in the future.”
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