William Norris
Interim Director

William joined the Benedetti Foundation as Interim Director in December 2024, working to ensure a smooth transition to the permanent Chief Executive who we expect to be in place by Summer 2025.

William has spent over twenty years working in the music and cultural sector, spending 10 years with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment where he devised its innovative late-night series The Night Shift, which is still running today. In 2012/13 he completed the Arts Management Fellowship at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and in 2015 moved to Canada to lead Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra as their Managing Director. Following a time with Southbank Sinfonia back in the UK as their Managing Director William decided to explore a new freelance career and has worked with clients across the UK, Canada and USA, most recently with Southbank Centre, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, American Modern Opera Company and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also twice been interim Chief Executive of Scottish Ensemble.

William’s love of music started at a young age, learning violin and piano. After completing his BA in Geography he discovered that Arts Management was a valid career choice and decided to pursue this, subsequently completing an MA in European Cultural Policy and Administration at the University of Warwick. A very occasional performer, William has played the hoover on stage with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and appeared in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. 

Today William enjoys live music of all kinds, with recent events enjoyed ranging from Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall through to Charli XCX at the O2. Away from music he enjoys gardening, hiking, architecture and taking long complex train journeys across the UK and Europe.