Executive Overview
The prestigious Two Moors Festival—a cornerstone of the United Kingdom’s classical music calendar, held annually across the breathtaking landscapes of Dartmoor and Exmoor—is preparing for a significant leadership transition. Renowned collaborative pianist James Baillieu has been officially named the incoming artistic director of the festival.
Baillieu, whose relationship with the West Country institution dates back to a critically acclaimed recital in 2016, currently resides on Dartmoor. His appointment marks a harmonious blending of international artistic pedigree and deep-rooted local engagement. He will succeed acclaimed violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen, who has steered the festival with visionary ambition since 2020.
To ensure a seamless transition and artistic continuity, the leadership change will feature a carefully choreographed handover period. In October 2027, Waley-Cohen and Baillieu will share the role of artistic director, co-curating the festival’s diverse programme. Following the conclusion of the 2027 festival, Baillieu will assume full, unshared responsibility as sole artistic director starting in 2028.
This leadership evolution signals an exciting chapter for the Two Moors Festival. Over the past two decades, the festival has carved out a unique identity, bridging world-class classical performance with rural accessibility. With Baillieu—who is widely celebrated as one of his generation’s most versatile and sought-after collaborative pianists—taking the helm, the organization is uniquely positioned to build upon its legacy of imaginative programming, youth mentorship, and community enrichment.
Detailed Chronology of Leadership and Transition
The Foundation and Growth of a Rural Musical Haven
Founded in 2001 in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis that devastated rural economies and tourism in the South West, the Two Moors Festival was originally conceived as a cultural catalyst to revitalize the communities of Dartmoor and Exmoor. What began as an ambitious regional initiative rapidly evolved into one of the most distinctive and celebrated classical music festivals in the United Kingdom.
Over the years, the festival has resisted the temptation to confine itself to major metropolitan concert halls, instead bringing world-class musicians into historic churches, village halls, and breathtaking open-air venues across Devon and Somerset. This commitment to place has defined the festival’s ethos, creating an intimate dialogue between masterworks of classical music and the rugged, evocative geography of the moorlands.
Tamsin Waley-Cohen’s Transformative Tenure (2020–2027)
Violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen assumed the role of artistic director in 2020, stepping into leadership during a uniquely challenging era for the live performance sector globally. Despite the hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Waley-Cohen imbued the festival with a renewed sense of imagination, generosity, and daring ambition.
During her anticipated eight-year tenure—which will culminate following the October 2027 festival—Waley-Cohen expanded the artistic horizons of the event significantly. Her programming went far beyond standard orchestral and chamber recitals, introducing contemporary classical commissions, dynamic poetry readings, interactive family-oriented events, and intellectual talks that contextualized the music.
Under her watch, the festival solidified its reputation as a champion of artistic inclusivity and high-quality music-making. She forged deep relationships with a "family of artists" who returned year after year, drawn by the unique atmosphere of the moors and Waley-Cohen’s collaborative spirit. Her legacy will be defined not only by the caliber of the artists she invited, but by how deeply the festival embedded itself within the social and cultural fabric of Devon and Somerset.
The Rise of James Baillieu: From Performer to Director
James Baillieu’s history with the Two Moors Festival is long and storied, transitioning organically from guest artist to key architectural partner, and ultimately to artistic director. Baillieu first performed at the festival in 2016, delivering a memorable recital at Ashburton Church that left a lasting impression on local audiences and critics alike.
In the years that followed, Baillieu became an increasingly familiar and cherished presence at the festival. His integration into the leadership structure deepened substantially when he collaborated closely with Tamsin Waley-Cohen to run the festival’s prestigious Residency programme in 2025—an initiative that is scheduled to return under their joint oversight in 2026.
This phased involvement has allowed Baillieu to gain an intimate, operational understanding of the festival’s inner workings. The announcement that he will share the artistic directorship with Waley-Cohen during the October 2027 festival provides an ideal runway for the handover. This collaborative year will enable Baillieu to absorb the nuances of festival planning, artist relations, and community engagement before taking the reins as sole artistic director in 2028.
Supporting Context, Cultural Impact, and Metrics
Quantifying the Festival’s Reach and Economic Footprint
While classical music festivals are frequently associated with major urban centers or affluent Home Counties enclaves, the Two Moors Festival proves that high art can thrive in deep rural settings.
- Audience Engagement: The festival consistently welcomes over 4,000 attendees to its diverse array of rural venues each October, drawing both dedicated classical music tourists from across the globe and enthusiastic local residents.
- Geographical Spread: Events are strategically distributed across remote parishes and historic towns throughout Dartmoor and Exmoor, transforming rural churches and community spaces into vibrant epicenters of culture.
- Economic Vitality: By operating during the shoulder tourism season in October, the festival provides a vital economic boost to local hospitality providers, B&Bs, pubs, and independent businesses across Devon and Somerset.
Nurturing the Next Generation: Competitions and Residencies
Beyond its performance programming, the Two Moors Festival has earned widespread acclaim for its dedication to musical education and talent incubation. Two core pillars of this educational mission are the Young Musicians’ Competition and the artist Residency programme.
The Young Musicians’ Competition provides an invaluable platform for emerging talent, offering young performers from across the region and beyond the opportunity to perform in professional environments, receive expert mentorship, and gain early career exposure.
Meanwhile, the Residency programme—which James Baillieu helped co-run alongside Tamsin Waley-Cohen in 2025—represents a sophisticated approach to artistic development. By inviting exceptional early-career artists to live and work within the inspiring landscape of Dartmoor and Exmoor, the residency encourages deep artistic reflection, cross-genre collaboration, and direct engagement with local rural communities. Given Baillieu’s renowned reputation as a master mentor, professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and champion of young vocalists and instrumentalists, his ongoing stewardship of these educational initiatives promises to elevate them even further.
Official Statements and Personal Reflections
The transition announcement was met with enthusiasm from both outgoing and incoming leadership, underscoring a spirit of mutual respect and shared vision for the festival’s future.
Reflecting on his appointment, incoming artistic director James Baillieu shared:
"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."
Tamsin Waley-Cohen, whose eight-year tenure concludes in 2027, has likewise expressed profound support for Baillieu’s appointment. Her decision to share the 2027 festival curation duties guarantees that the artistic vision will not suffer from an abrupt break, but will instead experience an organic, harmonious evolution. Colleagues, board members, and festival patrons have universally praised the choice of Baillieu, noting that his dual identity as a world-class international musician and a local Dartmoor resident makes him the ideal custodian for the festival’s unique ethos.
Future Outlook: What Lies Ahead for the Two Moors Festival
As the Two Moors Festival looks toward its third decade of existence, the appointment of James Baillieu opens up thrilling possibilities for its artistic evolution.
Expanding Artistic Horizons
As one of the world’s leading collaborative pianists, Baillieu has shared the stage with many of the finest singers and instrumentalists of our time, including Benjamin Appl, Lise Davidsen, Allan Clayton, and Kian Soltani, performing at venues ranging from the Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall to major international festivals. This vast professional network positions him uniquely to attract elite global talent to the rural stages of Devon and Somerset.
One can anticipate future festival programmes that lean heavily into Baillieu’s curatorial strengths: deeply considered song recitals, innovative chamber music pairings, cross-disciplinary explorations combining literature and music, and dynamic showcases of emerging vocal and instrumental talent.
Deepening Community Roots
Importantly, Baillieu’s status as a resident of Dartmoor ensures that the festival will retain its grassroots authenticity. When an artistic director lives within the community they serve, the programming ceases to be an imported luxury and becomes an organic reflection of the local landscape’s spirit. Under Baillieu’s guidance, community outreach, local school workshops, and intimate site-specific performances are expected to remain central to the festival’s mission.
Conclusion
The handover from Tamsin Waley-Cohen to James Baillieu represents the best kind of institutional transition: one marked by continuity, mutual admiration, and an unyielding commitment to artistic excellence. As the Two Moors Festival prepares for its upcoming seasons—culminating in the joint directorship of 2027 and the dawning of Baillieu’s solo tenure in 2028—audiences can rest assured that the unique magic of music on the moors is in exceptionally capable hands.
Further information, ticket releases, and upcoming programme announcements can be found on the official Two Moors Festival Website.
