London Festival of Contemporary Church Music appoints Leonora Dawson-Bowling as Chief Executive Officer
The Trustees of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music (LFCCM) are delighted to announce the appointment of Leonora Dawson-Bowling as the Festival’s first Chief Executive Officer, effective from 20 April 2026. Now in its 24th year, the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music is a distinctive and growing presence in the UK’s cultural landscape. Each May, it presents an ambitious 10-day programme (this year running 8–17 May) of over 50 concerts, recitals and services across London and beyond, showcasing new and recent liturgical music at the highest level. With dozens of composers represented, multiple premieres and hundreds of performers involved, the Festival plays a vital role in sustaining and advancing the living tradition of church music.
Renewed direction
Founded by Christopher Batchelor, the Festival has developed a strong reputation as a specialist platform for contemporary sacred music – bringing new works into both concert and liturgical settings, and enabling them to find a life beyond their first performance.
In recent years, the Festival has been thoughtfully guided by its Trustees through a period of wider change across the arts sector. The creation of a Chief Executive role, along with the recent appointment of Artistic Director Joseph Fort, marks a confident and forward-looking step: bringing dedicated leadership to support the Festival’s continued growth, strengthen its strategic direction, and build on its unique position as a nimble, collaborative and outward-facing organisation. Leonora Dawson-Bowling has already been working with the Festival in a strategic and creative capacity, contributing to its development, partnerships and planning. Her appointment formalises this work and provides continuity alongside renewed momentum.
About the Festival
At its heart, LFCCM exists to champion outstanding contemporary liturgical and organ music – not only through performance, but by actively contributing to the repertoire of the future. Through its flagship annual Call for Scores scheme, the Festival attracts over 150 submissions each year, offering emerging UK and international composers a rare and valuable platform for performance, exposure and professional connection to musicians, congregations and audiences, with live performances and recordings. The Festival works in close partnership with churches, performers and directors of music, creating opportunities for freelance musicians and drawing new audiences into church spaces. Its reach extends from major London venues to local community churches, reflecting a commitment both to artistic excellence and to accessibility. In an evolving cultural landscape, the Festival plays an important role in ensuring that church music remains a living, relevant and forward-looking tradition – continuing to evolve while rooted in centuries of heritage.
About Leonora Dawson-Bowling
Leonora brings a wide-ranging career across performance, arts leadership and creative enterprise. An experienced professional singer, she performs regularly with leading ensembles and choirs including St Paul’s Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral and All Saints Margaret Street, as well as groups such as Armonico Consort, Philharmonia Voices, The Oxford Camerata, the BBC Singers and the Sarum Consort. She is also a member of the Festival’s own LFCCM Festival Singers.
Alongside her performing work, Leonora has extensive leadership experience. She previously led the classical music division at Amazon UK, founded the publisher de la Porte Publishing – specialising in composer biographies, and has been involved in the creation and development of several choirs and orchestras. She is also Chief Executive of the Stephen Dodgson Charitable Trust, supporting musicians and musical organisations across the UK and beyond.
Deeply committed to the discovery and promotion of new sacred music, Leonora brings both artistic insight and strategic clarity. She has a particular interest in strengthening relationships across the sector, broadening audience engagement, and supporting composers in building sustainable careers, giving opportunities to young performers, and helping audiences discover the immediacy, richness and approachability of contemporary music.
Looking ahead
Working alongside Artistic Director Joseph Fort, Leonora will focus on expanding the Festival’s reach and impact – including increasing participation among churches, developing new partnerships, and engaging more effectively with audiences across different communities. A key priority will be to challenge perceptions that contemporary music is inaccessible, opening up new pathways for listeners while maintaining the depth and quality that define the Festival’s work. There will also be a renewed emphasis on supporting early-career composers, students, and grassroots church musicians, helping to nurture the next generation of talent.
Joseph Fort said:
“Leonora’s appointment as CEO is wonderful news for the LFCCM. She brings to us a wealth of experience as a professional singer, strategic expertise in logistical matters, and a deep, genuine passion for contemporary sacred music. She has brought tremendous energy to the organisation and its activities over the last few months, and has a strong and compelling vision for the future. I enjoy and greatly value working with her, and look forward to everything that the future has in store.”
Leonora Dawson-Bowling said:
“I am very excited to be working with Artistic Director Joe Fort and the Festival’s fantastic team of trustees to build on LFCCM’s remarkable work. I look forward to involving more participating churches across diverse communities, growing meaningful collaborations, supporting new music and composers, and exploring new opportunities to ensure the continued growth and bright future of this wonderful Festival and its good work.”
For further information see: www.lfccm.com
