HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT Candidate Information Pack – April 2026
WELCOME
Thank
you for your interest in
the role of Head of Development at the Academy of Ancient Music.
I’d like to tell you a bit more about the work we do and why you should consider joining our small but mighty management team.
Academy of Ancient Music might have a fusty name (it probably evokes for you dusty archives and tweed jackets), but I can assure you the work we deliver is anything but! We exist to delight and inspire audiences the world over with historically informed performances of baroque and classical music of the highest quality. Our approach is simple: we try to get as close as possible to the original circumstances of a specific work’s creation. We don’t do this to be ‘authentic’ or ‘correct’ but because we believe this best unlocks music’s power: to move audiences, to unite communities through shared experience and common purpose, and to change lives for the better.
In recent years, under the visionary artistic leadership of our Music Director Laurence Cummings, AAM has been selling out its regular subscription series at the University of Cambridge and the Barbican Centre in London; touring to some of the world’s great concert halls; and amassing a powerful and unrivalled digital followership that includes more than one million monthly listeners on streaming platforms. The orchestra has never played better, and there has never been a larger audience for our work.
The philanthropic income generated by our development team is crucial in enabling usto deliver our ambitious programme. This includes live performances across the globe, the innovative education initiativeAAMplify, audio recordings for release on our own-label AAM Records and digital content creation for dissemination online, as well as our core operations. The work of the Head of Development is central to all of these.
We are looking for a highly motivated, capable and experienced fundraiser with good all-round experience to help us remain at the forefront of the global historically informed performance movement. While you needn’t have any specialist knowledge of music or historical performance, interest and curiosity in both are essential, as is a passion for live performance. AAM’s activities are hugely varied, and our work onstage is but the tip of the iceberg. I look forward to sharing with you all that goes on behind-thescenes: on tour, in the recording studio, on set – and yes, in library archives and the dusty workshops of the talented craftsmen who make our instruments and continue to drive our understanding of this great music.
I hope you’ll consider joining us and I look forward to hearing from you.
John McMunn Chief Executive
ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC
Academy of Ancient Music is an orchestra with a worldwide reputation for excellence in baroque and classical music.
Using historically informed techniques, periodspecific instruments and original sources, we bring music vividly to life in committed, vibrant performances.
Established in 1973 by Christopher Hogwood to make the first British recordings of orchestral works using original instruments, AAM has released more than 300 albums to date, collecting countless accolades including Classic BRIT, Gramophone and Edison awards. Today, we record on our own label – AAM Records – and are proud to be the most listened-to period-instrument orchestra online, with over one million monthly listeners on streaming platforms.
The orchestra has been renowned the world over since its inception, and under the artistic leadership of Music Director Laurence Cummings, it continues to reach new heights. OurGolden Anniversary season in 2023-24 saw the completion of a landmark project to record Mozart’s complete works for keyboard and orchestra, the publication of a new book by RichardBratby detailing AAM’s storied history, and sold-out performances across the UK and internationally in venues ranging from Westminster Abbey and King’s College Chapel to the BerlinPhilharmonieand the Golden Hall of Vienna’s Musikverein.
Subsequent seasons have been no less ambitious. Following the success of our anniversary campaign– theAAMbitionFund – in 2024-25, AAM began to create and curate the ’AAM A -List’, a new suite of digital content to be published online for free, ensuring our music remains accessible to all regardless of geography, background or means. In 2025-26 we resumed our Haydn Symphony Cycle, aiming to become the first period -instrument ensemble ever to record that composer’s complete symphonic output. And we continue to deliver live performances of the highest international standard in great halls across the globe.
Beyond the concert hall, AAM is committed to nurturing the audiences, artists and arts managers of the future through our innovative education initiative,AAMplify. Working with music colleges and universities –including the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Cambridge– we engage the next generation of period instrumentalists with side-by-side sessions, masterclasses and other opportunities designed to bridge the gap between the conservatoire and the profession, safeguarding the future of historical performance. In 2026-27 we will expand this work to comprise a weeklong summer residential course for emerging period-instrumentalists to explore Beethoven’s symphonic works in an unprecedented level of detail, bringing this core symphonic repertoire firmly into the realm of historical performance.
AAM is Associate Ensemble at the Barbican Centre, London and Orchestra-in-Residence at the University of Cambridge.
FUNDRAISING
Alongside artistic excellence, fundraising has been vital to AAM’s success since it registered as a charity in 2000.
The orchestra’s earned income is generated by a mixture of revenues associated with its live performances in the UK and abroad, royalties/other residuals and Orchestra Tax Relief. But its financial strength stems from the ongoing generosity of an ever-expanding family of supporters who together donated nearly £300k last year to sustain the orchestra’s work.
Individual giving at the AAM is facilitated by three membership schemes: Academy, Associates and Friends. Combined, these make up the orchestra’s closest group of supporters, individuals who are at the heart of our work and with whom we are committed to developing deep and long-lasting relationships. Alongside membership, the orchestra benefits from the bequests of some supporters for whom AAM played an important role in their lives. In 2013, the AAM Legacy Circle was established to recognise individuals who have informed us of their intentions to remember the orchestra in their wills, allowing us to celebrate their generosity while we can.
To date, the vast majority of individual giving at AAM has been from UK residents, but we hope to explore several investment strategies in the coming year to increase our North American presence with the intention of driving increased capacity for giving there. Should these efforts prove successful, we may roll out similar strategies in other territories including East Asia and Australasia.
AAM does not receive any regular public funding, though we received Principal Sponsorship from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, a division of UK Research & Innovation, in 2024-25 and with whom we continue to work to deliver several significant extraordinary projects such as the Haydn Symphony Cycle. The orchestra also benefits from private funding and has an established track record of generous support from trusts & foundations which we hope to maintain, despite the challenges of the current climate.
Fundraising at AAM is led by the Head of Development, who is well supported by the Board of Trustees, its Chair, the Chief Executive and the Development Board. The Head of Development is responsible for the Development & Events Co-ordinator, who also provides excellent day-to-day departmental support. The position is a fantastic opportunity for a highly motivated, capable and experienced fundraiser to join AAM at a pivotal moment and help drive the next chapter in its already storied history.
Head of Development
Development & Events Coordinator
Chief Executive
Head of Finance [p/t]
Head of Planning & Operations
Head of Marketing & Digital
Librarian [p/t]
PR Agent [contract]
AAMplifyCoordinator [p/t]
Programme Editor [contract]
Designer [Contract]
JOB DESCRIPTION
Report to Chief Executive
Responsible for Development & Events Coordinator
Management
• Work with the Chief Executive on the development of AAM’s fundraising strategy.
• In conjunction with the Chief Executive, agree fundraising targets on an annual basis and track these quarterly through theInfoodledatabase.
• Lead on fundraising campaigns as agreed with the Chief Executive, including the annual Big Give Christmas Challenge.
Fundraising
• Manage and develop the Academy and Associates schemes, including stewardship of existing supporters, overseeing renewal processes and ensuring delivery of effective communications to maintain donor relations.
• Develop and deliver an annual series of events for members and prospects, in conjunction with the Development Board.
• Manage AAM’s Legacy Circle programme.
• Lead on researching and writing trust and foundation applications for a range of projects.
• Manage relationships with trusts and foundations, including the sending of reports.
Development Board & Trustees
• Work with the Development Board to cultivate and build relationships with new prospects.
• Work with the Development Board Chair and Chief Executive to identify and recruit new Development Board members.
• Service the needs of the Board of Trustees and Development Board, writing accurate and informative reports on fundraising.
• Brief senior staff and Trustees on potential prospects, setting up and attending meetings where necessary.
Line Management
Oversee and support the work of the Development & Events Co-ordinator across:
• Management and development of the Friends scheme.
• Delivery of the events programme, including drinks receptions, dinners and other fundraising events.
• Ticket booking service for Academy members for concerts in London and Cambridge.
• Management, development and use of theInfoodledatabase, ensuring that the database meets organisational requirements.
• Fundraising literature such as impact report, website, donor letters, campaigns and regular communication with members by post and e -mail.
• Gift Aid claims process.
Other
• Ensure that donors’ preferences for acknowledgement are respected.
• Attend AAM’s own-promoted concerts, Academy, Associates and Friends events and project-related events.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience
• Proven success in a senior fundraising role
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with high net-worth individuals and approaching and cultivating relationships with trustsdanfoundations.
• Confident working with databases to manage donor relationships and plan campaigns
Attributes
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build long-term, positive relationships with existing and potential donors.
• An ability to communicate to a diverse range of stakeholders in person and in writing.
• An ability to work successfully under pressure and to deadlines within a small team.
• Self-motivated and able to design and structure own workflow and schedule.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to plan well and prioritise workload.
• Highly motivated, proactive and able to work on one’s own initiative.
• A keen eye for detail and excellence in all things.
Knowledge
• An interest in classical music is desirable and specific knowledge of historical performance, an advantage.
• An understanding of specific concerns regarding orchestral fundraising is desirable
• Knowledge of securing and stewarding corporate partners and donors is desirable.
• An understanding of donor schemes vis-à-vis VAT and Gift Aid desirable.
Other
• Desire to be proactively ‘out in the field’, meeting with donors and prospects and generally serving as a strong advocate and ambassador for the organisation.
• A willingness and a desire to attend concerts and other evening and weekend events as required.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Location
Academy of Ancient Music
Cherry Trees Centre
St Matthew’s Street
Cambridge
CB1 2LT
Salary
c. £55,000 depending on experience
Hours
Standard office hours are 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday but given the nature of the role and AAM’s operations there is a fair degree of flexibility for this role.
A part-time appointment will also be considered.
Time Off in Lieu
Occasional attendance at concerts and meetings outside of office hours will be required. Time off in lieu is given for days w orked at weekends and over public holidays.
Hybrid Working
AAM operates a hybrid working scheme for staff of up to two days remote per week, specific days to be agreed.
Annual Leave
28 days a year, including public holidays, plus three days between Christmas and New Year, to be taken in co -ordination with other members of staff.
Equality
Academy of Ancient Music strives to be an equal opportunities employer.
Reasonable Adjustments
Please let us know if there are any reasonableadjustmentswe can make to help you in your application or with our recruitment process.
Apply
We have collaborated withProspectus for this vacancy. For further information and to apply for this role, please apply via the Prospectus websitehere.
The closing date for applications is Sun 3 May 2026 at11.59pm .
First round interviews:w/c 11 May 2026
Second round interviews: in-person on w/c 18May 2026
