New chair at East Neuk Festival as first glimpse of 2027 event set to be unveiled
There’s a new figure at the helm of East Neuk Festival.
Tom Usher has taken up the post of chair, succeeding Donald McDonald who co-founded the festival in 2004, and stepped down after this year’s concerts.
Mr Usher, who works as a competition law expert with legal firm Burness Paull, has been a board member since October 2025.
He and his family now live in Elie. He is an enthusiastic violinist, and has spent two terms as a director on the board of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Mr Usher said: “It is an absolute privilege to be appointed as chair of this incredible festival which continues to draw some of the world’s most outstanding musicians to what is unquestionably one of East Fife’s most stunning seaside locations.
“I am very much looking forward to working closely with the team to ensure the festival continues to deliver the enormously high standards of programming and quality of experience our wonderful supporters and audiences expect.”
Handing over the baton, Mr MacDonald said: “This festival is very, very close to my heart and has been a constant joy for the 22 years during which I have chaired the board. It is greatly reassuring to welcome a new chair who brings not only the requisite experience and strengths, but also a lifelong love of live music which is the beating heart of this festival.”
Svend McEwan-Brown, artistic director, also welcomed the appointment, saying: “Tom brings a huge amount of legal and financial expertise to the board, a passion for music and an unwavering commitment to ensuring the continued success of the festival.”
The festival returns with an eclectic programme of classical, orchestral and world music from June 30 to July 4 next year. The first details of the programme will be announced at the beginning of November, with tickets on sale in January.