Maria was Marketing Director and Deputy Chief Executive at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall (1999-2005), under Howard Raynor’s inspired leadership, when the team successfully diversified the programme from almost entirely classical music to embrace rock and pop, world and jazz music. The team created three major piano festivals, world music festivals, Hola Cuba and Hola Mundo, and a 12-day celebration called Pulse, in honour of the Commonwealth Games in 2002. Each festival innovated the way in which work was presented within the building.
Maria participated in the four-strong senior management team and led the programming team from 2004. Marketing headlines included the ‘Manchester Welcomes’ campaigns to leverage sponsorship and profile the visits by the Israel Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; a collaborative marketing approach with resident orchestras which increased new attendee retention by 17%; and securing City Council investment for a new ticketing system called Tessitura, to build online business.
The role was across the entire operation of this international concert and conference venue which was operated by Hallogen Limited with a turnover of £7 million and 70 full time and 110 part time employees. Maria line managed Marketing, Box Office and IT, achieving 365,000 concert attendances a year.
