Team

Joining BBT as Chief Executive in January 2024, Toby Smith brings over 25 years’ experience in artistic and executive leadership roles in classical music and multi-arts environments, spanning programming and producing, strategic and artist development. Around a nine-year tenure as Director of Performance and Programming at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, he has worked on festival programming at the Barbican Centre, Cheltenham Arts Festivals and the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival; and he was Festival Director at the Salisbury International Arts Festival between 2013-17. As BBT’s Chief Executive, Toby works with all the musicians that BBT supports to imagine, shape and deliver bespoke projects to develop their international careers.

Toby works with three freelance consultants who bring specialist experience and support to BBT’s artists.

Debra Boraston works to secure PR around award announcements and projects in support of Artist Awards and Fellowships, Artist Encore Awards and Community Grants. Debra is a freelance PR and media consultant who has worked with BBT since its inception. Following a year managing the press office for the ground-breaking, UK-wide Japan Festival, Debra founded and directed Birdsong PR at international artist management company, Harrison/Parrott. She has worked with acclaimed musicians, orchestras and conductors from Europe, Japan and North America; ballet companies from Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Scandinavia and the US; and with major festivals of music and arts from around the world.

Communications Consultant Nick Breckenfield supports the Trust’s website, film production, social media and e-newsletters. Nick has worked in marketing and promotion both in the West End and at the Southbank Centre, before moving on to touring and artist management at Harrison/Parrott. He was Classical Music and Theatre editor for whatsonwhen.com between 2000 and 2013, before he started to work with BBT in 2014. He also writes programme notes for classical concerts.

Graham Johnston created BBT’s first videos in 2004 and has continued to work with the trust on films that document headline projects conceived by the artists and organisations that BBT supports. Since studying at Art School in Scotland, he has worked in a range of media including set design, graphic design, photography and video. Currently based in Norfolk, he formed LadderMAN as a production vehicle to explore the creative practice of artists and musicians and alongside this continues to draw and paint in his studio.

Contact details for Toby, Debra and Nick can be found below.