David Burbidge CBE DL is also Chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, which led the successful campaign to win the title of UK City of Culture 2021; Chairman of Burbidge & Son Ltd, a Coventry manufacturer of bespoke high-quality kitchen and bathroom furniture; a Director of the Albany Piccadilly Trustee Companies and a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Keble College, Oxford where he gained an MA in Law. He was awarded a CBE in 2016 in recognition of services to cultural philanthropy in the West Midlands and an OBE in 1998 in recognition of services to Coventry Cathedral.

Previous roles have included Non-Executive Chairman of Burbidge Capital Limited in Nairobi, Kenya; a main board member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Chairman of the Central Campaign for the £112 million transformation project of the Royal Shakespeare Theatres at Stratford-upon-Avon; Governor & Founding Chairman of the Development Board of Compton Verney Art Gallery and a member of the development board of Garsington Opera; Chairman of the Belgrade Theatre; Chairman of the Coventry Cathedral Development Trust and Director of the Coventry Building Society.

David has a longstanding interest in classical music and at times has played the clarinet – not necessarily as well as he would have liked! He was High Sheriff of the West Midlands when Symphony Hall was built and remains passionate about the power of culture to regenerate a city. With his strong fundraising pedigree he is also dedicating significant time to supporting the Development team in the planning and delivery of the Orchestra’s centenary campaign.