Modern Day Classical Music

Mark Pemberton is an experienced consultant in the music industry and the performing arts.

He has managed three editions of Audio Classique, the international gathering of the classical recording industry, and curated Orchestras Now!, the international orchestras conference in Wroclaw, Poland in 2023 and 2025. He has led governance workshops for Arcangelo and Music at Oxford and worked as public affairs consultant for NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association), English Folk Dance & Song Society and Music Mark. Other clients include Newzik, ISM and Cartier.

Mark has been a speaker and panel chair at conferences in the USA, Brazil, China, Japan and across Europe. Most recently he has given keynote speeches at Accord Majeur at the Aix-en-Provence Festival and to the annual conference of the Association of Finnish Orchestras, and chaired panels at the League of American Orchestras conference in Houston and Classical Next in Berlin.

During his 15 years as Chief Executive of the Association of British Orchestras, his achievements included:

• Negotiating with the UK Government to enable orchestras to navigate and survive the Covid-19 pandemic
• Securing Orchestra Tax Relief, creating a vital new income stream for ABO members
• Getting orchestral musicians included on the Home Office Shortage Occupation List
• Launching the All Party Parliamentary Group on Classical Music Growing the ABO Conference into Europe’s largest gathering of the orchestral sector
• Securing a waiver from visa fees for Ukrainian orchestras touring to the UK

Tom Pauncefort leads CRD Records, the world’s oldest family-owned classical label, into its second half-century. Founded in 1975 by his father Graham, the label marked its 50th anniversary in 2025 by evolving from a legendary boutique imprint into a multi-disciplinary creative powerhouse under the banner “Classical ReDefined.”

Following a 15-year career in the British Army and a tenure in financial services, Tom assumed leadership alongside his sister, Emma, in 2020. Together, they have reimagined the label’s heritage, moving beyond traditional recording to offer a holistic “CRD Offer”—a 360-degree service model that includes CRD Publishing and a streamlined Sync & Innovation arm. Tom has been instrumental in ensuring CRD remains an agile, “small but mighty” partner, capable of delivering fully cleared, high-speed licensing for global media.

Under Tom’s direction, CRD continues its 50-year tradition of launching era-defining careers—a legacy that began with Trevor Pinnock and continues today through adventurous collaborations, such as the landmark 2025 release of the first classical works by Grammy-winning jazz legend Lenny White. For Tom, the mission is clear: maintaining a relationship-driven ethos while positioning classical music as a vibrant, essential asset in the contemporary landscape.

Award-winning social entrepreneur, acclaimed soprano, inspirational speaker and storyteller, creative alchemist, philanthropist and spiritual journey woman.

Founder Creative Universe, Creativity Australia, Umbrella Foundation, Dimension5, Music Theatre Australia, Pot-Pourri, The Song Room and Founder and Executive Producer of Creative Innovation Global and co-founder of Mind Medicine Australia.

Tania de Jong AM is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators having developed 6 businesses and 4 charities. Tania works across the public, private, creative and social sectors. She founded Creativity Australia, Creative Universe, MTA Entertainment & Events and The Song Room. She co-founded Mind Medicine Australia, Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation working on the use of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat a range of mental illnesses and expand the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients.

Tania presents keynote speeches and leadership programs and performs internationally as a soloist and with her group Pot-Pourri. She has released thirteen albums. Tania’s TED Talk How Singing Together Changes The Brain has sparked international interest. She is Founder and Executive Producer of Creative Innovation Global winning national and international awards. Creative Universe and Creative Innovation Global were ranked among the top 20 event organizers globally as part of the Eventex All-Stars Index.

Tania’s latest charity is Umbrella Foundation which is committed to telling stories that matter through the innovative use of music, theatre and other artforms, raising consciousness and inspiring generosity, diversity, inclusion, harmony and compassion. Umbrella Foundation presented the acclaimed world premiere seasons of Driftwood The Musical based on Tania’s extraordinary family story.

Tania’s awards include Ernst and Young Australian Social Entrepreneur of the Year. She was inducted into the AGSE Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame at Swinburne University and named Brainlink Woman of Achievement. Tania was named in the 100 Women of Influence and the 100 Australian Most Influential Entrepreneurs and named as one of the 100 most influential people in psychedelics globally in 2021. In 2019 she was honoured with the Award for Meritorious Service to the Community in the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence.

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2008 for service to the Arts as a performer and entrepreneur and through the establishment and development of music and arts enrichment programs for schools and communities.

Tania has garnered an international reputation as a performer, speaker, entrepreneur and a passionate leader for social change. Her mission is to change the world, one voice at a time!

With over 25 years of experience in the music industry – beginning at a major record label and, for the past 15 years, as a classical music consultant for Apple Music Classical – Peggy has specialized in crafting and executing artist development and digital marketing strategies to elevate and spotlight the very best of classical music on the platform.

Digital has been at the heart of Peggy’s work for a long time. Even when working at Universal Music in the early 2000’s, her second role already involved creating digital content for classical music. This was in line with the early days of the digital era, marked by the launch of iTunes in January 2001, followed by the first iPod later that same year.

At Apple, she’s worked closely with labels and managers to shape and implement artist development and digital marketing strategies, helping to present the finest in classical music to a global audience.

Her commitment and contribution, alongside a small but passionate team, played a key role in the growth of classical music within Apple Music and ultimately led to the creation in 2023 of a dedicated app for the genre: Apple Music Classical. This app is now recognized for its quality and credibility in the classical world and her efforts helped position Apple Music Classical as a trusted, high-quality destination for classical music lovers worldwide.

Peggy’s approach is rooted in a strong editorial vision, built on long-standing relationships with labels and artists and a deep knowledge of both the French and international markets. Whether an artist is emerging or established, her mission is the same: to give exceptional talent the visibility they deserve.

Her recent collaboration with an independent American label has led her to develop her A&R skills, discovering emerging artists and going into recording studios to act as Artistic Director.