Professor Anthony Bowne to step down as Principal of Trinity Laban

Professor Anthony Bowne, Principal of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Trinity Laban) since 2010, has announced that he will step down from the role on 31 August 2027.

In an email to staff, Bowne said the 2026–27 academic year would be his final year as Principal, describing the decision as the right time to step back as the conservatoire enters a period of continued development.

“This academic year will be my last as Trinity Laban Principal. This is the right time to step back: our conservatoire is alive with innovative and groundbreaking plans, recruitment is strong, and we have an excellent team dedicated to transforming the lives of our students, and to proving the intrinsic social value of our artforms. Trinity Laban has been part of my life for 43 years, with 17 of those as Principal, and stepping away will be poignant for me. There have been so many moments to remember in that time, with incredible highlights including opening the Laban Building, and forming what remains one of the most unique and pioneering mergers in our sector. There has also been significant challenge, not least the COVID pandemic which opened up new ways of innovating as an online conservatoire, and the ever-changing financial and political landscape of HE. Through it all, we have remained strong, and leading Trinity Laban has been the privilege of my life.”

Bowne has played a central role in Trinity Laban’s development, first as Director of Laban and later as Principal of the merged conservatoire. He was one of the architects of the landmark merger between Laban and Trinity College of Music, which created Trinity Laban, and became the institution’s sole Principal in 2010.

During his tenure, Trinity Laban has expanded its academic and international profile, alongside significant campus redevelopment and new partnerships. The conservatoire gained Taught Degree Awarding Powers, ranked among the UK’s top five institutions for performing arts research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), and secured successive rounds of ‘World Leading’ premium funding.

Bowne’s international work has also included partnerships such as the appointment of global music innovator AR Rahman as Honorary President and the development of a joint campus in Beijing with Beijing Dance Academy. He has held a number of posts in the UK and internationally focused on advancing performing arts education, most recently being elected deputy director general of the World Dance Education Alliance.

Alan Davey CBE, Chairman of the Board of Trinity Laban since 2020, said: “Professor Bowne is a distinguished Principal and dedicated public servant and Trinity Laban is blessed to have had the benefit of his leadership for nearly 20 years. During this time, Anthony has overseen an extraordinary transformation at Trinity Laban, both physically and culturally, transforming our estate and our academic credentials and refining our mission for a changing world. His leadership of the institution through challenging times has ensured it has emerged stronger than ever before. Under Anthony’s leadership, Trinity Laban remains clearer than ever in its mission to redefine excellence in all its fields of endeavour, spreading opportunity for world-leading teaching and the realisation of talent wherever it emerges. In addition, he has been a constant steadying and driving force for the sector as a whole. I, the Board, the incomparable staff and all of the students who have benefitted from the superb education Trinity Laban offers, are immensely grateful for his continuing dedication and commitment.”

Looking ahead to his final year in the role, Bowne said the coming academic year would be an important one for the conservatoire, including the development of its Beijing partnership.

“There is much to do in this academic year, which promises to be momentous for Trinity Laban as we build our Beijing partnership, and much more. I will relish the opportunity to guide my brilliant team until August 2027, while also ensuring their smooth and positive transition into new leadership.”

Trinity Laban will now begin a global search for Bowne’s successor, with consultants to be appointed to support the process.

Visit https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/ for more information.