The Manchester arts-community finds itself mourning the loss of one of its more dynamic characters; Howard Raynor. Howard came from the Derngate, Northampton in 1998 to become only the second Chief Executive of The Bridgewater Hall. It was a time when the venue was no longer benefiting from the first flush of its newness. It was a time to build partnerships, plant roots and create sustainable ways of working. Howard's energy and affability equipped him well for the task. He extended the relationships with the three resident orchestras, seeing in the first Piano Festival in 2000 in a style which included a Ferrari red Steinway piano on the foyer, for audiences to play. Supported by sponsors, he secured the return of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, maintaining the Hall’s classical music profile on the international stage. He capitalized on the Commonwealth Games to spearhead Pulse, a two-week festival of rhythm featuring Evelyn Glennie, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Wayne Marshall, and his long-time hero, Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Howard greatly expanded the scope of the Hall's programme in this period, using his contacts in the commercial and non-classical world to complement the international season and the work of the resident orchestras which formed the majority of the hall's programme. Jazz, world music, good quality rock artists and other kinds of light entertainment soon began to fill up the dark days, making the hall among the busiest in the country, beginning with the celebrated Hola Cuba! festival which surfed on the crest of the breaking popularity of the Cuban music wave and headlined with the Buena Vista Social Club. Always seeking to be ahead of the curve, Howard formed new partnerships with Milapfest, Futuresonic, In the City and the Manchester Jazz Festival. He played an active role in the Music Beyond Mainstream national touring consortium, helping to secure The Gotan Project’s first UK outing. The Hall hosted legends including Oscar Peterson, James Brown and George Clinton, Funkadelic and the Parliament. Howard’s work made the venue a people's palace and also raised revenue that was badly needed.

Howard liked to build informal consensus, realising that every member of staff can have useful knowledge or feedback about artists and performers. He was passionate about enabling people to be the best they could possibly be and was generous in training the team and sharing his insights. As a leader he was also ambitious and wanted the Hall to be successful on a world stage. Achieving this without subsidy was always a challenge, but because he believed resolutely in the value of excellent customer service, he never liked to cut corners. In the context of a non-subsidised, yet civic and international concert hall, he often felt the pressure of these demands acutely, but rarely showed it - preserving his cheerful, positive and questing disposition.

He carried his vision of excellent customer service forward from The Bridgewater Hall when he left in 2006. By creating the company, World Class Service, he stamped his hallmark on many major Manchester Institutions and those further afield. He continued to act as a concert-promoter too, championing those stunning films made by the BBC Wildlife Unit in the Blue Planet series. He staged them lavishly accompanied by live orchestral music; excellence and high quality were his watchwords. The project was a true passion for him, not just another business proposition. He very much loved his family, who were his anchor and always kept things in perspective for him. It is for his energy, generosity, great natural enthusiasm and commitment to excellence both on and off the platform that we will remember him.

'Nothing average ever stood as a monument to progress. When progress is looking for a partner it doesn't turn to those who believe they are only average. It turns instead to those who are forever searching and striving
to become the best they possibly can.'
Howard Raynor's Blog

A celebration of the life of Howard Raynor will take place at The Bridgewater Hall at 11.00am on Friday 1 April 2011.