Toks Dada

Toks Dada is a classical music curator, and Head of Classical Music at Southbank Centre since December 2020 where he leads the UK’s largest year-round classical music programme. Under his leadership, the programme continues to attract new audiences by developing new formats that create new ways to experience classical music.

In 2010 Toks founded the music commissioning and producing company Sinfonia Newydd in Wales, providing a platform for established and emerging composers, including as part of cross-artform projects. From 2015 to 2020, Toks worked on the classical music programme at Town Hall Symphony Hall, Birmingham, most recently as Classical Programme Manager, and was the Guest Curator for the 2022 edition of Wonderfeel the Netherlands’ biggest outdoor classical music festival.

Toks has served as a Board Director, most notably at Welsh National Opera and Sinfonia Cymru, as an Advisor at PRS for Music Foundation, and was a Fellow of the International Society for the Performing Arts from 2020 to 2025. As an advocate for change, Toks has championed new approaches within classical music, presenting and writing about attracting new audiences and engaging young people.

Toks holds a Masters in Arts Management and Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and in July 2020 was appointed an Honorary Associate of the College.