CANBERRA International Music Festival artistic director Roland Peelman will stage his tenth and final festival next year.

The festival board has started headhunting for his replacement saying his successor would be an exceptional musician and “someone who continues to build on the CIMF tradition, creating a festival of artistic excellence, adventure and intellectual rigour”.

Over the last seven years, CIMF says it has more than doubled its box office income and tripled its attendances by presenting festivals of “excellence, adventure and originality”.

“CityNews” arts editor Helen Musa says the mercurial Peelman will be a hard act to follow.

“With his mercurial wit, powerful intellect and impeccable network, he is also a practising conductor and pianist of the highest order,” she says.

“The headhunters for his replacement, will be paying  attention to every word in the festival’s title: Canberra (uniquely Canberran features and locations); International musicians; Music (of the very highest quality) and Festival (the fun, the experience).

“The new director  will have to juggle the expectations of traditional music audiences and the tastes of younger music lovers, but it is likely that the new appointee will be a classical rather than a popular musician.”