z ▁is ▁to ▁conclude ▁his ▁ten ure ▁as ▁its ▁general ▁director ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ 5 ▁December ▁– ▁The ▁Royal ▁Phil harm onic ▁Society ▁announ ces ▁that ▁Ros em ary ▁Johnson ▁is ▁to ▁stand ▁down ▁as ▁its ▁executive ▁director ▁in ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ 1 5 ▁December ▁ ▁The ▁Ch el ten ham ▁Music ▁Festival ▁announ ces ▁the ▁appointment ▁of ▁Al ison ▁B als om ▁as ▁its ▁next ▁art istic ▁director , ▁effective ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁hold ▁the ▁post . ▁ ▁S inf onia ▁C ym ru ▁announ ces ▁the ▁appointment ▁of ▁Peter ▁B elling ham ▁as ▁its ▁next ▁chief ▁executive . ▁ ▁In ▁parallel , ▁Soph ie ▁Lewis ▁is ▁to ▁stand ▁down ▁as ▁the ▁ensemble ' s ▁chief ▁executive ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ 2 1 ▁December ▁— ▁The ▁Royal ▁Phil harm onic ▁Orchestra ▁announ ces ▁the ▁can cellation ▁of ▁concert ▁appearances ▁by ▁principal ▁conduct or ▁and ▁art istic ▁director ▁Charles ▁D uto it , ▁pending ▁the ▁resolution ▁of ▁alleg ations ▁of ▁sexual ▁assault ▁against ▁him . ▁ 2 9 ▁December ▁— ▁New ▁Year ' s ▁Hon ours ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁ ▁Barry ▁Gib b ▁and ▁Ring o ▁St arr ▁are ▁each ▁made ▁a ▁Knight ▁Bach elor . ▁ ▁Jonathan ▁Fre eman - Att wood ▁is ▁made ▁a ▁Commander ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Empire . ▁ ▁Sarah ▁Alexander , ▁Marc ▁Al mond ,