David Pickard studied Music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge before starting his career at the Royal Opera House. In his early working life, David worked at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park and was the Assistant Director for the Japan Festival before becoming Sir John Drummond’s deputy at the European Arts Festival.

In 1993 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment where he significantly increased the orchestra’s artistic reputation and international profile, helping to establish the OAE as the pre-eminent period instrument orchestra in the world.

In 2001 he was made General Director of Glyndebourne Festival where throughout his tenure he created an extensive digital programme including online streaming, big screen and cinema relays and broadened the company’s audience base through specially priced performances for young people and a pioneering education programme.

From 2015 to 2024 David was Director of the BBC Proms where he expanded the breadth of the Proms by reaching new audiences across the UK and increasing the diversity of artists, composers and collaborators.  He also brought in some of the world’s finest international orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Budapest Festival and Boston Symphony Orchestras, and has overseen BBC commissions from some of the world’s most acclaimed living composers, including Thomas Adès, Hildur Guðnadóttir, George Benjamin, Hannah Kendall and Judith Weir.

He was awarded the OBE for services to music in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.