The Vancouver Recital Society has named a violin player, former Columbia Artists vice-president, and two-time city-council candidate as its executive director.

Sean Bickerton, who starts his new role on October 4, once worked as the society's intern, and later belonged to its board of directors.

Bickerton brings a wealth of experience to the organization, particularly from his days at Columbia, where he managed major classical artists who appeared at the VRS, including John Browning, Helene Grimaud, Maria Tipo, Nikolai Lugansky, and Robert McDuffie.

Bickerton, who studied violin at the University of Victoria, moved back to Vancouver from New York in 2007.

He will work with artistic director Leila Getz to build the organization.