Last updated: 06 July 2007
2007 saw Sir Brian McMaster's 13th appearance on the jury - an unbroken record since the competition's inception. He sits on the main prize jury.
Brian McMaster was born in Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. He read law at Bristol University, comparative law at Strasbourg University and qualified as a solicitor.
In 1967 he studied on the first Arts Council of Great Britain's course in arts administration and subsequently joined EMI Records for five years as a member of their International Classical Division.
In 1973 he went to English National Opera as controller of opera planning and three years later joined Welsh National Opera as managing director, where he remained until 1991. During the period 1984-89 he also served as artistic director to Vancouver Opera.
Brian McMaster was appointed director of the Edinburgh International Festival in October 1991 - a post which he held until October 2006.
He is currently chairman of the National Opera Studio, and a member of the Arts Council of England.
Brian McMaster was awarded the CBE in 1987 and a knighthood in the 2003 New Year honours. He has received honorary doctorates from Bristol University (1989), University of Edinburgh (1995), Heriot-Watt University (2000), University of Glasgow (2001), Napier University (2002), RSAMD (2003) and University of Westminster (2005).
