Jonathan Dove
HONORARY PATRON
Since 2019, British composer Jonathan Dove has been Honorary Patron of Waterperry Opera Festival. In that time, the Festival has produced several of Dove’s works, most notably its acclaimed production of Mansfield Park. Jonathan Dove is one of the most performed living opera composers, with a career spanning over 30 operatic works. His breakthrough opera Flight (1998), commissioned by Glyndebourne, has had over 30 productions worldwide, while The Monster in the Maze and Tobias and the Angel demonstrate his commitment to community music-making, involving both professional and amateur performers. Dove’s understanding of the voice is evident in his choral and orchestral works, including A Song of Joys and Gaia Theory, which reflect his accessible, optimistic style. A 2008 Ivor Novello Award recipient and a CBE in 2019, Dove’s music continues to inspire audiences globally, with works such as In Exile (2021) and Gaspard’s Foxtrot engaging new generations of listeners.
Vivian Stolt
GENERAL MANAGER
Vivian is the General Manager of Waterperry Opera Festival. With a strong dedication to the business of classical music and opera, and a proven track record in managing the strategic, financial, and operational dimensions of classical music and arts festivals, Vivian is deeply driven by strategic growth, financial sustainability, and operational excellence as they pertain to arts organisations.
Vivian holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Columbia University, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the Sibelius Academy in Finland and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
Vivian has built an accomplished and versatile career working with arts organizations across Finland and internationally, most recently acting as the Managing Director of the Finnish Kamarikesä Chamber Music Festival, leading the 20-year-old festival to record-breaking growth in operations, audience engagement, fundraising, and revenue while fostering partnerships with companies including Lexus Luxury Vehicles, the Finnish National Museum, and the Helsinki and Stockholm Houses of Nobility. Previously, she has also held operational leadership roles at the Mänttä Music Festival and KesäVirrat Soi Festival.
Past experiences internationally include positions at the Metropolitan Opera’s Executive Office, as well as at the Development Departments of New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater. She has also contributed to the 2024 International Performing Arts Society Conference and volunteered with the Metropolitan Opera’s Youth Engagement programs, supporting initiatives such as the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition and Access Opera: Guild Open Rehearsals for Students.
In Finland, she remains actively involved with the Finnish String Academy, which provides extracurricular education for exceptionally gifted young musicians, and serves on the Board of the Helsinki-based Lauttasaari Music Festival.
As a professional violinist, Vivian has performed with nearly all of Finland’s leading symphony orchestras, including the Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.
Driven by a strong vision and committed to support Waterperry Opera Festival in achieving its strategic and operational goals, Vivian firmly believes in the next generation's ability to reshape and redefine the world of opera and classical music, driving a more dynamic, business driven and globally connected industry while expanding its reach to broader and more diverse audiences than ever before. Agility, ambition, innovation, and a commitment to opera and classical music on the highest level are values that define her leadership and career so far.
Outside of work, Vivian enjoys her newfound love for boxing and dreams of one day running the London Marathon. She loves a good book, great food and, of course, opera. Her favorite opera is Strauss’s masterpiece “Salome”.
Rebecca Meltzer
CO- DIRECTOR OF YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMME
Rebecca Meltzer is one of the founding directors of the Waterperry Opera Festival and now runs their acclaimed Young Artist Programme alongside Ashley Beauchamp (Head of Music). As an Opera Director, Movement Director and Choreographer her work is celebrated for its honest storytelling and physically driven agenda. She has worked with companies across the UK and internationally including the Royal Opera, Scottish Opera, Garsington Opera, Opera Holland Park, Buxton International Festival, Wexford Festival and New Zealand Opera. Notable credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BBC Proms/Garsington), Andrea Chénier (Theatre St Galen), Vanessa (Spoletto Festival) and Mala Vita & L’oracollo (Wexford Festival). For WOF she has directed The Turn of the Screw, Svadba, Ariel, Hansel and Gretel and Mansfield Park. Alongside her work as an opera creative, Rebecca is a passionate educator having taught in conservatoires across the UK. She is also an avid landscape painter and recently exhibited work with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters at the Mall Galleries in London.
Sue Wilkinson OBE
TRUSTEE
Sue has held a number of prominent roles within arts and education. She was Chief Executive of The Reading Agency from January 2014-19. Prior to that she was Director of UK, Academic and Government Alliances at Elsevier and Director of Policy at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. Sue read History at Clare College Cambridge, trained as a teacher and did a post-graduate certificate course in museum education. She was awarded an MBE for services to education and museums and an OBE for services to literature and libraries.
Sebastian Munden
TRUSTEE
Sebastian Munden is Chair of environmental NGO WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme), which partners businesses and governments globally, promoting the circular economy, and tackling the causes of climate change, waste and pollution in the food, consumer products and textile systems. He is also Chair of Ad Net Zero, the advertising industry’s global programme to deliver net zero ways of working and promote more sustainable behaviours, products, and services. Sebastian was chief executive of Unilever UK & Ireland until 2022. With 32 years’ experience in FMCG, he held senior roles in Unilever across Europe and North America, was leader of the Laundry Category for Europe & ANZ, and head of Global Marketing Operations. He is a passionate supporter of classical music, Harlequins rugby club and vegetarian cooking.
Roger Dix
TREASURER/TRUSTEE
Roger joined the board of trustees as Treasurer in late 2021. Professionally, he worked in Life Insurance, most recently as a Chief Risk Officer of a small life office, and is an actuary by profession. He is also is active in progressing the Inclusion and Diversity agenda, acting as mentor, adviser and lecturer, playing his part in delivering better outcomes to all. In addition to a love of Opera and Lieder he is a keen skier and baker, being the proud recipient of several local horticultural show trophies for his endeavours.
John Meltzer
TRUSTEE
John is a lawyer with many years of experience acting for companies and trade associations in international litigation and the management of corporate legal risk. He was a partner in the law firm Hogan Lovells International for over 25 years. He is a student and teacher in the School of Philosophy and Economic Science, which owns Waterperry House and Gardens, and has an interest in promoting the value of philosophy in improving our day to day lives and addressing the challenges of modern society. John serves on the board of several charities in the education and arts sectors.
Jeremy Young
TRUSTEE
Jeremy qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand. His career has focused on Finance and IT, and he has extensive project, programme and change management experience. He was Finance Director for DHL’s Global IT Division, Chief Operating Officer at Bibendum Wine Ltd, and worked as a consultant for Price Waterhouse and as an independent. He is now following his passion for opera and music both as a documentary film producer, and as a supporter of the arts.
Howard Gatiss
TRUSTEE
Howard Gatiss grew up in York and graduated in Economics from Trinity College, Cambridge. His career in the energy industry has given him the opportunity to live in countries as diverse as Colombia, Vietnam, China and Ireland. He was for fifteen years a Trustee of Saigon Children’s Charity (SCC), the last seven years as Chairman. SCC is a small charity which works to alleviate poverty in Vietnam by trying to ensure that all children have access to full-time education. His interest in opera was kindled by seeing Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea whilst still at school. He is a strong supporter of the festivals in Sarasota and Glimmerglass, a Champion of Irish National Opera, and on the Board of Opera North. Travel to these houses contributes to the 90 or so operas he sees each year.
Giles Bethule
TRUSTEE
Giles joined our Board of Trustees in May 2023. His enthusiasm for opera was sparked by seeing a performance of Pelléas et Mélisande in 2018. He first came to Waterperry in 2021 and was bowled over by its mission and vision. A PR specialist by profession, Giles is an Associate Director at FGS Global – a premier strategic communications firm – where he advises public and private companies on M&A, IPOs, crises, litigation, internal communications, and corporate positioning. He founded Cast & Lane, a fashion company focused on elegant casual wear for men, in 2021 and has built a strong and engaged community of customers spanning some 20 countries globally. Giles holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the London School of Economics, where he graduated as a Simon Morris Scholar and winner of several mooting competitions.
Judith Tew
TRUSTEE/CHAIRMAN
Judith graduated in Mathematics from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She is a Chartered Accountant with a broad range of experience in a variety of leadership roles in Finance, Banking and Insurance. After qualification as an accountant in London with PwC, she pursued a Finance career with HSBC UK where she was Group Chief Accountant. She spent over 15 years working in the insurance industry, in AXA, as Risk & Compliance Director and Development & Change Director for AXA Health. In addition to her commercial roles at AXA, Judith was mentor to the AXA graduate scheme. Judith’s passion for opera dates back to childhood and she has been a keen supporter and regular opera goer ever since. In addition to opera, Judith’s main interests are in music more broadly, theatre, education and the environment. She is Governor of a Kent grammar school, Director of a Kent theatre and Deputy Chair of the Oxford University Alumni Board. Judith lives in Kent with her husband and has two grown-up children.
Alicia Hunt
SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING OFFICER
Having been introduced to the world of opera and classical music at a very young age as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, Alicia is delighted to now be working within the field and with such an exciting organisation. As Marketing and Social Media Officer, she engages with both returning and new audiences, whether digitally or in person, and is passionate about promoting accessible opera to all generations. Currently in her third year at university studying Music, Alicia has sung with The Choir of Royal Holloway, National Youth Choir and The Raven Opera Company, most recently playing Dido in Dido and Aeneas. In 2023, Alicia co-founded vocal ensemble Hemiola, and the group are excited to be touring throughout 2024 at various venues and choir festivals. In her spare time, she enjoys running and trying new recipes for her family.
Amy Farrant
MARKETING CONSULTANT
For over 25 years, Amy has worked in global events and touring, having worked on various brands, concerts, festivals and tours for the world’s largest entertainment companies. Most recently she served as CMO at BBC Earth Experience, KOKO and Secret Cinema. Previous companies include Live Nation, Disney and AEG Live.
Imogen Baker
AUDIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Imogen Baker is the Audience and Engagement Manager at the Waterperry Opera Festival. She is dedicated to creating inclusive and welcoming experiences for audiences of all backgrounds. A passionate advocate for accessible music-making, Imogen brings her experience as a performer and educator to her work, fostering connections between audiences and opera. She balances this role with advanced opera studies at the Swiss Opera Studio in Biel, Switzerland, and an active singing career, with highlights including performances at Wigmore Hall and the Italian Cultural Institute in London and collaborations with Glyndebourne Opera Lab and the Royal Academy of Music’s Opera Makers programme. Imogen looks forward to continuing her work with Waterperry’s audiences throughout the 2025 Season.
Jack Boissieux
PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CONSULTANT
Jack runs a production management company working across theatre, opera, dance, musicals and events. He has worked on national and international touring productions, West End musicals and immersive / site specific theatre. Recent and current credits include The Choir Of Man (West End and International Touring), Bluey's Big Play (International Touring), Head Of Production @ Waterperry Opera Festival, Pied Piper (National Touring), How To Win Against History (National Tour), Weather Girl (Soho Theatre), Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen (Bush Theatre and International Touring), A Very Naughty Christmas (Southwark Playhouse, Elephant), The Show On The Roof (Kings Head Theatre), Wilko (Queen's Theatre Hornchurch), Lay Down Your Burdens (Barbican and National Touring), Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew (Bush Theatre), Lost Lending Library and A Curious Quest (Punchdrunk), Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas (Apollo Theatre), Berlusconi (Southwark Playhouse, Elephant), The Borrowers (Theatre By The Lake), An Improbable Musical (National Touring), Habibti Driver (Octagon Theatre), Saving Face (Curve and National Touring), LAVA (Soho Theatre and National Touring) and the Annual Fundraising Gala for the National Youth Theatre.
Ashley Beauchamp
HEAD OF MUSIC, CO- DIRECTOR OF YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMME
Ashley has worked with Waterperry Opera Festival every year since their inaugural season as a conductor, musical director, coach and repetiteur. He joined the team as Head of Music and Co-Director of the Young Artist Programme in 2022. He has worked on over 30 different productions for companies including the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Garsington, Nevill Holt, Music Theatre Wales and Blackheath Halls. He is Music Director of the Glyndebourne Youth Opera programme and Thames Opera Company. Hugely passionate about music education and participation, Ashley regularly runs workshops and projects across the UK, introducing thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds to opera every year. Ashley has worked as a musical director for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and as a staff pianist for the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Bertie Baigent
FESTIVAL MUSIC DIRECTOR
Bertie has been Music Director of Waterperry Opera Festival since 2017, where he has led performances ranging from mainstage operas and concerts, to children’s shows and multi-disciplinary, late night collaborations. Described as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ (Opera Magazine), he is committed to realising the expressive power of music to make opera a genre for the twenty-first century. In 2022 Bertie won the grand prix at the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam, conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Beyond Waterperry, recent performance highlights include Glyndebourne, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic, and Bruckner Orchester Linz among others. Bertie’s own opera Paradise Lost was premiered at Shipwright Theatre in London in 2022. Bertie read music at the University of Cambridge and completed a master’s in conducting at the Royal Academy of Music. In his spare time, Bertie enjoys cricket and cultivating his houseplants.
Guy Verrall-Withers
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CEO
Guy Verrall-Withers, originally from Bristol, discovered his passion for music and theatre as a boy treble and through youth theatre. His love for opera emerged during his teenage years, leading him to study Music at Cardiff University and further at the Royal Academy of Music, where he excelled as a tenor, winning multiple accolades. In 2017, Guy founded Waterperry Opera Festival, a platform for innovative opera-making. Under his leadership, the festival has produced 36 new productions in seven years, including acclaimed stagings for young audiences such as Peter Rabbit’s Musical Adventure (2018–2023) and Peter and the Wolf (2021–2022). His directorial highlights also include Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared (2022) and Dido & Aeneas (2023). Beyond Waterperry, Guy has collaborated with leading organisations like Glyndebourne, Opera Holland Park, and Mahogany Opera Group. He lives in Wimbledon with his wife, pursuing his lifelong commitment to accessible and innovative opera.