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”.
