Who's Who

Artistic Director

Dougie, in collaboration with his wonderful team, oversees the artistic direction of the company, including long-term repertoire planning, orchestra, cast and creative teams and working closely with Nicola Creed, our Executive Director. Before embarking on a conducting career Dougie was a founder member and principal oboe of The Chamber Orchestra of Europe for 21 years. He is also Music Director of Orchestre de chambre de Paris and guest conducts all over the world. His wife Sally Pendlebury is a cellist in the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. Outside of music he is a political geek, an obsessive Crystal Palace fan and is making attempts to improve his French as well as raising three marvellous children.

Executive Director

Nicola became Executive Director in 2013 after 14 years as Associate Director. She shares the helm with Artistic Director Douglas Boyd and together they have developed increasingly high artistic standards and seen the expansion of the length of the festival and its membership by over 50% in the last six years. She was one of the core team managing the move to Wormsley, the design of the opera house and the appeal for £3.5million.

After graduating from Cambridge, where she was a choral scholar and cellist, Nicola joined Harold Holt before producing classical music festivals in Exeter, York, Salisbury and Chichester. Before joining Garsington she spent ten years with the National Trust and three with the Historic Houses Association overseeing large-scale events and membership.

Director of Artistic Administration

Michelle joined Garsington in the autumn of 2023, and she works closely with Dougie on all the artistic aspects of the organisation. Previously, Michelle held a number of roles at Scottish Opera, latterly as Head of Casting, before moving to ENO in 2016 to be their Head of Casting for 7 years. She studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is a fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme. When not at the opera, she enjoys running around after her toddler and trying her hand at dingy sailing!

Head of Music

Jonathon joined Garsington as Head of Music in 2018 and is responsible for ‘how the dots on the page reach the stage’.

He works closely with Dougie, Michelle, and Hannah throughout the year to realise all the musical elements of the festival. Passionate about the training of young singers, he is Music Director of the Garsington Young Artists’ Programme and Chorus Director of the Garsington Opera Chorus. He studied at Oxford and the Guildhall before joining the music staff of Scottish Opera and the Staatstheater Nürnberg. He is a keen gardener, naïve father, and regularly dreams of building a ride-on railway with his son in the garden.

Head of Planning & Company Management

Hannah started at Garsington in 2018, moving into her current role in September 2023, and manages all artistic planning and the running the Young Artist Programme, as well as looking after all of the Garsington artists. Hannah graduated from Durham University having completed a degree in Music and previously worked for the Royal College of Music and the Philharmonia Orchestra. She particularly enjoys working with young singers and regularly works as a careers consultant with the London music conservatoires. When not at the opera, Hannah can be found swimming at the lido or accompanied by her dog Arno the Schweenie.

Artistic Coordinator & Deputy Company Manager

Daisy joined the Garsington Opera Box Office & Membership team in January 2022 and now works in the Artistic team. After graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the summer of 2020, Daisy worked as Music Administrator in King Edward VI High School for Girls, Edgbaston. Alongside this, she has worked for several arts organisations in Birmingham, such as BMusic and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Daisy sang in the CBSO Chorus for 5 years before moving to Oxfordshire and also has a huge passion for Baroque opera. When not at work, Daisy enjoys the creative aspects of baking, cross-stitch and walks in the countryside.

Director of Communications, Marketing & External Relations

Lindsey joined Garsington Opera to lead the team delivering communications, marketing and external relations for the company. Having worked in arts marketing for over two decades, she has worked across different art-forms and in partnership with venues, festivals and funding bodies.

Previously Lindsey led the marketing and communications for Birmingham 2022 Festival, the six-month cultural festival which was part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and reached an audience of 2.4m people from diverse communities. Prior to that she worked for Arts Council England looking at evaluation tools for the industry. She spent 20 years working at Midlands Arts Centre, starting teaching youth theatre, and finishing as the Director of Marketing and Communications at the West Midlands Most Visited non-paying attraction.

Communications & Marketing Manager

Georgie joined Garsington Opera in 2020 after working at the London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. As Communications & Marketing Manager, she works on all aspects of Garsington’s communications including video content, social media, website, e-communications and print. As a singer and violinist, she completed a music degree at the University of York and still enjoys performing in a variety of choral ensembles. In her free time, Georgie enjoys baking, pencil drawing, and running or cycling in the countryside.

Studios & Communications Coordinator

Hugo joined the team at Garsington Opera in 2023, after having graduated with an MLitt from the University of St Andrews in 2022. Previously Hugo has taken a more creative, production-based role in theatre and the arts including the direction, assistant direction, and stage management of a wide range of theatre productions and genres, from traditional opera through new writing to site-specific performances. Away from work and the theatre, Hugo enjoys a variety of creative pursuits and practices, doing yoga, and is an avid reader who loves nothing more than a book, a bottle of wine, and an empty evening…

Press & PR Consultant

Anna Kenyon is a freelance press consultant who has worked for clients including Hyperion Records, the English Concert and the Ryedale Festival. She began her career at Faber Music. When not at the opera she is also to be found in the choir stalls of many of London’s churches, swimming in rivers, lakes and the sea, and enjoying the architecture and history of East London.

Communications & Marketing Assistant

Abby joined the company in September 2024 after graduating from Nottingham Trent University. Abby works alongside Georgie assisting with all aspects of Garsington’s communications, with a special interest in print and social media. As an opera novice she is excited to learn about the world of opera and immerse herself in the upcoming seasons.

Having studied Fashion Communication and Promotion at university, Abby has a love for all things arts, fashion and culture and in her spare time can often be found at exhibitions or local charity shops.

Development Director

Alison joined Garsington as Development Director in 2022 looking after all aspects of fundraising, membership, and box office, engaging our supporters and audiences in the many different aspects of our work from festival performances to school workshops. After studying music at university, Alison developed a career in arts fundraising and communications working with the London Symphony Orchestra, Harold Holt Artist Management, European Opera Centre, RADA, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and most recently 12 years with Welsh National Opera. Alison has a passion for “early” and “contemporary” music and before children, performed with amateur choirs and orchestras in London. Nowadays she enjoys the active approach to getting away from it all (and from the two teenagers) through rowing, swimming, hiking, travel, and fine dining.

Head of Philanthropy

Bryony is Head of Philanthropy at Garsington Opera – overseeing Memberships as well as raising funds for Productions and Go Participate. She has held similar roles at Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation. In her free time, she enjoys playing the violin and piano (but not for public consumption!) and hiking in the Lake District with her children.

Head of Corporate Development

Pippa has been responsible for the growth in corporate support at Garsington on a freelance basis since the move to Wormsley. With an Economics Masters from Cambridge and an MBA, she worked in investment banking, management consultancy, her family business – James Latham plc – and ran her own company secretarial business for quote companies. She has 4 Non-Executive Directorship roles and is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants. Pippa loves opera and choral works, riding, gardening, walking her dogs and sails regularly with her husband Fabian!

Philanthropy Officer

Dominic joined the Development Team in September 2024 but is no stranger to Garsington Opera. In 2018 he was an Alvarez Young Artist and performed in Die Zauberflöte, Falstaff and Capriccio having graduated with an Artist Diploma in Opera from the Royal Academy of Music. He took a step back from singing during the pandemic and re-trained in accountancy.  He is thrilled to be returning to Garsington to help assist the Director of Development and Head of Philanthropy with trust and foundation applications as well as supporting the membership however he can. In his free time he still loves to sing, ably duetted by his rescue greyhound Raffi.

Box Office & Operations Manager

Jack joined Garsington Opera in 2021 having previously worked in bookings and ticketing for Dartington Music Summer School, Coventry City of Culture and London Sinfonietta. A music graduate from the University of Surrey, he is a keen electric bass player and performs with various casual ensembles and function bands. Outside of work, Jack is a member of various railway preservation groups, a persistent amateur cook and a road trip aficionado.

Box Office Coordinator

Rachel joined Garsington Opera in November 2023 and is pleased to be continuing within the team as Box Office Coordinator from October 2024. Previously Rachel worked as the Music Administrator at St Helen & St Katharine School, having studied Popular Music at BIMM Institute in Bristol. As a singer, she has been involved in various choirs and bands, including Soul Choir at the University of Exeter. Outside of work, she tries her hand at tennis and the piano.

Development & Box Office Assistant 

Ella joined the Garsington team in September 2024 having previously worked as the Music Administrator at Pangbourne College and has spent her last few summers working in the Concerts team at the Edinburgh International Festival. A Music graduate from the University of York, Ella still plays the violin in her local orchestra and outside of work, she can be found drinking copious amounts of tea in the countryside, building Lego, and reading lots of books.

Box Office & Administrative Assistant

Joel joined Garsington Opera in November 2024 as Box Office & Administrative Assistant. Growing up in Buckinghamshire, he studied Vocal Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Quentin Hayes and graduated in 2021, before taking up a Choral Scholarship at Canterbury Cathedral between 2021 and 2022. As a singer, Joel currently holds a scholarship with the Wingrave Singers, is a regular singer with Aylesbury Opera, and deputises in numerous local choirs. He was previously a member of the National Youth Choir and returned as an alumnus to sing in his third BBC Proms performance with them in August 2024.

Away from all things musical, Joel is an avid sports fan – particularly cricket and football – noting that Wormsley has its very own Test match cricket ground and is a very short distance away from his beloved Wycombe Wanderers…

Chief Finance Officer

Pippa joined Garsington Opera in September 2024. She is a chartered accountant and after qualifying, found a role in the performing arts sector and hasn’t looked back. Pippa has held various roles in organisations, including The Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet and The Royal Shakespeare Company. She is a Trustee of the Russell Maliphant Dance Company and chairs the Finance Committee of the Kiln Theatre.

Outside of work, Pippa lives with her husband, two boys, two rabbits and a cat. She can often be found baking and wishing she was a better gardener than she is.

Finance Director

Carol joined Garsington Opera in March 2022 as Finance Director. She is a qualified chartered accountant with experience in financial reporting and accounting covering a variety of industries from start-up businesses to charities. Carol was previously Finance Director at the Oxford Playhouse. She holds a degree in Physics from Somerville College, Oxford and when not at work, enjoys singing with her local choir.

Finance Manager

Keziah joined Garsington in November 2020 as part of the Finance team. She trained as a Chartered Accountant with the National Audit Office, where they tried to put her off the whole thing by sending her to Kuwait on her first business trip. Many exciting overseas trips later, she moved to Deloitte, specialising in the audit of public sector organisations. She then held various other finance roles before having a career break to raise her family.

She lives in Wimbledon with her husband, two children and two cats. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, although she’s terrible at following recipes and shamelessly makes it up as she goes along.

Executive Assistant & Office Manager

Claire joined Garsington as Executive PA and Office Manager in April 2024. Since completing a degree in Archaeology & Ancient History and a Masters in Heritage Management at the University of Birmingham, Claire has worked in various executive support roles in the arts, heritage and education sectors, including at the Royal Opera House, the Rothschild Foundation and Trinity College Oxford. Away from work Claire can usually be found outside, either attempting to grow vegetables in her allotment or walking in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside.

Director of Operations at Wormsley

Angus has enjoyed a long association with Garsington Opera, working on a seasonal basis on the opera festivals since 1996. Before that, he worked in war-torn Bosnia, something that GO founder Leonard Ingrams thought might come in handy for resolving neighbourly disputes! In 2010-11 he was Project Manager for the successful move to Wormsley, where he is now the freelance Event Manager, responsible (as one friend kindly put it) for ‘bogs and boilers’. With a Masters in Renewable Energy, Angus has a keen interest in reducing our carbon footprint. He has a Chemistry degree from Oxford, is a qualified gas engineer, and is regularly found swimming in the River Thames throughout the winter in just his trunks!

Creative Director of Learning & Participation

In 2007 Karen started working with Garsington as a freelance artist working on various learning and participation projects. In 2011 she took on the additional consultancy role of Creative Director of the Learning & Participation Programme advising on the development of a strategy for L&P with the aim of devising an inspirational programme for all ages. She enjoys collaborating with such a passionate team. Karen also works as a freelance artist for many other opera houses in the UK and abroad and still occasionally finds time for family life.

Head of Learning & Participation

Judy is a freelance arts manager responsible for producing the GO Participate projects and community operas. She originally qualified as a teacher which was followed by an MA in European Cultural Policy and Administration. Previous roles include Orchestra Manager of the CBSO and Entertainment Manager at Legoland as well as many years spent as a peripatetic music teacher. Alongside Garsington she is the Lead Senior Arts Award moderator for Trinity College, London. She enjoys spending time with her family, all of whom have a great love of the outdoors and have perfected the art of camping in the rain…

Learning & Participation Producer

Barbara first joined Garsington Opera as a freelance chorister in the Monteverdi Vespers and then as a professional soloist in the Youth Company’s opera The Selfish Giant. Since then, she has also done some freelance admin and was delighted to join the L&P team full time in December 2022. Barbara grew up on Vancouver Island, Canada, before moving to Glasgow to train as a coloratura soprano at the RCS. She has greatly enjoyed a portfolio career as both singer and freelance administrator, even moonlighting as video & sound editor for a number of choirs during lockdown. Outside of Garsington, Barbara’s pursuits include working in her garden, building things with power tools, and curating the Instagram of her two cats, Bunbury and Cecily.

Technical Director

Steve is responsible for all technical aspects of Garsington Opera’s productions. He works closely with directors, designers and heads of lighting, costume, wigs and props to realise all design elements of each production. He particularly enjoys working with independent set builders and scenic artists from around the country to produce the varied and ambitious set designs. He recruits and manages the seasonal stage management and production teams and oversees the technical running of the repertory season. In his free time Steve likes to go camping and walking with his young family.

Production Co-ordinator

Rowan joined Garsington in Feb. 2024 as an all year-round support for Steve and the technical department.  She brings with her many years of experience as stage management for both opera and straight theatre, as well as senior arts administration positions in both theatre and the wider arts and events industry.  She is delighted to now find herself back at the heart of her first love, a producing company, where, alongside all the administration required to keep a busy technical department going, she looks after all our seasonal technical staff that grows to some seventy people during our summer season.

When she isn’t working Rowan shares her love of theatre with her husband and two daughters, and shares her house with far too many pets!

Chair

Miranda Curtis spent her executive career in global media and telecoms at Liberty Media, where she led Liberty’s international investments, principally in Japan. On retiring she joined the board of Liberty Global, and also serves on the board of Liberty Latin America. Her UK roles have included Chairman of Waterstones, Chair of Camfed International, and Deputy Chair of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Miranda is a Trustee of the Institute for Government and was Lead Non Executive for the Foreign Office. Miranda has been Deputy Chair of Garsington Opera since 2012 and is a long-standing supporter of Garsington’s productions. Miranda assumed her position as Garsington Board Chair in January 2023.

Deputy Chair

Neil King KC read History and Economics at New College, Oxford. He was called to the Bar in 1980, became a QC in 2000, and during more than 40 years in practice specialised in planning and environmental law. He met Leonard Ingrams in 2002 to discuss some planning issues that were troubling GO at the time, and was invited to become a trustee shortly afterwards. He has been passionate about opera since being taken to Verdi’s Nabucco when he was 14. He also enjoys singing, walking, golfing, and being in Italy.

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood is the 14th Principal of the Royal Academy of Music and was appointed in 2008. Alongside his commitment to education, he is also a recording producer, freelance trumpet player (with 13 solo albums), writer and broadcaster, and holds a Professorship at the University of London. Educated at the Universities of Toronto and Oxford, Jonathan has for over a quarter of a century held senior posts at the Academy, launching pioneering programmes, and major international relationships. He is a trustee of Garsington Opera and chairs its Artistic Advisory Committee. He was appointed CBE in the New Year of 2018.

Nigel Higgins is Group Chairman of Barclays plc. Prior to Barclays Nigel had a 36-year career at Rothschild & Co, with a decade as Chief Executive.
He is Chairman of Sadler’s Wells, the world’s No. 1 venue dedicated to international dance; a Non-Executive Director of Tetra Laval Group, a major global group focused on technologies for the efficient production, packaging and distribution of food. He is a member of, and former co-head of the UK group of, the Trilateral Commission.

Bio to follow

Bio to follow

After leaving school in Athens, Medina Marks read French and German at Brasenose College, Oxford, and subsequently law at City University. She was called to the Bar in 1992 and practised as a barrister for a number of years before leaving to bring up her family of five children. Since then, she has been involved in property in the UK and abroad. Her charity work has been extensive, primarily with Action For Children, Watlington Hospital Charitable Trust and London Children’s Ballet. She is an ardent lover of opera and has been a keen supporter of Garsington since its early days at Garsington Manor.

Gary Powell joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director of Garsington Opera in July 2024. Gary has a long professional career in law, investment banking, strategy and, latterly, investment management. He has wide governance experience within Rothschild & Co, where he has regulatory responsibility for legal, risk, compliance and operations, and without, where he has served on boards in the private and charitable sector. A long-time supporter of the arts, he has served on the board of a community theatre in Hackney and, more recently, The Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Gary is a Non-Executive Director of Argenta Syndicate Management Limited. Gary has a lifelong passion for music, having been a chorister at Cambridge and at Chester Cathedral, and is also a pianist. He is an avid opera enthusiast, with a particular love of Wagner.

Lady Stringer was first introduced to opera while a medical student in London with the ENO at the Coliseum, and since then has been a committed patron and champion of opera, from the MET and NYC Opera to Rome and now at Garsington Opera. Alongside this, Lady Stringer had a long, rewarding career in medical dermatology and research, working at the Medical Faculty at Columbia and the Bellevue Medical Centre during the AIDS crisis before joining the private practice of Medical Dermatology with an associate. She returned to England and retired in 2002 and since then she has attended Garsington Opera every year, supporting the relocation to Wormsley, creation of Garsington Studios alongside individual productions.