Can you tell us about your role at OHP?
I started with Opera Holland Park in May 2023 as Development Coordinator, and I will be working closely with our Ambassadors and Young Artist supporters. It has been a privilege to meet some of our most loyal patrons this past season and hear why they care so deeply about supporting opera. It is also encouraging to know that there are so many people who are passionate about nurturing young talent in the industry, and I am delighted to help facilitate their support for our Young Artist scheme.

What were you doing before you began working here?
Before joining Opera Holland Park, I was living in Sheffield having finished my Masters degree in Music Management. I worked part-time for a local charity that provided tuition for talented young musicians and also in the Learning team for Sheffield Museums Trust. Experiencing first-hand how important the work of charities are for communities and young people in particular was so inspiring to me, so I was therefore thrilled at the opportunity to begin a full-time role in fundraising and development for OHP. Not only am I now in one of the UK’s best cities for art & culture, I can also enjoy an art form I have always admired!

How did your first OHP season go? Was there anything that surprised you this summer?
My first season was an incredible experience. I think it went by so quickly, which surprised me, and I definitely underestimated how busy it would keep me! Of course, getting to watch our operas was a highlight, but getting an exclusive insight into the workings of OHP from Day 1 was truly an honour. Seeing how hard everyone worked to deliver an entire season of high quality opera – from the team, volunteers, backstage crew, artists and front of house staff – it was an unforgettable experience that reminded me why I love working in the arts so much.

Is there anything you’d like to see on the OHP stage?
I personally love the crossover between opera and Greek and Roman mythology, something I remember studying at University, so I am very excited for Acis and Galatea next season and hope to see L’Orfeo, Elektra or Dido and Aeneas in future! I would also love to see more contemporary operas at OHP too. I had the fantastic opportunity to surtitle Errollyn Wallen’s 2021 opera Dido’s Ghost when it played at Buxton International Festival, and I loved that it was a new sequel that still paid homage to the classic tale. I would love for Errollyn to bring that to OHP audiences!

Why do you believe it is important for people to support the arts, and particularly opera, at the moment?
With everything going on in the world, it is so important to support the arts. It is an underfunded and underappreciated industry, and opera is just one art form that is still so misunderstood by people who dismiss it before they even try it! Even the most lavish and opulent operas can be affordable and accessible to enjoy, and keeping opera and the arts alive in our communities is something that, along with my colleagues and our incredible members and supporters, I stand by wholeheartedly. Also, enjoying and participating in the arts simply makes us feel good! It boosts mental health, increases our creativity, and allows us to support our community projects and local talent.

What do you like to do outside of work and opera?
At the moment, and as I am still relatively new to the city, I am exploring as much of London as I can. I’m really enjoying walking around the gorgeous green spots with my friends (including Holland Park) and I am vegan so I am also constantly seeking out new vegan restaurants and cafes to add to my seemingly never-ending list, which I am not complaining about! Other than opera, I love attending live music and musical theatre shows. I have also recently joined a local choir having sung in choirs for most of my life, and I want to join several more in the New Year.

 

Interview by Lucy Hicks Beach