Meet Our Dedicated Festival Team
Discover the passionate professionals guiding your journey with expertise and heart.
James Platt
Artistic Director & Vocal Consultant
James runs a successful private teaching studio alongside his work as an international bass soloist and as the senior vocal consultant at Mascarade Opera Studio, Florence. He is Company Director of Performance Craft Collective Ltd.
Gavin Carr
Choral Director
Gavin is recognised as one of the UK’s leading choral conductors, specialising in working with major symphony choruses and orchestras to bring the best of the great British choral tradition to music old and new.
Francesca Platt
Festival Producer
Francesca has previously worked for the Royal Ballet & Opera, New English Ballet Theatre, Vienna Festival Ballet & Classical Voice Training Limited. She is Executive Director of Performance Craft Collective Ltd.
Our 2026 Faculty
An exceptional group of artists and teachers working with you across the Festival this summer.
Sophie Bevan MBE
Soprano & Vocal Coach
Sophie is one of her generation’s leading lyric sopranos, acclaimed in opera, concert and recital worldwide, and recipient of major awards including the Critics’ Circle and International Opera Awards.
Jennifer Davis
Soprano & Vocal Coach
Jennifer has been propelled to international attention following a series of sensational role debuts, earning praise for her gleaming, silvery tone, and dramatic characterisations of remarkable immediacy.
Ben Johnson
Tenor & Vocal Coach
Acclaimed tenor Ben Johnson enjoys a varied career as a singer, conductor, teacher and artistic director of Cambridge Summer Music Festival & Southrepps Music Festival.
Victoria Simmonds
Mezzo-Soprano & Vocal Coach
Victoria is an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano, renowned for creating leading roles in contemporary opera and performing at major houses and festivals worldwide.
Kelvin Lim
Repertoire Coach
Kelvin Lim is one of the UK’s most sought-after vocal coaches and conductors, known especially for his expertise in the dramatic repertoire of Wagner and Strauss
Julia Lynch
Répétiteur, Pianist & Vocal Coach
Julia Lynch is Artistic Director of Mascarade Opera, Florence, was senior vocal coach at the Royal Conservatoire for Scotland for nearly three decades and is a sought-after vocal coach and recital partner.
Michael Pugh
Repertoire Coach
Michael Pugh is a multifaceted British pianist, vocal coach, and educator whose artistry and international collaborations have earned him widespread recognition.
Lada Valešová
Repertoire & Russian/Czech Language Coach
Czech/British musician Lada Valešová has an international reputation in opera and classical music as a conductor, collaborative pianist, vocal coach and musical director.