Bass-baritone, director, and Trinity Laban vocal studies alum John Savournin has been named CEO and Artistic Director of Waterperry Opera Festival, replacing Guy Verrall-Withers who leaves in September to join The Grange Festival. He will join the festival in September, following on after its “biggest season so far”.
John joins Waterperry Opera Festival from his current position of CEO and Artistic Director of Charles Court Opera. As a bass-baritone, he performed the role of Peter Quincein in Garsington Opera’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the BBC Proms last year, and The Pirate King in English National Opera’s The Pirates of Penzance. He is the current CEO of Charles Court Opera, whose production The Barber of Seville was nominated for this year’s OffWestEnd awards in the production category. Most recently, his stage director credits include Scottish Opera’s production of The Merry Widow and Trial by Jury. John studied at Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban), where he was awarded the Founder’s Prize for Excellence and the Paul Simms Opera Prize.
Judith Tew, chair of Waterperry Opera’s Board of Trustees, said: “John brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and energy to Waterperry to lead the next phase of our rapid growth as a festival and a developer of the next generation of talent in opera. He is passionate about our mission to introduce new audiences to opera and bring on new performers and creatives.”
John Savournin said: “I have always greatly admired Waterperry Opera Festival, and I look forward to working with co-founders Rebecca Meltzer and Bertie Baigent to build on its success. I’m excited to be a part of shaping Waterperry’s future, from touring and collaboration, the expansion of outreach projects, to new, accessible commissions. Waterperry is a leading light for the future of opera and the vital development of new audiences, and I’m very much looking forward to getting started.”