Guildford Opera Company
Musical Director
Francis
succeeds a variety of distinguished musicians, including John Avery,
who led GOC for twenty years during the period when it forged a unique
relationship with the former WRAC Staff Band which continued until its
disbandment in 1992. Elinor Corp of Goldsmith's College then took up
the baton, conducting Carmen at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, and 'Cav
& Pag' at the Civic Hall. Christopher Findlay led the company's
first production at the newly-opened Electric Theatre
while Peter White, Director of Music at Guildford's Royal Grammar
School, conducted many of the operas at the Civic. GOC was then
led by Oliver Parker of the University of Surrey, who took up a
position as Choirmaster at an Episcopal organisation in Connecticut in
January 2005. Kevin John became Musical Director in Autumn 2003
until Spring 2009, continuing the wide variety of repertoire, and
finishing his time with Guildford Opera with a well received semi-staged performance of The Magic Flute.
Francis
Griffin studied the horn at the Royal College of Music. He started
conducting shortly after leaving college and has worked with Operatic
Societies and Orchestras throughout England. He has conducted in the
South Bank and Barbican centres. Performances have included Ein Heldenleben, Rachmaninov’s Symphony Dances, Turandot, Cav and Pag. He has conducted numerous performances of Cosi fan Tutte in the UK and on the continent. He conducted much acclaimed productions of The Tales of Hoffmann, Eugene Onegin, The Force of Destiny and The Merry Widow with White Horse Opera in Devizes and Ballo in Maschera with Guildford Opera.
Polina Gerasimenko, our pianist
Polina Gerasimenko
was born and educated in Russia, where she graduated with distinction
from Stavropol College of Arts and Saratov State Conservatoire. She was
taught by Prof. Nathan Benditsky, a second generation musical
descendant of Heinrich Neuhaus, Moscow Conservatoire¢s renowned
pedagogue. Polina has been performing extensively and has won various
awards, including Ensemble and Accompanist Prizes in the South Russia
Chamber Music Competition. In 2005 Polina moved to Surrey, England,
where she is teaching piano to children and adults as well as
performing with Guildford Opera Company, various singers and
instrumentalists.
He has conducted several premières of works by Joe St Johanser and has recorded excerpts of his opera The Tempest with the London Sinfonietta. For more information see www.FrancisGriffin.com.