Lewis Gaston (www.lewisgaston.co) works as a conductor in the UK and abroad. His work has been recognised in international competitions, masterclasses and he enjoys a schedule of work that combines performance and research. As well as conducting across the UK he has worked with the Brasov Philarmonic (Romania), Toscana Classica Orchestra (Italy), Berlin Sinfonietta (Germany), Camerata di Fiorentina (Italy) and the State Opera Rousse (Bulgaria). Lewis is currently Music Director/Assistant Music Director to a number of orchestras and opera companies within the UK.
Lewis is Music Director to the English Schools’ Orchestra and Assistant Musical Director to the Easter Orchestral Society. He works as Guest Conductor to orchestras around the country.
Lewis specialises in Opera conducting with a repertoire of around 50 operas. As a lecturer and conductor for Opera Prelude, Lewis has given the UK premiere of Mercadante’s opera Don Chisciotte alle nozze di Gamaccio and lectured on a wide variety of opera subjects.
Valeria began her career as a singer and actress in Italy while studying Piano Accompaniment and Opera Studies (BA) at the local Conservatoire, where she specialized in classical piano, classical singing, jazz, opera and musical theatre. Graduating in 2016, her award-winning thesis on Mantova’s opera theatre and the Italian Risorgimento was published by LIM. She later earned an MA in Musical Theatre from the Royal Academy of Music (DipRAM, 2018) and an MSc in Music Psychology and Neuroscience from Goldsmiths, University of London.
As a performer, Valeria has appeared on stage and screen for the Barbican Centre, BBC, Channel 4, Abbey Road, and BBC Radio. She has also worked as a music psychologist and consultant for BBC Sounds, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and her own company, Nine Lyrae.
Her transition to directing began in 2018, focusing on immersive and experimental media. Her project The Synaesthesia Room was a finalist at Cannes Film Festival’s XR Development Showcase. She expanded into opera, completing an MA in Opera Directing at Verona Opera Academy. In 2022, she assisted on Turandot at the Arena di Verona under Zeffirelli’s production. Her UK directorial debut, Lucia di Lammermoor (Instant Opera), led to subsequent productions of La Traviata, Il Tabarro/Rita, and Turandot (2025). Recent directing credits include Macbeth (Uncovered Opera), Suor Angelica (Opera Greenwich), Aida (Guildford Opera) and La Bohème (Amick Productions, and Opera Greenwich).
Valeria was 2023 Artist in Residence at Brunel University, where she explored multisensory art and neurodiversity, producing the International Synaesthesia Art Exhibition at London’s OXO Tower. She presented her research on synaesthesia at the 2024 International Synaesthesia Conference at Oxford University. Currently, she is Creative Projects Coordinator at the University of Westminster, curating live performances while continuing her directing and singing work.
She is Artistic Director of Opera Greenwich, leading its Emerging Artist Development Programme and Greenwich Theatre residency. Valeria is delighted to be working with Guildford Opera again.
Judith Flint L.R.A.M. – Accompanist – Judith studied piano accompanying, clarinet and singing at the Royal Academy of Music. Since leaving in 1976, she has worked as a freelance accompanist for singers and instrumentalists, and as a rehearsal pianist for choral, opera and dance groups. Having lived previously in New Malden, Surrey, Judith now lives near Guildford and is rehearsal pianist for Park Opera, as well as for Guildford Opera. She is also a regular accompanist for concerts arranged by Music in Hospitals.