The Team — OperaUpClose

Flora is a highly experienced and respected performer, facilitator and producer. She became Artistic Director of OperaUpClose in 2022 following a long association with the company singing multiple roles to great critical acclaim. Other performing credits include, for Longborough Festival Opera: Waltraute (Die Walkure), Wellgunde (Das Rheingold), Dryade & cover Komponist (Ariadne auf Naxos), and cover Brangane (Tristan und Isolde); Das Lied von Der Erde (English National Ballet, tour/London Coliseum); Pauline in Gounod’s Polyeucte (UK premiere); Romeo I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Grimeborn/BBC).
Flora is passionate about co-creation, opening the creative process to audiences and local communities, and developing lasting multi-disciplinary partnerships across all creative industries.

Ally joined OperaUpClose as Executive Producer in March 2023. She has over ten years of experience working in the classical music and opera sector as a producer and administrator and was previously Executive Manager of Mahogany Opera. Ally is hugely inspired by the work of OperaUpClose and its ambitious plans for the future and is excited to have joined its brilliant team! She is currently a trustee for intersectional feminist opera company HERA led by Toria Banks and Linda Hirst. In her spare time Ally drums for Simon & the Spears and plays clarinet and is on the committee for Dulwich Symphony Orchestra.

Bridget is a consultant and producer with over twenty years of experience developing and delivering arts and cultural projects and programmes. Alongside her role with OperaUpClose she is working with one of our partners, writer development agency ArtfulScribe, as Associate Executive Director. Previously she has been Artistic Director for Hampshire Cultural Trust’s arts centres and worked both locally and nationally as a producer and manager with major cultural institutions, community organisations, schools, councils, and independent artists, including Little Soldier Productions, Emma Frankland, Emergency Exit Arts, Fuel, Oily Cart, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Theatre Royal Plymouth and the Shakespeare Schools Festival.

Abi is starting her apprenticeship through OperaUpClose at the MAST, she has always been ambitious and passionate towards the Arts and Theatre industry and has therefore been chosen to start her exciting new career with us.
She will be helping with day to day tasks alongside the team, whilst also learning independently, expanding her knowledge to being a successful and effective Producer.

Enya Angell, transitioning from her role as a stage manager, now serves as the Company Administrator at OperaUpClose. With a wealth of knowledge amassed from her time in the wings, Enya ensures the smooth functioning of daily affairs while actively supporting the company's long-term objectives. Her journey from backstage to the administrative office underscores her commitment to OperaUpClose's success, both on and off the stage.

Emily Jundi has recently joined OperaUpClose as Trusts and Foundations Manager. She has many years’ experience working in the charity sector as a fundraiser and development consultant, both in the UK and abroad. As new social and environmental movements brew, she’s excited about the role the arts have to play in opening up dialogue and inspiring change, and looks forward to supporting OperaUpClose’s sustainable growth in the coming years. In her free-time Emily enjoys playing her cello, painting and walking in the New Forest, where she lives.

Charith Cabraal is a Chartered Accountant and senior finance manager in the NHS. He previously spent a number years as a financial and commercial adviser at Deloitte. He has worked extensively across both the private and public sectors, delivering strategic solutions to financial and operational challenges on projects across education, energy, healthcare and defence. He currently works on improving productivity in the health sector in London.

Amanda Ariss is the former Executive Director of Creative Diversity Network, leaving the organisation in October 2016 to pursue a freelance career. Amanda joined the CDN from the Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF) where she had been Chief Executive since 2008. She is a recognised national executive leader in equality and human rights in the UK, and among other achievements she helped to secure the 2010 Equality Act. She has previously been Head of Research at the Equal Opportunities Commission, Associate Director at the Audit Commission, and has held various policy roles in London Boroughs and Greater London Councils. Amanda received an OBE in recognition of her services to equality and human rights, in the New Year’s Honours List 2016.

Clare spent several decades in roles in corporate relations in the financial services sector, most latterly with Barclays PLC. She is now a freelance consultant focusing on reputation risk management and communications, experience she hopes she brings to bear working with OperaUpClose. She has been a board member of a Hong Kong arts education charity, AFTEC, and is currently on the Advisory Board of Sensational Foundation, also in Hong Kong. When circumstances allow, Clare enjoys amateur dramatics, performing under various arches around Waterloo Station, but her great interest is in opening opera up to more diverse and younger audiences – she can’t sing or read a note, but is a real enthusiast.

Carolyn Ward has extensive trustee experience, currently serving on the board of the Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick, on the board of Soho Theatre (2010-20) and Help Musicians UK (2015-17) and as a founding patron and board member of the Legacy List, the Mayoral post-Olympic charity (2011-14).

Joe McFadden is a digital and technology expert in the arts, and was the Chief Technology Officer at the Royal Opera House as well as IT Director at the National Theatre. He has also worked in senior technology roles in startups, Healthcare and Education.
He is now the founder of GetZero.earth, a new education technology platform aiming to inspire and encourage more young people into green careers. Joe sits on the OperaUpClose Finance Committee and is our Steering Trustee for Environmental Responsibility.

Matthew Lyons has been developing and producing Children's, Youth and Community Theatre with Chickenshed as well as leading on its Level 3 BTEC courses for over twenty years and in that time has been involved in the development of over forty performances and numerous other projects and festivals. He brings with him an extensive experience in working in arts education and community participation and the process of initiating, planning and creating theatre and education opportunities with and for young people is at the heart of his practice.

With a special affinity to Italian bel canto and the English baroque, John Andrews has conducted productions for Opera Holland Park, Garsington Opera, The Grange Festival, English Touring Opera and the Volkstheater Rostcock. He is principal guest conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra and works frequently with the BBC Concert Orchestra and English Symphony Orchestra. His recordings of neglected English music, including works by Thomas Arne, Sir Arthur Sullivan and Alfred Cellier, have won widespread acclaim. His most recent recording of Malcolm Arnold’s ’The Dancing Master’ was Editor’s Choice in Gramophone.