Longborough Festival Opera has appointed Andrew Mosely as non-executive chair to its board of trustees. The move comes as the Cotswold-based organisation prepares to mount all four parts of Wagner’s Ring cycle in 2024, as well as a new production of Puccini's La Bohème.
Mosely spent more than 30 years in corporate leadership roles in the UK and US until his retirement in 2020. He is currently chairman of a Swedish management consultancy and a trustee and treasurer of the Cosman Keller Art and Music Trust. He was awarded a BA in Opera Studies in 2020 and is currently researching for a PhD at Newcastle University in the intersection of opera, surrealism and gender.
He succeeds Lizzie Graham, who served as interim chair for one year following her husband and Longborough co-founder Martin Graham, who stepped down after 20 years in the post. They will retain a close interest in all aspects of Longborough's continuing success. Their daughter Polly remains as Artistic Director, with Jennifer Smith as executive director and Leo Graham as a trustee,
"This is an exciting time," Mosely said. "Our artists and musicians are in outstanding form, and, under the Artistic leadership of Polly Graham, we have continued energy and a fresh vision for taking forward the commitment to excellence and innovation which has characterised Longborough's work since the festival was co-founded by Martin and Lizzie Graham in 1991."
Over the last 30 years, the Grahams have gradually converted and updated a set of agricultural buildings to establish what has been described as an English Bayreuth in the heart of the Cotswolds.