People
Executive Team
George Vass Artistic Director
After training at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music, George has had a successful career as an orchestral and choral conductor for most of his life, specialising in the performance of contemporary music. He was invited to form a Presteigne Festival Orchestra in 1989 and took up his appointment as Artistic Director of the Festival in 1993, having concurrently served the Hampstead and Highgate Festival (2004-2009). He is Artistic Director of Nova Music Opera and Orchestra Nova, and has made some 40 recordings for labels including Resonus Classics, BIS, Dutton, Lyrita and Naxos, having recorded for broadcast and commercially with the BBC Symphony and Philharmonic orchestras, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Bournemouth Symphony, Malmö Opera, Moravian Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Ulster orchestras.
A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, he received a BASCA Gold Badge Award in recognition of his contribution to the UK songwriting and composing community and in 2023, was honoured with the Welsh Music Guild’s ‘John Edwards Memorial Award’ for services to Welsh Music. George is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, was chair of the British Arts Festivals Association (2014-18), having been presented with the 2018 BAFA Exceptional Service Award for outstanding contribution to the festival sector; he serves the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain as a governor.
Contact George VassElisa Tabò Festival Producer
Elisa has a rich and varied background that blends music, management and administration, with experience spanning music festivals and ensembles throughout the UK and Europe. She trained as a violinist at the Nicolai Paganini Conservatoire in Genoa, earned a degree in Politics and Administration from the University of Genoa and holds a Master’s in Music and Management from the University of Leeds.
Elisa has worked as Head of Administration and Finance at the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, as Production and Marketing Manager for O/Modernt and has collaborated with a range of other arts organisations, among them the Eutopia Ensemble and the Oxford Chamber Music Festival.
Elisa is deeply committed to equality, diversity and inclusion – values she actively promotes both in her daily life and through her role as a Trustee for Peer Support Plus. From an early age, she has volunteered as an educator and fundraiser, organising musical events in support of social causes. She believes in the power of music to heal, inspire and unite, creating meaningful and lasting impact within local communities.
Contact Elisa TabòJohn Sutton Finance and Box Office Manager
Having enjoyed a career as a teacher, education IT consultant and Parish administrator, John took early retirement in 2021 and made the move to Presteigne to enjoy a more relaxed and rural lifestyle with his wife Angie. Here, the opportunity presented itself to work for the Presteigne Festival, enabling him to utilise and combine his administrative skills and love of music. John feels privileged to be part of an organisation that brings obvious pleasure to so many people.
Jenny Ferguson Box Office Team
Music was an integral part of Jenny’s childhood. Her grandmother in particular, who was a competent pianist, took every opportunity to encourage her to play. Music remained very much a hobby and not something Jenny pursued as an adult – her interests led her down the medical route with subsequent careers in the RAF and NHS.
Jenny and her husband took early retirement in 2023, settling in Presteigne, not that far from her Shropshire roots. She is extremely pleased to be involved with the music world once again, and to be a part of the Presteigne Festival team.
Presteigne Festival Board of Trustees
Dr Nathan James Dearden
Keith Hatfield
Louisa Hungate
Clive Lane (Chair)
Emma Lilley (Vice-chair)
John Trew
George Vass ARAM
President
Lord Berkeley of Knighton CBE
Vice-Presidents
Thomas Hyde ARAM
David Matthews
Simon Mundy
Lynne Plowman FRWCMD
Huw Watkins MBE
Adrian Williams