Brindley Sherratt Named Artistic Director of The Grange Festival

The Grange Festival has appointed the bass Brindley Sherratt as its new Artistic Director. He will succeed Michael Chance, who led the company since its formation in 2016 and retired at the end of the 2026 Festival.

Sherratt is one of the world's most respected singers and theatre practitioners. He is revered for his interpretations of Mozart's Sarastro in "Die Zauberflöte," Britten's Claggart in "Billy Budd," Strauss's Baron Ochs in "Der Rosenkavalier" and Wagner's Gurnemanz in "Parsifal."

In his new position, Sherratt will bring his experience as an actor, singer and opera practitioner. He will continue to perform internationally alongside his duties as Artistic Director, while being more selective with his engagements to ensure he can fulfill each of his commitments.

In a statement, Sherratt said: "I am enormously thankful to the team at The Grange Festival for welcoming me with open arms as I take on the role of Artistic Director. As someone who has experienced the Festival as both an audience member and performer, I am deeply honoured to be given the opportunity to be a part of the next chapter in its history."

"It is an exciting prospect to be investing in British opera at such a crucial moment in this art form's history," he continued. "The Grange Festival provides a much-needed platform for the next generation of artists."

Sherratt also pointed to his personal ties to the region. "I've benefitted from the support of the local community in so many ways – being a resident of neighbouring county West Surrey – I have seen first-hand the impact that the local audiences can make," he said.

Those local connections extend to fundraising. "In my most recent performance on The Grange's stage, I held a fundraising gala with a roster of our greatest opera stars in aid of The Meath Epilepsy Charity, where my daughter, Amy, is a resident," Sherratt explained. "Together with The Grange's generous community, we raised over £180,000 for our cause."

The singer closed his statement by reflecting on the scale of the appointment. "As a performer, I feel extremely lucky to have taken on roles I could have only dreamed of. Up until now, this role too was a dream, and I am looking forward hugely to working with the creative and administrative teams, as well as all the incredible line-up of artists who appear each year at this wonderful festival."

Sherratt takes over a company built from scratch by Chance over a decade, at a moment when he himself frames British opera as being at "a crucial moment in this art form's history." How the singer-administrator balances a still-active international career with programming duties will shape The Grange's next chapter.