THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE VOICES
Festival Voices is led by co-artistic directors Gregory Batsleer and Oskar McCarthy, working with a regular group of singers and a wider network of collaborators.
Many of our singers have been part of Festival Voices since the beginning. The ensemble grows and changes according to each project, bringing in additional singers and collaborators where the repertoire calls for it.
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
GREGORY BATSLEER
Co-Artistic Director & Conductor
Gregory is acknowledged as one of the leading choral conductors of his generation, winning widespread recognition for his creativity and vision. He has been the Chorus Director of Huddersfield Choral Society since 2017, of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus since 2009, and was Chorus Director with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra from 2015-2021. In 2021 he was appointed Festival Director for the London Handel Festival, leading its programming and development, and bringing Handel's music to the widest possible audiences. His outstanding work as a choral director was recognised with the 2015 Arts Foundation's first-ever Fellowship in Choral Conducting.
OSKAR McCARTHY
Co-Artistic Director & Baritone
Oskar is a baritone, curator and creative producer specialising in contemporary opera, music theatre, ensemble singing and experimental performance. He works as both performer and artistic director, developing and commissioning new work across these fields. His practice is collaborative and process-led, working closely with composers, writers and directors to shape voice, text, and dramaturgy through improvisation and performer-led exploration. He develops work through co-devising and R&D, with a focus on new opera, ensemble work, cross-genre experimentation and interdisciplinary performance. Oskar is currently Chorus Manager at Wexford Festival Opera. He was Producer at the London Handel Festival from 2023-25 and Theatre, Arts and Culture Programmer at Nozstock Festival from 2014-2024.
COLLABORATORS
Festival Voices also works with composers, electronic artists, instrumentalists, choreographers and other performers across individual projects.
NICO
BENTLEY
Electronic music producer and DJ
Nico is a composer, producer and DJ from London. He takes a deep interest in all forms of music, but especially jazz, classical, African and electronic music, holding a BA and MA in the first two respectively from Leeds Conservatoire. Nico has worked in everything from advertising to contemporary dance, taking in South America, Asia, Europe through touring and research. As well as a variety of studio and live credits - including James Morrison, Seal and Idris Elba - he is producer and musical director of the live African dance music collective Afriquoi, fusing traditional African music with western electronic music. He has twice collaborated with Festival Voices on projects at the London Handel Festival.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Stephanie Sutton
Jack Furness
Douglas Nicholson
Amanda Macleod