Polly Graham will become artistic director of the Longborough Festival Opera.

Graham, who is also a director, spent two years as Genesis assistant director at Welsh National Opera, mentored by David Poutney. She received the Independent Opera Director Fellowship 2016 and was nominated as Best Newcomer 2017 at the International Opera Awards.

She recently directed “Le Vin Herbé” at the Welsh National Opera as well as Iain Bell’s “A Christmas Carol” for the WNO. Aside from her directing work, she has run education projects for Glyndebourne, ENO, WNO, and Opera Sonic, and recently founded her own company, Loud Crowd.

Polly Graham said in a press statement, “As a family we are so proud of Longborough and have long talked about its future. But it is only recently that I have felt ready to take on the challenge of leading it forward. I intend to build on the spirit of the festival, which has been willfully daring and ambitious, by expanding repertoire and commissioning new work. My aim is to share great opera with as many people as possible.”