Award-winning international director, educator and writer John Ramster will explore techniques and exercises musicians can use to maximize stage presence and communication. Delving into such topics as knowing the size of your performance space, using the room's energy and communicating your artistic intentions, John will help musicians find fresh ways to present their performances and connect with audiences.

John Ramster

Born and raised in the east of England, John is an award-winning international opera director, educator and writer. After studying History at Cambridge University, he learned his operatic trade with the Glyndebourne Festival and Tour, assisting Deborah Warner, Peter Sellars and the late Graham Vick, among others. A renowned educator and director of young singers, John is currently Associate Head of the Vocal Department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Recent productions include Don Giovanni (Kilden Opera, Norway), The Weekend (Bloomsbury Opera), Eugene Onegin (West Green Festival), Albert Herring, Beginnings (Guildhall School of Music and Drama), Le nozze di Figaro (Icelandic National Opera), Der fliegende Holländer, Carmen, The Paper Bag Princess (Bergen National Opera), Don Giovanni (Merry Opera), Agrippina (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Theodora (Royal Northern College of Music), Radamisto (GSMD); in previous seasons, Le nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte (Turku Festival, Finland), Lucia di Lammermoor (Belgrade National Opera award for Best Direction), Don Giovanni, L'elisir d'amore (Opera Faber, Portugal). He has directed many shows for touring company Merry Opera including an acclaimed staged Messiah which has received over 100 performances in its 11-year run and self-penned "jukebox" opera, Kiss me, Figaro! was nominated for Best Production at the Off-West-End Awards.

John’s novel, Ladies’ Man, has been translated into seven languages; he is currently writing a book on acting for opera singers, and may one day even finish an historical murder-mystery set in Handel's London called Da Capo. Future plans include L'elisir d'amore with Jyväskylä Opera in Finland, Cav&Pag with West Green, a new version of Cinderella with Merry Opera touring the UK, Giulio Cesare and continued teaching and management at Guildhall.