Turner Sims Southampton Announces Two Senior Leadership Appointments
Turner Sims Southampton has appointed Polly Eldridge as Head of Programming and Maddie Risbridger as Head of Marketing & Sales to join Director Louise Coysh's senior management team this autumn.
Polly Eldridge - Head of Programming
Polly Eldridge will lead the venue’s concert programming following Kevin Appleby’s departure in August 2025. She brings over 25 years of experience as a visionary arts leader and founder-director of Sound UK (established 2001), a highly respected music producer bridging jazz, contemporary, folk, electronic, and experimental music. A Sheffield University graduate, Polly began her career developing festivals including Cheltenham Jazz and Ross-on-Wye International before serving as Producer for Bath International Music Festival. With co-director of Sound UK, Maija Handover, Polly worked in partnership with universities, and cultural institutions including the National Trust, National Landscapes and Historic England to create innovative projects connecting music, research, and heritage. Through its artist development programme, Sound Generator, Sound UK nurtured the next generation of cutting-edge talent.
I’m delighted to join Turner Sims, a venue that has hosted incredible musicians over the past half-century. I’m passionate about creating meaningful artistic experiences, supporting artists' ambitions, and amplifying new voices. I look forward to bringing both established and emerging artists to the hall, building relationships within the local music scene, and exploring how music can engage with university research.”
Maddie Risbridger - Head of Marketing & Sales
Maddie Risbridger will lead marketing, audience development strategy, and income generation to grow Turner Sims’ regional and national profile. A former violinist who trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, she holds an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from the University of Melbourne. With 15 years’ experience in the creative industries, she has worked with leading arts organisations in Australia and the UK, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestras, Buxton Contemporary gallery (University of Melbourne), and Musica Viva Australia. Specialising in fundraising, engagement and communications, she joins from social housing charity, St John’s Winchester, where she served as Head of Income and Engagement. Maddie’s career centres on storytelling as a means of connection, demonstrated in her creation and leadership of The Fabric of Winchester project, a community-driven initiative celebrating memory, identity and place through collaborative textile art.
I’m thrilled to be joining Turner Sims. Returning to the performing arts feels like coming home, and I'm excited to work with such a creative team. I believe that now more than ever, music must lead the way in uniting and nourishing communities, whilst reaching those who, as yet, may not have discovered the joy that live performance can spark. I can’t wait to bring heart, humour and a sprinkle of hands-on energy to ensure Turner Sims, and all our performances, are welcoming, accessible and delightfully memorable for all.”
It’s a pleasure to welcome Polly and Maddie to Turner Sims, as we enter our 51st year. As innovative leaders in their respective fields, I look forward to working together to fulfil our ambition of building an inclusive world through the joy of music.”
Turner Sims is the University of Southampton’s music venue and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
