Meet our hard-working team

(PENDING INFORMATION AND PHOTOS)

Chairwoman
 Sylvia Bowen

   Having been a member since 1987, Sylvia has been pleased to accept the chairmanship of Balliol, and looks forward to the challenges ahead for the society.

Born in the North West, Sylvia was a member of the Birkenhead Choral Society, and has been used to competitions and winning several trophies as a choir member, also gaining many first prizes in local festivals as a soloist. She trained under the late well-known soprano Doreen Wedgwood, and in the North East under the late Ken Ormston.

 

Both as a member of St. Paul's AOS in Seacombe, and of Balliol Opera, soprano leads have been mostly Gilbert & Sullivan, and include Josephine (HMS Pinafore), Elsie Maynard (Yeomen), Yum Yum (Mikado), Gianetta and Casilda (Gondoliers), Patience, Rose Maybud (Ruddigore), Mabel (Pirates), and Phyllis (Iolanthe). All have been a great experience, but for her the most rewarding was having the privilege of playing the title role in "Hello, Dolly!" in Balliol's 2002 production.

 

Sylvia now looks forward to cameo and character roles, and wishes to encourage young members into the society to enjoy the different and interesting parts the musical stage has to offer.

 Treasurer 
Alison Burn

 Producer
 John Bowen

John was introduced to musicals while still at school, when he took part in “Trial by Jury” in 1960. At University in the North East in 1961, he joined the Gilbert and Sullivan Society at King’s College, and began a long connection with the operettas of Gilbert & Sullivan, though at various times had other musical interests, having been a member of Prudhoe Gleemen, and chairman of the Gibside Music Club.

 

He joined the New Tyne Theatre Company in Newcastle in 1978, taking part in many shows there until 1985, and was asked to help Balliol Opera in their production of “Pirates of Penzance” in 1983, a year after the name change. He played the Sergeant for two nights in that production when the person cast in the part was unavailable, remained a member of the society, and continued to play principal parts with Balliol until Luiz (Gondoliers) in 1994.

 

He moved over to production in 1995 when he directed another “Pirates of Penzance”, and has been Director ever since. In 1997 he directed “Fiddler on the Roof”, the first non-G&S show performed by Balliol, and it has been a particular pleasure to see the society grow, as it changed from performing in school halls, to seeing “Crazy For You” at the Peoples Theatre last year. The 2007 production will be his 13^th musical for the society, although he has also written and produced revues and several of the well-known and justly famed Ponteland shows.

Choreographer
Laura Williams

Laura has been a member of Balliol since the age of 14, when she appeared in her first musical, 'Hello Dolly' in 2002.

Laura's passion is dance, and has danced since the young age of 4. In her time, she has trained with Newcastle Dance Centre under Mavis Whiteside, Newcastle College, SLP associates, and attended as many workshops as she can. Laura has worked with many professional choreographers including Charlotte Grant, Simon Birch, Bryan Tanaka, Ilya Andreyev, Martyn Knight, and Wayne Sleep.

Laura's debut principal role was 'Louise' in Carousel, in 2003. She has since appeared in six other musicals with Balliol, Tynemouth, and Westend Operatics, along side numerous dance shows, her favourite being Coppelia with the English Youth Ballet at the forum in Billingham.

Laura has recently been accepted into LIPA in Liverpool, for further dance training. She will undertake this after completing her two year degree at Newcastle College. After that she may audition for further training elsewhere, or start looking for professional dance work.

Laura is delighted to accept the role of Choreographer for Mack and Mabel, and is excited for the challenge!
She would like to thank our previous choreographer Jane Bushell for her hard work over the years on behalf of the society.

 Musical Director 
Mark Thompson

Mark joined the Balliol Opera for 'Carousel' in 2003 at the age of 16 as our accompanist.

He began playing the electric organ at the age of seven, joining the Technics Academy at the age of nine, working through the grades and entering and winning local competitions. He was later taught by international organist Chiho Sunamato at the Yamaha School of Music. He began playing organ concerts at the age of 15 and now travels up and down the UK playing the Yamaha EL90 electronic organ in his own concerts, at high demand.

In 2004 Mark won the 'National Young Theatre Organist of the Year' competition, and plays a few theatre organ concerts each year. He has also organised concerts for various charitys, playing in them himself.

Over the last few years Mark has played for a number of amateur operatic/dramatic societies as rehearsal pianist, including Heaton Operatic, and Balliol Opera. He played for two years in a soul band, providing keyboards and backing vocals, and recently joined a band called 'Wallstreet' for which he does the same, two nights a week.

Accompanying various choirs, Mark has played the church organ and piano for a number of choral works, including 'The Creation' and 'The Messiah'. 

Having just completed a degree in Mathematics at Durham University, Mark is delighted to be taking on the role of Musical Director.

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   Publicity Officer
    Steve Gladstone

 

Committee

Carol Emmerson

Katy Peters-Jones-Ross

Michael Roache

Sabrina Lyall