David Morgan: Musical Director...

TREVOR HUGHES (Major-General): is thrilled to be given this wonderful ‘character role’ opportunity rather late in his stage career. As a teenager his first appearances were with Carpet Trades Operatic in South Pacific and Me & My Gal.
In the early ‘eighties’ he appeared for SCOS in Showboat, but only returned two years ago to bolster the chorus in the society’s award-winning production of Jekyll & Hyde.
Last year heralded his return to Carpet Trades Operatic as Baptista in Kiss Me Kate, and he looks forward to treading the boards with this Society in South Pacific later this year.
Though he ‘did some G & S’ as a student at Liverpool, the Major-General will be his greatest challenge yet; his first ever solo singing role!

ALASTAIR ELLIOTT (Pirate King): Alastair started his singing career at the age of 7 as a chorister in the Bath Abbey Choir and sang with the RSCM under Martin How. He later studied organ at Bath Abbey with Peter King before becoming Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at Christchurch in Bath. Once Alastair’s bass voice had settled down, he studied singing with Nigel Perrin and he sang in various choruses in Bath including the Bath Bach Choir. Sadly for a few years, while university and work got in the way, music and singing took a back seat, but Alastair returned to singing with Voces Volantes, a choir based at British Airways (where he worked at the time) and the Exmoor Singers in London. An IT Project Manager by trade, Alastair is now settled in Bewdley with a young family. He joined SCOS in November 2007 and will be making his Operatic stage debut in this production.

GEORGE LLOYD (Sergeant of Police) the stage bug was implanted in him when he was cast as ‘The cream faced loon’ in a school production of Macbeth. After that the bug remained dormant for about 15 years until, with wife Ann, and unborn daughter Sue, he went to teach in Uruguay and got involved in drama and music. After that he found himself here, with SCOS, which he joined in 1976 in time for La Belle Hélène and has taken part in every show since then.

MURIEL BELL (Ruth) Muriel first joined SCOS 29 years ago. She is delighted to have returned to the Society as she has missed her regular singing whilst living in Wales where she ran her hotel business with husband Richard. Luckily for SCOS, Muriel has now relocated to Tenbury
Muriel has had several solo parts in Oratorio works over the years, and her previous stage roles include characters in Iolanthe, The Merry Widow and White Horse Inn. She played the part of lady-like Ida in Die Fledemaus, and in total contrast brought to life Queenie in both SCOS productions of Showboat.

VIVIEN SEVILLE (Edith): first joined SCOS in 1970, taking part in Carmen. Prior to this she had taken roles in several Gilbert and Sullivan productions with another company. Since that time she has enjoyed many lead roles and performed solos in numerous concerts. Vivien has combined her love of music with a career in teaching. Her passion for stage performances is equaled by her love of choral and religious music. Having taken time out to pursue her musical studies, she welcomed the opportunity to sing the soprano solos in Haydn’s Creation, Handel’s Messiah and, more recently, Rutter’s Magnificat. Vivien has wonderful memories associated with the listed performances and many others in which she has taken part.

ALAN SAVAGE (Samuel): Alan grew up in Birmingham and from an early age was inspired by listening to records of some of the great ‘singers of the day’, from Gigli to Mario Lanza. He began singing lessons with Michael Lambert at the Birmingham Music Studios and after moving to Bewdley, he joined SCOS and continued lessons with Grace Evans. Alan’s first show was La Belle Helene in 1976. Among his roles have been Marco (Gondoliers), the Caliph (Kismet), Colonel Fairfax (Yeoman of the Guard), Freddie (My Fair Lady) and Mr. Snow in (Carousel). He has had success in music festivals winning the
G & S class on two occasions at Cheltenham. Alan is married to Gwynneth, and now they are both retired, they enjoy visits to the Scilly Isles with a bit of bird watching. They also travel to Italy (“When we can afford it”!) and enjoy visits to the theatre.

JENNY PARSONS (Kate): joined SCOS in 1998 and has enjoyed singing in many concerts and shows as a member of the chorus. She is also a keen member of the West Midlands Symphony Chorus and loves the thrill of singing in Birmingham Symphony Hall. Jenny enjoyed playing the part of cook in Hello Dolly, but the role of Kate will give her the opportunity to develop her skills and experience.