Laura Baumber has been involved with musical drama since 1994 playing various instruments in pit orchestras throughout the East Midlands, with her more recent memorable shows including ‘Jolson’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Haymarket Theatre. In her capacity as rehearsal pianist for Leicester, Knighton Park, Newark and Melton Mowbary Amateur Operatic Societies, she has gained experience of a variety of production styles. She made her Musical Directorial debut with KPAOS in 2004 with ‘Calamity Jane’. Laura also enjoys performing with her band ‘Funky Somethin’ , playing an electric mix of funk, R&B, rock and roll and soul fot private functions.

Hugh Casterton has worked in most theatres thoughout East Midlands both as a performer and conductor. Hugh has directed the majority of his productions over the last 30 years for companys such as Leicester Amateur Operatic Society and Newark Amateur Operatic Society, also many with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society. He is head of Music at Thomas Magnus School, Newark and director of the Magnus Swing Band which has toured the continant.

Bob Castle

Colin Cook started at the age of 14 with the YMCA drama group and went on to enjoy semi-professional work in his 20s as a Dinner Cabaret performer. The lead role in the 1968 YMCA  production of ‘Me and my Girl’ was his first taste of musicals. He has performed many times with the Leicester Drama Society at the Little Theatre, also Curley (Oklahoma) at the DeMontfort Hall with Leicester Amateur Operatic Society. Subsequent shows with LAOS include Professor Higgins (My Fair Lady), Able Frank (State Fair) and Andrew Carnes (Oklahoma). He has played onstage with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society in the roles of Madame Lucy (Irene) and Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls). Colin has directed shows such as ‘South Pacific’ and with KPAOS directed ‘Music Man’.

David Cound commenced his musical career at the tender age of 9 as a Chorister at Winchester College Choir School. He subsequently gained a wide reputation as a tenor soloist in Oratorio all over the Midlands and sang for many years in opera, operetta and musicals. He subsequently  took up conducting and studied under Neville Dilkes. He has now conducted over 70 musical productions from ‘Sullivan’ to ‘Sondheim’ and from ‘Henneker’ to ‘Herman’, including 5 award winning productions at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera in Ireland. David was a Musical Director at the NODA Operatic Summer School from 1984 to 1997 also the Ripon Operatic Summer School.

Tony Rifugiato has been active on the Leicestershire Music Scene since his school days. He learnt to play cornet at Melton Borough Band and by the time he was 16 held the position of principle cornet. He then played cornet, trumpet and percussion for various bands, orchestras and theatre productions around the Leicester area. In 1983 he founded Mel-Tone, Meltons music shop. 1991 saw the formation of Melton Orchestra, which was Tonys first foray into the world of conducting. Having played in so many theatre productions, it was only a matter of time before he took up the baton in the pit. His first production as MD was ‘The Pajama Game’ in 1992 for Melton Mowbray Amateur Operatic Society. In 1993 Tony founded his own theatre company, The Enthusiastic Theatre Company, performing rock-based musicals such as Fame, Little Shop Of Horrors and Return to the Forbidden Planet. ETC continues to run alongside his other commitments with other societies such as Knighton Park, Wigston, Loughborough and Melton. Tony plays the drums and sings in a four piece band and fronts a recently formed 20 piece big band playing Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald hits. In his spare time he goes to sleep!

Mary Spencer has a wide experience of stage work and has taken leads in over 30 musical shows, pantomimes and in opera. She is a professional singer, has broadcast on radio and appeared in various television productions. Mary has directed for Leicester Amateur Operatic Society since 1984, also Market Harborough and Newark Palace Theatre. Mary produced many of Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Societys earlier shows.

Alice Tarry Alice trained at the Italia Conti Acadamy. She began her theatrical career appearing in various productions at the Haymarket Theatre including ‘Joseph’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘The Miracle Worker’. Her West End appearances include ‘Annie’ and ‘42nd Street’ with Catherine Zeta Jones. She toured with the Danny La Rue company and Hello Dolly UK Tour, she also assisted on Tommy Steel’s tour of ‘Singing in the Rain’.

Christine Tarry has been involved in amateur theatre for more years, she says, than she really cares to recall. Her first venture onto the stage was with Sunday school concerts at a very early age. After leaving school and, as she thought, reaching maturity, she appeared with the Syston Operatic Society in their production of ‘The Gondoliers’ by Gilbert and Sullivan. She has also taken part in productions with King Richards Road, Knighton Park and the Leicester Amateur Operatic Society. It was also with the Syston group that she was given the opportunity to embark upon direction. Since then she has also directed at Melton, Market Harborough and of course several years with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society. She has enjoyed the challenge of performing in many principle roles including Eliza (My Fair Lady), Dolly Levi (Hello Dolly), Kate (Kiss me Kate) and Golde (Fiddler on the Roof).

Rebecca Wilkinson

Sarah Woodcock-Tarry has been dancing from the age of 3, performing in many productions with her dancing school, pantomimes with Syston Operatic Society and at the Haymarket Theatre. She has choreographed foe Newark, Wigston and Leicester companies. Sarah has choreographed with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society since 1993, which has given her the opportunity to work on productions with many different styles!