12 Jul 2017
I spent a couple of hours today working with three graduating students at Arts1 School of Performance in Milton Keynes with my Estill hat on, as part of my work as a Certified Course Instructor with Advanced Testing Privileges for Estill Voice International.
Arts1 is an independent theatre school, providing full-time post-16 training alongside a wide range of professional part-time performing arts classes and workshops for young people and adults. Founded in 2006 our aim is to inspire young people and adults to achieve their potential in performance through learning from our excellent teachers and industry mentors.
The students have been been studying on Arts1 post-16 Musical Theatre course and as part of this have been working towards obtaining their Estill Certificate of Figure Proficiency. They have been working with JAMES GRIMSEY, Creative Director of Arts1, and PIERINA PENNY, resident voice teacher getting ready for the exam. During today’s session, I spent a couple of hours with Pierina and the students going through the protocol for the tests and we did some practice with the VoicePrint software.
Voiceprint™ is a real-time spectral analysis program that can record, analyse, and play back the voice. Visualisations include spectrogram and power spectrum analyses. Voiceprint™ provides spectacular and meaningful feedback about pitch and voice quality, helping to enhance the learning and rehabilitation process.
I begin the examination process with the three students at the end of the week. Good luck to them all!!!
25 Jun 2017
After a stunning premier last year, Den Hvite Dame is returning to Norway’s largest fortress this year. The script and score has been updated and improved to build on last year’s success by myself and HANNE HAGERUP who wrote the script and lyrics. I’m glad to have JONNY MARTIN back as Associate on this project. Together we have been updating the orchestration with our latest Spitfire Audio samples, giving this epic story more musical depth and realism.
25 Jun 2017
This will be my fifth Stage Experience at MK Theatre. This year the theatre has chosen Bugsy Malone. I’m using the score and orchestrations that was put together by PHILIP BATEMAN for the recent Lyric Hammersmith NYMT production. Great to be back working at MK Theatre and to have a full live band for this classic show. This year I’m going to have a young, local assistant working with me, TOBY INGRAM. Toby went to Walton High in Milton Keynes and is currently studying music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
25 Jun 2017
I’m thrilled to be working as Musical Supervisor on a new production of Grease in Oslo opening in 2018. Production produced by Taran & Starworks is directed by TOM STERRI and choreographed by TOMAS GLANS. I’ll also be providing a new orchestrations. Can’t wait to get started.
30 May 2017
As part of Bruiser Theatre Company’s 20th Anniversary, they are reviving their much loved production of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole (Aged 13¾). Sue Townsend was the Patron of the Company for many years. I’ll be recreating and reimagining the songs and music respecting what the Company did with the show back in 2005. Very excited to be working with this new cast. The play has songs written by KEN HOWARD and ALAN BLAIKLEY.
