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| Here are some former members of York Light who have gone on to success on the professional stage. If you know of anyone who should be included in this section please let us know on mail@yorklight.com! |
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Sarah Dearlove (Barker)
Sarah’s last book show with YLOC was Thoroughly Modern Millie in Feb 2007, playing the role of Mrs Meers, her final performance was in the Andrew Lloyd Webber concert.
She started her one year post graduate acting with singing course at The Bridge Theatre Training Company in Camden London in Sep 2007.
Sarah was very lucky to obtain an agent before graduating in July 2008, and in August was cast as Miss Pross in the London premier of A Tale Of Two Cities - The Musical Directed by Paul Nicholas
Whilst doing this she was spotted and asked to audition for a uk tour of Hot Flush the Musical and when successful embarked on a four month adventure understudying all four female roles, one of which was played by Lesley Joseph of Birds of a Feather fame (Some of the YLOC were present at the York Opera House performance)
After this Sarah was cast in the Landors revival of Sondheims Into The Woods
as Cinderellas mother, Red Riding Hoods grandma and the Giant!
She was rewarded when she landed one of her all time wish list roles, Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd , which played for four weeks in Feb 2010 (to which she received high acclaim)
Working with All Star Productions introduced her to the concert scene in London
and throughout 2010 Sarah has sung Sondheim at The Roundhouse Camden and the prestigious Lauderdale House as well as other venues.
On top of these productions in 2010 Sarah has played woman 2 in Jason Robert Browns Songs For a New World, made her debut in a play at the Union Theatre, Knickerbocker Glories - directed by Samantha Bond, and also appeared in another premier of a musical, The Rippers Five. In this Sarah played Annie Chapman, one of the five victims of Jack The Rippers, and also Queen Victoria.
2010 was a busy year, so whats next…….. Watch this space!! |
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Peter Auty
Peter was already well known before he joined York Light. Peter began his singing career as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral where he sang for five years. He was the original treble on the film sound-track of the Raymond Briggs’ film The Snowman, singing Walking In The Air.
For a while during the early eighties, Peter's voice was a household sound when he sang for a British Rail television commercial: "This is the Age of the Train"!
Peter took the role of Camille in York Light’s production of The Merry Widow (1995). Subsequently he moved to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music where he studied under Peter Alexander Wilson. In 1999 he made his professional début singing Remendado (Carmen) for Opera North.
Peter made his European début in 1999 at Opera Zuid (Malcolm in Macbeth) and in 2000 performed the rôle of Faust in Gounod’s Faust for Opéra de Massy. He made his Glyndebourne Festival Opera début in 2001 singing the rôle of Roderigo (Otello) and returned in 2002 to cover Don José (Carmen). Recent engagements have included Don José (Carmen) and Rodolfo (La Bohème) for Glyndebourne On Tour, Alfredo (La Traviata) for Nationale Reisopera and Opera North, the Italian Tenor (Der Rosenkavalier), Rodolfo (La Bohème) and the Duke (Rigoletto) for English National Opera.
Peter was a company principal of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden from 1999-2002 where his roles included Roderigo (Otello), Gaston (La Traviata) and Malcolm (Macbeth). He returned as a guest artist in 2003/4 to sing Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor).
Also in demand as a concert artist, his recent engagements have included appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra (Sir Colin Davis), the Orchestra of the Age of Englightenment (Mark Elder), the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Lothar Zagrosek) and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (Vladimir Ashkenazy). Peter has featured as the tenor in BBCTV’s Flashmob 2.
For more information see: http://www.ingpen.co.uk/artist_detail.php?aid=66 |
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Jay Marcus
Jay Marcus is the stage name of Jamie Jones, who was practically born into York Light! His grandparents Phil and Cliff Jones were founder members of the society and his father Bev Jones produced York Light shows for over 26 years. Growing up in York, Jay was Head Chorister at York Minster and took a number of roles in York Light shows, such as The Caliph in Kismet and Theophile in Can Can.
After graduating from Guildford School of Acting and Drama he played the lead role (Alex Dillingham) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love touring the United Kingdom, then Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber opposite Elaine Paige and Petula Clark in London's West End.
Other theatre works include Raoul in a UK tour of Phantom Of The Opera, Merc Maddison in Tomorrowland at the Novoya Theatre, Moscow, President Lincoln in Assassins at Manchester Library Theatre and Luis in A View From the Bridge at Perth Theatre Royal. Jay created the role of Simon in Theatrical Love at Wimbledon Theatre and toured with the very successful farce Bedside Manners.
In 2004 Jay took on the role of Jesus in a UK tour of Godspell and makes regular appearences in pantomimes around the country. Jay has travelled the world as a lead vocalist in numerous concerts and in 2003 starred at the very prestigious Proctor Theatre in New York in Music of the Night. He has also been heard on many radio shows and albums including Jesus Christ Superstar and the cast recording of Tomorrowland.
Jay has worked extensively on both mainstream and cable television, including series such as Heartbeat. In 2003 Jay recorded his debut album, First Night, a journey through the musicals, which includes two fantastic duets, one with Alvin Stardust and the other with Julie Fox. |
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Julia Riley
Julia was born in York and in 1999 played Diana (godess of hunting) in York Light's production of Orpheus in The Underworld. Few of us will forget her fine mezzo soprano voice, but even fewer her costume of riding coat and jodhpurs!
Julia studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Noelle Barker and Ingrid Surgenor. She was awarded the Winifried Disney Scholarship and Fishmongers Award to continue her studies with Royal Academy Opera. Whilst at the Academy she was the recipient of numerous awards including a Countess of Munster Award and a Musicians’ Benevolent Fund Award. Julia was recently awarded first prize in the 2007 Mozart Singing Competition. She currently studies with Anne Mason.
In December 2005 Julia made her Glyndebourne on Tour debut as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro. Roles understudied for Glyndebourne Festival Opera include Dorabella Cosi fan Tutte and Ludmilla in The Bartered Bride Other operatic roles include Ino in Semele for British Youth Opera, Tisbe in Rossini’s La Cenerentola for Opera East Productions, Prince Charming in Cendrillon and Lisetta in Il mondo della luna for Royal Academy Opera and Medoro in Orlando for Dartington Early Opera.
Highlights on the concert platform include staged highlights of Jonathan Dove’s mezzo song cycle ‘All you who sleep tonight’, with pianist Andrew Smith which was the first performance in the Glyndebourne Jerwood Studio, during the 2005 Glyndebourne Festival. Other performances include Mozart Requiem in 2006 Welsh Proms, Bach B Minor Mass at London Bach Festival, Christmas Oratorio with the English Baroque Orchestra, St John Passion under Jonathan Wilcocks, Berg Sieben Fruhe Lieder at the Royal Academy of Music, Elgar The Music Makers and Berlioz Les Nuits L’dété with Orchestra of the City of London.
Recent engagements include her Scottish Opera on Tour debut as Mezzo soloist with Essential Scottish Opera, whilst future plans include Flora /La Traviata with Opera Holland Park, and, Nancy/Albert Herring with Glyndebourne Touring Opera. |
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Catherine Sykes
Catherine Sykes grew up to the accompaniment of York Light. Her mother Sue Sykes is the main rehearsal pianist for York Light, supporting the society over many years. Catherine appeared in York Light Opera Society’s Songs from the Shows 92 as well as the concert at the Rock Church in 2002.
In 1994 Catherine embarked on a three year course at Leeds College of Music. It was here that Catherine began studying Jazz. She joined The Duke Ellington Repertory Orchestra, put her own trio together and began gigging in and around Leeds.
After Leeds, Catherine completed a one year course at Wakefield College and left with a LGSM Diploma in performance. Since completing her studies, Catherine has performed all over the country with her own trio and various big bands. She has recorded an album with Dave Newton (piano), Andy Hamill (bass) and Steve Brown (drums). Now based in London, she has performed on ITV and has been featured on Humphrey Lyttleton’s "Best of Jazz" on Radio 2. She tours extensively in Europe with The Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra and has recently worked with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra around the UK and abroad. |
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