Gillian Humphreys
Born in Wales, Gillian Humphreys studied at the Royal Academy of Music before becoming an International Soprano. She was the principal soprano with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company until she left the company in 1965. She would later perform with Gilbert & Sullivan for All, appearing in their 1972 films. Her operatic career continued with appearances at major opera houses across the United States and Europe, performing with the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Welsh National Opera.

Since 1995 she has been in charge of the Concordia Foundation with the goal of building bridges through music and the arts by bringing together young performers from around the world. Her Concordia Theatre Company regularly presents international gala shows and has given concerts at major cities around the world. Through the foundation she has had the honour of being invited to meet Mother Teresa in London, who endorsed the importance of the healing power of music.

Alistair Donkin
Alistair Donkin joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in October 1979 as understudy to the comic baritone roles. He now works as director for various productions of the Savoy Operas in the United Kingdom and America.

Donkin has appeared with the London Savoyards and the English Philharmonic Orchestra. He has toured America on numerous occasions in both concert and fully-staged G&S productions. Since 1982 he has been Stage Director and guest performer for the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston, Texas. He has also been heavily involved with the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival appearing in and directing many of the Festival's professional productions.

Learn more about Alistair Donkin at his official website.

Pamela Leighton-Bilik
The Director of Education at the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Ms. Leighton-Bilik gives lectures on incorporating Gilbert and Sullivan into the classroom. Since 1997 she has also staged a youth production of a G&S opera every year at the festival with a cast comprised of children aged five to twenty.

A former Disney Teacher of the Year nominee, Ms. Leighton-Bilik has also directed the Washington Savoyards and An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan at the British Embassy. Her goal is to teach and direct theatre in the UK.

Trevor Hills
Trevor Hills left school and joined the Army in 1939. During his service in Greece in 1941 he was captured by the Germans and was sent to the Nazi prison camp Stalag 383 in Hohenfels, Bavaria. While there, he starred in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, The Gondoliers and The Yeomen of the Guard.

After the war he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company as a chorister. Later he became understudy for the Bass and Baritone leads, as well as playing the supporting male roles. He left the D'Oyly Carte in July 1956.

Ceri-Lyn Humphreys
An aspiring opera singer and actress, high schooler Ceri-Lyn Humphreys arrived in Buxton on a whim and secured the lead part in the youth Mikado.

She is also the winner of the 2005 Anna Markland Music Competition and recipient of the top award for advanced piano, advanced classical vocal, advanced popular vocal, open ensemble and the Anna Markland Cup for outstanding performance.

Stephen Hill
An applied physicist working in a government research lab specializing in the production of synchrotron radiation, Mr. Hill grew up listening to G&S recordings. His parents were active members of their local G&S society, his grandparents having been founding members, and he continues the tradition of singing Gilbert & Sullivan today.

Mr. Hill prefers to appear in the chorus of the operas, and has performed in twelve of the shows. A lover of independent travel, he has visited every continent on earth. He holds the distinction of having sung G&S farthest North and South in the world.

This year he will catch an icebreaker to sail the coast of Greenland, where he is sure to be found singing Gilbert and Sullivan.

Stephanie and Mitch Gillett
Mitch Gillett has performed tenor roles with Detroit's MOT, Southern Ohio Light Opera, The Colorado G&S Festival, the Comic Opera Guild, and with Arbor Opera Theatre. He has appeared in Carmen, Die Fledermaus, Le Nozze di Figaro, and The Magic Flute. He has also had the opportunity to direct several operas, from Victor Herbert to Mozart.

Stephanie Gillett first saw her husband on stage performing in The Grand Duke, pointed to him, and said, "He's the one!" Gilbert & Sullivan have haunted her ever since. Now married for nearly six-and-a-half years, she still considers her biggest achievement the fact that Sullivan's music didn't sneak into the wedding ceremony.

Mrs. Gillett is an executive assistant at Borders Group, and she also writes travel and historical articles, and the occasional G&S review.

Stephanie and Mitch Gillett have two dogs and a cat, and reside happily in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Rebecca Consentino Haines
Rebecca is a coloratura lyric soprano now pursuing a doctorate in Mass Media and Communication. Ms. Haines is an ardent fan of Gilbert & Sullivan and has appeared in numerous G&S productions over the years.

Rebecca is a former member of the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where she sang for five years under the batons of Seiji Ozawa, Keith Lockhart, and John Williams. She also co-founded the Emmanuel College Theater Guild in Boston. She is currently working with several community Gilbert & Sullivan groups in greater Philadelphia.

Alison Davis
Having retired from her position as an elementary school teacher, Davis took up acting as a hobby. She has been a member of the Sale Gilbert and Sullivan Society for twelve years, and has won the awards for Best Actress and Best Female Performer at the Buxton International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.

Besides G&S, she has appeared in Misery, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Oliver. Davis now works as a teaching assistant supporting literacy in primary schools.

Mark Burns
Mark Burns was born and raised in Buxton, the home-town of the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. He has participated in numerous theatrical productions with his school and acting groups. Mr. Burns joined the Youth Mikado as the Pooh-Bah, having appeared in past youth productions at the festival.

Mark would like to adopt a career in musical theatre, and has appeared in The Gondoliers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Grease.

Paul and Marsha Boymel
Married thirty-three years, Paul and Marsha Boymel both took an active interest in Pamela Leighton-Bilik's work with children and music. They have since joined Ms. Bilik, and together they produce youth theater productions around the globe.

Paul Boymel is a Civil Rights attorney who dabbles in acting and has appeared on the American game-show, Jeopardy, twice.

Marsha Boymel is a teacher who loves bringing new ideas and experiences to young people. Together they live in Maryland.