Festival4stars:
UK Talent Competition Judges
Cheryl Baker
This real life Eastender, who was born in Bethnal Green on 8th March 1954, seems tireless.
Her bubbly personality was evident even in the early days of “Bucks Fizz” when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1981. They went on to gain world-wide recognition with a string of hit records including three number ones, “Land of Make Believe”, “My camera Never Lies” and of course “Making Your Mind Up”. Tthroughout this period, it was evident that Cheryl would develop a solo career. From 1984 her popularity as a solo artiste together with her work with Bucks Fizz meant that the demands on her time often found her working eighteen hours a day. So at the end of 1993, Cheryl stepped down from Bucks Fizz after twelve years to concentrate on her solo career. She is loved and respected by the British public who think of her as ‘the girl next door’.
Her popularity was recognised in 1998 when she was awarded the big red book by Michael Aspel on ‘This Is Your Life’. Cheryl lives in Kent with her bass-guitarist husband Steve Stroud and their nine-year-old twin daughters, Kyla and Natalie.
Duncan James
Born in Dorset April 7th 1978, but grew up in Devon where he was raised by his mother and his grandparents. Music always played a central role in Duncan’s life encouraged by his grandfather who was a music teacher. Growing up around tourism, he took a job with Haven Holidays, and soon became the lead male vocalist, honing his talent with nightly shows at several of their resorts around the UK. Whilst on the audition circuit, he encountered Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe and Antony Costa, resulting in Blue. Awarded 2 BRIT awards and amassing sales of 13 million records including 40 No.1 singles worldwide and 3 UK No.1 albums. Duncan’s highlights whilst with Blue, was having the chance to work with the legendary Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton John. His vocal talents prompted Andrew Lloyd Webber to select him to duet with pop opera sensation Keedie on I believe my heart from a Woman in White which reached No.2
Duncan whilst still performing as a solo artist musically, he has now turned his talents to TV, radio and theatre. A finalist in Dancing on Ice, Billy Flynn in the hit musical Chicago, presenting The National Lottery among others and his own show on Capital Radio he has just completed filming a new sitcom for Channel 4 called Plus One commissioned after winning the Channel 4 Comedy Showcase it’s scheduled to air January 09
John McLaughlin (Guest Celebrity Judge)
Has written and produced for artists such as Westlife (No.1), Busted (No.1), Sandi Thom (No.1, Pro), Blue, Five (BMI million airplay award, USA ‘When the Lights Go Out’), Mark Owen (Take That), 911 (5 Top 5 hits), ITV ‘Ministry of Mayhem’ (Theme Tune), Ian McCulloch (Solo Album), Echo & the Bunnymen new album (The Fountain) and Shane MacGowan (The Pogues). John also had a very successful run as songwriting mentor on the BBC's Fame Academy in 2002 & 2003 coaching both winners, David Sneddon and Alex Parks. As well as his BMI award, John also holds a European Airplay ward for David Charvet's 'Leap of Faith', a Great Scot Award for contributions to Music and a Radio Clyde Award in recognition for his huge success in pop music over the years.
Erika Lee
A freelance music industry professional, working with topline production companies and publishers such as . . Galtline Studio’s LA, currently producing multi platinum artists such as Kate Voegele . . Interscope, Matt Natheson, Marc Broussard, Elliot Yarmin. Stargate/ Dsign Trondheim Norway, Robin Jenssen produced hits for artists like Blue, Atomic Kitten, Jessica Simpson, Rhianna, Beyonce. Ruffhouse Platinum Island Entertainment, San Diego Steven Stone The Fugees, Lauren Hill, Kriss Kross, Phantom4music Ontario Canada working with tv shows such as MTV, Laguna Beach, with song placements in many blockbuster movies and popular tv shows. En2go Entertainments Las Vegas and LA Tolga Katas, Ted Cohen, Paul Fishkin Nokia Music Steven Stewart Music Supervisor Jason Nevins Globally revered hit producer with many multi platinum hit record remixes Stevie Lange & Wicked Music . . top London based Rock School and production company www.myspace.com/leeandco
Stuart Newton
A successful publisher who has created hits in the UK, Europe and the USA, with such artists as the Sugarbabes, Emma Bunton, Rod Stewart, Zuchero plus he created the successful international recording group Mike and the Mechanics. Stuart has worked with Chris Neil producer of Celine Dion and Mike and the Mechanics and more recently with Steve Mac who has written and produced tracks for Westlife, Ronan Keating, Kelly Clarkson and the this year’s (2007) first No1 with Leona Lewis. In all cases these acts have HITS, because of the quality of the songs they write and record, good promotion and “a little bit of luck”…
Nicky Graham
Songwriter / Music Producer / Publisher / Artist Manager/ and A&R Executive.
Born in Durban South Africa, the son of a renowned Ballet Teacher Nancy Graham, who was involved in many theatrical Productions throughout Nicky’s formative years. The family returned to the UK in 1960, where he finished his education at Kingston School of Art, a hot bed of musical activity.
Nicky’s career started in the 1965 when his band The End was discovered by Bill Wyman and subsequently toured with the Stones. He progressed through cult band Tucky Buzzard, who toured America with the likes of the Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple. Before giving up life on the road, Nicky played keyboards with David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars during the Ziggy Stardust UK tour.
Nicky then began a successful career as Staff Producer/A&R Manager first at Polydor Records, then a 10 year run at CBS Records where he Produced, among others, The Nolans ( 2 million album sales), David Essex, Barbara Dickson and Bonnie Tyler. He also Produced the cast albums of many musicals including the Original London Cast Recording of ‘Annie’.
In 1984 he went freelance, producing and writing albums for such varied artistes as Andy Williams (USA), Pedrito Fernandez (Mexico) and Matt Moffitt (Australia). In 1986 he discovered BROS for whom he wrote When Will I Be Famous, the No 1 single I Owe You Nothing and 2 albums which sold over 5 million copies. All of their singles were multi-platinum world-wide.
More successes were Let Loose, whose single Crazy for You was double platinum as well as their Platinum Debut Album ‘Let Loose’. Nicky also put Ant & Dec on the map by taking them from Byker Grove and on to the Pop Stage, writing and producing the double platinum selling Psyche album ( PJ & Duncan aka), including the hit singles Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble / Eternal Love / Why Me / If I Give You My number and Our Radio Rocks.
In 2001 Nicky became a Consultant to Sony Music where he was Director of A&R whilst retaining his Publishing and Production companies and continuing to serve the pop writing community for the past 12 years by his directorship of the PRS. During his return to A&R he signed platinum act The OperaBabes, Dame Shirley Bassey for her 50th Anniversary Album. He Produced Andy Williams duet with Denise Van Outen ‘Can’t Take My Eyes off You’ and the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Album from the Hit BBC Series featuring Bruce Forsyth. He also Produced Shakin’ Stevens latest album and Wrote and Produced Julio Iglesias for his latest English Language album.
Other recent projects outside of Sony have been Darius ( Pop Idol ) No 1 Single ‘Colourblind’ and platinum album ‘Dive In’ as well as Sinead Quinn ( Fame Academy ) No 2 single ‘ I Can’t Breakdown ‘ all for Mercury Records, Triple 8 for Polydor and Katie Price and Peter Andre’s album ‘A Whole New World’.
Nicky has been the A&R Consultant to the BBC on Eurovision for 2003 to 2005 and 2008 working with Jessica Garlick/ James Fox / Javine and Andy Abraham.
Nicky is currently working on a new Act called ‘Punch+Judys’ with Tom Watkins ( Pet Shop Boys/Bros/ E17) for release Autumn 2009.
20th Century Boy – The Musical, about the Life of Marc Bolan is complete and Nicky has written the Libretto. The Show begins a UK Tour in Feb 2010 and It is hoped to stage the musical in the West End in the Autumn of 2010.
Other projects include recording an album with Lee Mead Autumn 2009.
Stevie Vann Lange
Stevie Vann Lange is a famous vocalcoach. Stevie has worked with KT Tunstall, Blue, Joe Elliot (Def Leopard) Girls Aloud, Pharrell Williams, Robbie Williams, Sugababes, Justin Hawkins, Steps, Lulu, Paul Young, Jamie Cullen, Paolo Nutini, and many many more. She also works with Audio Engineer husband 'Alan' in their Recording Studios in London.
Nick Murdoch
Nick Murdoch trained as a classical musician studying the organ, harpsichord and piano at the Royal College of Music, and as a post graduate at Cambridge.
He has worked extensively in the classical world both in broadcast and recording, giving regular recitals and performing at major concerts and festivals including the BBC Proms. He also is a session musician in the pop world for record labels such as Sony BMG, CBS, Polydor and Island. He now coaches in the private and public sectors and is committed to developing and working with up and coming talent.
Lynsey McDougall
Lynsey was born in Glasgow and began her dance training at the Elma Whyte School of Dance. She furthered her training at the Urdang Academy and graduated with a National Diploma in Musical Theatre.
Since graduating Lynsey has performed in numerous music videos including On the Radio for The Concretes. She was a featured dancer for Bent Attitude Dance in Flood.
In 2008 Lynsey decided to concentrate her career on teaching and choreographing. She is currently a member of the full-time faculty at the Urdang Academy where she teaches jazz & musical theatre as well as coaching students for the Royal Academy of Dance Major Examinations.
Stephanie Pope (dip PDTC)
Principal
After graduating from Rambert Ballet School Stephanie performed as a classical ballet dancer as well as pursuing a successful West End and TV career.
Having retired as a performer Stephanie gained her teaching qualification on the Professional Dancers Teachers Course from The Royal Academy of Dance.
Following a position as resident ballet teacher at Bush Davies School she went to Hong Kong as senior ballet mistress for the feeder school to the Hong Kong Ballet Company.
On her return to England she joined The Urdang Academy as Head of Students and after Leonie Urdang’s death she became Principal.
