MEET THE TEAM
CAROLYN DOORBAR
Co-Founder & Musical Director
Carolyn is our Musical Director and conducts all of our productions, as well as running rehearsals. She helps our chorus and soloists learn the opera, and brings the music to life with our orchestra. She is also one of our co-founders, and has been part of Wedmore Opera since 1988. She loves working with young people, and is glad to know that the future of WO is in safe hands.
GLENISE BUNN
Producer
Glenise is producing our 2023 production, The Marriage of Figaro. She comes from a career in facilities management and is enjoying the challenge of pulling together local talent into the production team. She has lived in Wedmore for 12 years and has been a member of Wedmore Opera chorus since 2014. She is excited to be helping bring opera back to the village.
DENIS JONES
Treasurer & Trustee
Denis loves watching our productions but he has usually had a hand in building the set too.
He is a Trustee and the Treasurer of Wedmore Opera. This includes working with the production team to set and manage the budget, keeping the books and preparing end of year accounts.
ANNE RICHARDS
Design & Backstage
Anne is designer of The Marriage of Figaro, an integral member of the Production Team and a legend backstage. She was a Trustee of Wedmore Opera until 2023.
HAZEL ANSTEY
Company Secretary & Trustee
Hazel sings soprano in the Wedmore Opera chorus, as well as helping with the more practical and logistical side of our productions. She is also a Trustee and acts as the Company Secretary.
MARYLIN JOHNSTONE
Founding Artistic Director
Marylin is one of the founders of Wedmore Opera and has directed all but two of our productions. It was Marylin who, with Carolyn and other members of the team, commissioned both Jago and Eleanor Vale. Wedmore Opera wouldn't be Wedmore Opera without Marylin's tireless work in getting the company off the ground.
NEIL BLAKE
Chair of Trustees
Neil sings tenor in the chorus. He feels most at home in costume, on stage, singing to an audience that beams back. As Chair of Wedmore Opera’s Board, he helps to ensure we deliver on our purpose of furthering the arts in rural Somerset and providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
JO LEWIS
Orchestra Manager (& Cellist)
Jo plays cello for Wedmore Opera and books the other professional musicians who make up the orchestra for each production. She is a key member of the Production Team, helping to plan and deliver our programme.
JUDITH BLAKE
Trustee
Judith has sung with the Wedmore Opera chorus since Trial By Jury in 2010 and has been a Trustee since 2012. She has been the producer of most of our recent productions and fundraising events.
PHYLLIDA SHAW
Odd-Jobber & Trustee
Phyllida can usually be found serving behind the bar during the interval, washing up or wielding a broom. As a Trustee she enjoys being part of a small, creative, community-focused organisation and identifying ways to be better at what we do.