Stables Theatre Ltd
Rod Argent
Director
Rod Argent was born in 1945 in St. Albans. After a couple of years taking piano lessons, and several years as a chorister at St. Albans Abbey, he formed "The Zombies" in 1961. He was to write all the major hits for the band, including "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season", both U.S. no. 1s. The Zombies broke up in 1967, after producing a final album, "Odessey and Oracle" (sic), which last year was voted by NME as no. 32 in the best British albums of all time.
In 1969, Rod formed "Argent", which was also to achieve international success - notably with the hits "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock and Roll To You", and he continued to enjoy a reputation as one of the finest keyboard players of the genre.
After 'Argent' split, Rod appeared as a keyboard player on countless records, with artists as diverse as 'The Who', John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Colin Blunstone, Gary Moore and Andrew Lloyd Webber. He also wrote and scored much music for television films and major series, as well as producing several million selling albums for other artists, including Tanita Tikaram, Joshua Kadison and Nanci Griffiths. In the late '90s, he recorded a solo piano album of classical repertoire, "Rod Argent - Classically speaking".
In 2000, Rod reunited with Colin Blunstone, original singer with the Zombies, and has since toured extensively all over the world. Their recent premiere of "Odessy and Oracle" (40 years after the recording!) at The Shepherd's Bush Empire received ecstatic 5 star reviews in several national newspapers, including The Guardian, The Times, The Scotsman and The Independent.
In 1969, Rod formed "Argent", which was also to achieve international success - notably with the hits "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock and Roll To You", and he continued to enjoy a reputation as one of the finest keyboard players of the genre.
After 'Argent' split, Rod appeared as a keyboard player on countless records, with artists as diverse as 'The Who', John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Colin Blunstone, Gary Moore and Andrew Lloyd Webber. He also wrote and scored much music for television films and major series, as well as producing several million selling albums for other artists, including Tanita Tikaram, Joshua Kadison and Nanci Griffiths. In the late '90s, he recorded a solo piano album of classical repertoire, "Rod Argent - Classically speaking".
In 2000, Rod reunited with Colin Blunstone, original singer with the Zombies, and has since toured extensively all over the world. Their recent premiere of "Odessy and Oracle" (40 years after the recording!) at The Shepherd's Bush Empire received ecstatic 5 star reviews in several national newspapers, including The Guardian, The Times, The Scotsman and The Independent.
Hazel Coomber
Director
Hazel Coomber has enjoyed a wide experience of roles working in Personnel and Development, mainly within the financial services sector, particularly in recruitment/assessment centres, employment law, the management of change and strategy. She now works in a freelance capacity. She has an MSc in Human Resource Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Hazel was a member of the Review Board (quality control) of the Competence Centre London(1998/99), joined the Board of Trestle Theatre Company, based in St Albans in 2000, and served as Chair from 2002 until early 2007. She is currently on the Board of Told By An Idiot, a touring theatre company based in London.
Hazel enjoys music in its many forms, theatre and art (and completed a year’s course in the history of art and architecture). She enjoys walking, particularly in Derbyshire. Hazel is interested in education and life-long learning.
Hazel was a member of the Review Board (quality control) of the Competence Centre London(1998/99), joined the Board of Trestle Theatre Company, based in St Albans in 2000, and served as Chair from 2002 until early 2007. She is currently on the Board of Told By An Idiot, a touring theatre company based in London.
Hazel enjoys music in its many forms, theatre and art (and completed a year’s course in the history of art and architecture). She enjoys walking, particularly in Derbyshire. Hazel is interested in education and life-long learning.
Alec Dankworth
Director
Alec Dankworth studied bass at Berklee College, Boston. Since then he has worked with artists ranging from Stephane Grappelli to Abdullah Ibrahim. Projects with Nigel Kennedy have included a duet recording of Duke Ellington's 'Black, Brown and Beige' suite. He joined the Van Morrison group in 1995, touring and recording three albums. In '97 he spent a year in New York, performing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He then worked with The Dave Brubeck Quartet for 2 years, recording 3 CDs. Alec now performs with vocalists Cleo Laine, Elaine Delmar, Georgie Fame and Jacqui Dankworth. The Alec Dankworth Trio's CD "If You're Passing By" features Julian Arguelles and Phil Robson. A new group Alec Dankworth's 'Spanish Accents' reflects his interest in the various forms of folk music from the Iberian peninsula, with a CD released in 2008.
Monica Ferguson
Director
She became General Manager of Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth prior to taking up the post of Chief Executive at The Stables in 2003 where she has overseen the financial recovery of the organisation and the building of Stage 2 – an intimate café-bar / performance space designed to showcase emerging artists. Monica was a founding director of Arts Marketing Warwickshire and helped to establish the London Arts Marketing Project. She has been a director of Youth & Music and is a director of The Stables Theatre Ltd and Stables Trading Ltd.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. She lives with her partner and interests include hill walking, golf, history, theatre and music.
Ian Smith
Director
Ian Smith is one of the leading conductors and music educators in the Bedford and Milton Keynes area. Educated at York University and Queens’ College Cambridge, he moved to Milton Keynes in 1975 and Bedford in 1981. Ian is musical director and principal conductor of Bedford Choral Society and the Danesborough Chorus. He is also Director of Music, Head of Expressive Arts and Assistant Headteacher at Wootton Upper School, near Bedford
Ian has spent his whole career in education. He was conductor of Bedfordshire County Youth Second Orchestra for 23 years with whom he gave frequent performances at the Edinburgh Festival. His wide-ranging career also includes many radio recordings together with television appearances for BBC and ITV.
This breadth of musical experience and enthusiasm has resulted in Ian being invited to conduct a number of other orchestras, including Milton Keynes City Orchestra and Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra. As a violinist, he is also leader of the Beverley String Quartet.
Ian, formerly Head of the County Youth Music and Arts Service for Bedfordshire, decided to return to teaching in school. He has been Chairman of the Eastern Orchestral Board and is a former Trustee of The Wavendon Allmusic Plan. He is a Director and former Chairman of the Stables Theatre Ltd Board. Ian continues to be actively involved in practical music-making throughout the area.
Ian has spent his whole career in education. He was conductor of Bedfordshire County Youth Second Orchestra for 23 years with whom he gave frequent performances at the Edinburgh Festival. His wide-ranging career also includes many radio recordings together with television appearances for BBC and ITV.
This breadth of musical experience and enthusiasm has resulted in Ian being invited to conduct a number of other orchestras, including Milton Keynes City Orchestra and Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra. As a violinist, he is also leader of the Beverley String Quartet.
Ian, formerly Head of the County Youth Music and Arts Service for Bedfordshire, decided to return to teaching in school. He has been Chairman of the Eastern Orchestral Board and is a former Trustee of The Wavendon Allmusic Plan. He is a Director and former Chairman of the Stables Theatre Ltd Board. Ian continues to be actively involved in practical music-making throughout the area.
For one day only - Beth Nielsen Chapman will be running a special Songwriting Masterclass workshop.
