Shaun Ryan (conductor) is a lecturer at the Ulster University Music Division, Magee College in Derry. In 1996, as a member of the Dalriada Piano Trio, Shaun performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank. In 1999 he took directorship of the University of Ulster’s Music Division Choir, a position he has since held. In addition to directing the University’s Choir and Chamber Choir, Shaun was Conductor of Larne Choral Society from 2002 to 2005, has worked with the Chapel Choir of Trinity College Dublin and The Dublin Gospel Choir, and has acted as bass-section coach and rehearsal conductor with the Ulster Youth Choir. In 2006, Shaun was Musical Director for UTV’s opening ceremony of The Special Olympic Games, broadcast from the Odyssey Arena, Belfast. His work in musical theatre has included conducting Schoenberg and Boublil’s Les Misérables and the Vivian Ellis Prize-winning opera by Laurence Roman, Ulysses – a Musical Odyssey, which toured Ireland and was subsequently featured on London’s Southbank. In recent years Shaun has worked with the Ulster Orchestra, the London Southbank Sinfonia and St Andrews Chamber Orchestra, and he has conducted the combined chamber choirs of the Universities of Ulster and Aberdeen in performances across Northern Ireland and Scotland.

A native of Mid-Ulster, Gail Evans (repetiteur) graduated from the University of Ulster with a BMus (Hons), having studied piano under Elizabeth Bicker and Stephanie Hughes and organ with Desmond Hunter. Upon completion of a PGCE, Gail began a teaching career and is currently on a career break from the post of Head of Music at the Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt. As well as teaching piano, Gail has worked extensively as an accompanist and repetiteur, for the University of Ulster Choir, Tosini, Bel Canto School of Singing, NI Opera, the Sperrin Choir and also at Lagan, Hollywood and Ballymena Music Festivals. In addition, Gail has considerable experience training choirs of all ages and abilities. Having enjoyed a year as Associate Accompanist with Belfast Philharmonic Choir and Phil Kids, under the tutelage and watchful eyes of Stephen Doughty and Christopher Bell, she is delighted to have been appointed in 2011 as official accompanist with both choirs.

Stewart Smith (Chamber Choir repetiteur) studied Music at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown where he completed a BMus (Hon) degree in 1995. Earlier this year, he completed a Master’s degree in organ performance at Ulster University, Magee under the organ tutelage of Prof. Desmond Hunter. As a recitalist, Stewart has been engaged by the Ulster Organ Society, Ballywillan Summer Series and Christ Church, Londonderry. He has fifteen years’ experience as Head of Music at secondary-level education and has spent eight years as Director of Music, All Saints Parish Church, Londonderry. In recent years, Stewart has been engaged as Chamber Choir repetiteur and organ accompanist for the Ulster University Choir, and he is much sought after throughout the island of Ireland as an accompanist.