Wilson is based in Belfast and is currently musical director for Belvoir Players Studio Theatre, New Lyric Operatic Company, Lisnagarvey Operatic, Belfast Music and Drama Society and the Ulster Operatic Company. In 2019 he continues his association with Douglas Choral Union in the Isle of Man. Wilson has conducted the N Ireland premieres of Mack and Mabel, Camelot, Witches of Eastwick, Copacabana, Chess, West Side Story (amateur premiere), Legally Blonde, Sweeney Todd (amateur premiere), Avenue Q and White Christmas. He has appeared at both Waterford International Light Opera Festival and the Gilbert and Sullivan International Festival in Buxton (winning amongst numerous awards best show with New Lyric Operatic). He has recently conducted performances of Pirates of Penzance in the National Concert Hall, Dublin with Lyric Opera and a sell-out run of Grease at Belfast’s Grand Opera House. Wilson also has been musical director in excess of over 1300 performances at the Belfast GOH, where in 2019 he continues his association with their Summer Youth Project production of Miss Saigon.
WILSON SHIELDS
Musical Director
Mark was Musical Director for Riverdance, the Irish dance phenomenon, for four years, traveling all over the world and premiering the show in Japan, Hong Kong and China, where it played in The Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. He was also musical director for the debut North American tour of Celtic Thunder, which played to average audiences of 7,500. Other MD credits include Dancing Shoes (GOH, Belfast), On Eagles Wing (Odyssey Arena, Belfast), and most of the major musicals across the UK and Ireland – West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Cabaret, Chicago etc. He has worked with Wayne Sleep, Bonnie Langford, Kim Criswell, Johnny Mathis, Howard Keel, Suzi Quatro, John Barrowman, Van Morrison, Shane McGowan and a variety of other international artists including Northern Irish born Eamonn McCrystal – winner of three Emmy Awards. His original works include Pride & Prejudice: The Musical (Lyric Theatre), Comedy of Errors: the Musical (Theatre at the Mill), Dallas Sweetman for Paines Plough Theatre Co, Promised Land : A New Opera (Canterbury International Arts Festival), Strive and The Current (Waterfront Hall), and a host of children’s shows and pantomimes for Qdos, Ulster Theatre Company, GBL & c21 production companies. He has produced numerous records including an album in Nashville with country legend Don Williams. He studied composition at the Queen’s University of Belfast with acclaimed South African composer, Kevin Volans.
Mark sadly passed away in December 2020. He is greatly missed by all involved in this production.
MARK DOUGHERTY
Orchestration