Current Board Members

Suriya Umapathysivam President	Suriya has been attending G&S performances for as long as she can remember. Fresh out of high school Suriya was lucky enough to be named in the chorus of the G&S production of The Sound of Music. Before this, Suriya had extensive performance experience both in choirs and in on stage productions. Being a member of a choir since the age of 7 at school, Suriya was an active member of Young Adelaide Voices. This included a 4 week choral tour of America in 2011, where the First Concert Choir won a silver medal at The World Choir Games and had a clean sweep of the choral section of the International San Francisco Choral Festival. As well as performing as ‘July’ in Annie and ‘Jennyanydots’ in Cats. Suriya holds a Bachelor of Music (MusEd) in Classical Voice from the Elder Conservatorium of Music and a Masters of Teaching (Secondary) from the University of Adelaide. Currently she is the Faculty Leader in Performing Arts at Balaklava High School. In this role Suriya has had the pleasure to be both the Director and Musical Director of the a number of shows, such as Annie Jr in 2019, a number of Year 8 productions and ‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’ in 2020. In addition to this, Suriya has found a passion for encouraging her students to perform in the community with free concerts around Balaklava, including singing Christmas Carols and footpath concerts for nursing homes during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Suriya as has a passion for Music and Arts Education and delights in sharing the wonders of musicals and performing with her students and the community she serves.
Vanessa de Jong Vice-President	Vanessa has been an active member of the G&S Society since 2007 when she played Rapunzel in Into the Woods, earning her more commonly known name of ‘Punzie’ amongst society members. From a very young age, Vanessa has actively pursued the theatre arts and has since become a very experienced singer and actress. Her accolades include touring with Co-Opera through Australia and Europe, presenting concerts with the ASO and playing a long list of lead roles with the G&S Society.   Vanessa also holds an Advanced Diploma of Design for makeup, specialising in film, TV, theatre and SFX and this has led Vanessa to gain much experience in costuming, makeup and props design for theatre. Vanessa also produces and directs musical theatre privately with her company ‘Little World Media’ and she also works with schools to bring their annual musicals to the stage. Vanessa is the Social Coordinator on the Board and she is excited to continue to bring enthusiasm and energy to the society.
Alicia McCluskey Secretary	Alicia has been an active member of the G&S Society since 2008. In this time, she has had various roles from assistant stage manager, production assistant, production manager, crew and lighting operator and has enjoyed the variety this has brought into her life. Alicia’s love of musical theatre started at a young age, from watching live amateur and professional shows to watching classic movies over and over again. Whilst she has tried the on-stage life, she much prefers being behind the scenes and watching what is the machine of theatre come to life through all the different facets. Alicia looks forward to her new role as Secretary, and what the future holds for the Society.
Matt Willox Treasurer	Coming soon.
Paula Pamment Board Member	Paula has always loved singing, beginning at a very young age. She has gained experience in her Church Choir, several Festival of Arts Combined Choirs and The Woodville Concert Choir. Paula joined the G&S Society in 1981 and enjoyed many years of performing two shows a year, and a short time as Social Co-ordinator, before taking on the role of Ticket Secretary in 2001– a role she has found very fulfilling and hopes to continue for some time to come.
Tim de Jong Board Member	Tim has been a member of the G&S Board since January 2018, initially as the Production Manager for A Little Night Music. He currently serves as the Property and Maintenance Officer for the society. Tim has been involved in musical theatre for over 25 years in the roles of Production Manager, Musical Director, Set Design, Set Construction, Audio Design/Operation, Lighting Design/Operation and backstage crew. Tim holds a Bachelor of Music (Education) from the Elder Conservatorium of Music and a Graduate Diploma of Education, Adelaide University. He was the Director of Music at Walford Anglican School for Girls for ten years 2008-2017 and is currently Leader of Music and Music Production at Loreto College, Marryatville With his music education career, Tim has brought to fruition many musical productions and this is something he is very passionate about. Tim undertook focused training in conducting during his time at the Elder Conservatorium and this has led him to become very passionate about conducting orchestras and ensembles. As an educator, Tim particularly enjoys working with young students to develop their ensemble playing and solo performance skills.
Christine Hodgen Board Member	Christine has musically directed and/or played for musical theatre productions since 1989, starting with Murray Bridge Players and Singers. Although her private music passion is choral jazz, she has been happily seduced into the musical theatre world and involved in modern cantatas, musicals and showcases for over 30 years. Christine musically directed A Little Night Music for G&S and then a fundraising concert in 2019. In her work life, Christine is a voice and piano teacher, SACE accompanist and choral conductor. She currently works at Walford School for Girls and Loreto College. Christine can be found quilting or in her garden in her non-music time. She is delighted to be part of the G&S team.
Shivawn Young Board Member	Shivawn has always expressed an interest in musical theater. As a young child her ‘Show and Tell’ was singing ‘Part of Your World” from ‘The Little Mermaid’ for her school mates. Deciding that she needed some more formal training if she was going to force people to hear her sing, Shivawn’s parents enroled her at Mighy Good Talent School. There she studied singing, acting, tap and jazz dance. During her high school years she competed in the Rock Eisteddfod. However Shivawn then took a break from the stage to study Marketing and Communications, and currently works as a digital marketing specialist at the Adelaide Festival Centre. Shivawn first joined The G&S Society in 2021 as an EVITA cast member and never left! She became part of the Board upon acting as Production Manager for Tarantara! Tarantara! (2022), then was formally voted onto the Board for the 2022-23 season as an ex-officio then elected in 2023.
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