Front of Stage
Darren Clarke
Musical Director
Born in Lancashire, Darren studied at the Royal Northern College of Music.
He has played various roles in opera, operetta, musicals and plays up and down the British Isles, North America, Australia, New Zealand and a variety of European countries.
Darren has performed with Carl Rosa Opera Company, Opera Holland Park, Dorset Opera, Raymond Gubbay, Birmingham Opera, Mid-Wales Opera, Heritage Opera and at the Aldeburgh and Bregenz Festivals.
He has also featured in acting roles such as Rochester (Jane Eyre), Konstantinos (The Seagull), The Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz) and recently as the Duke of Cornwall in Keith Warner’s production at Grange Opera of King Lear with Sir John Tomlinson and Sir Thomas Allen.
He regularly performs with his wife Caroline Joy Clarke as the award-winning opera and guitar duo Trovatori entertaining audiences nationally and internationally. They also record for clients worldwide as online session singers as well as voice over work from their home studio.
Darren is also a Qi Gong practitioner and breathwork instructor; he incorporates these skills into his own craft as well as his work as a singing teacher.
Unaccustomed to having his back to an audience, Darren is learning new skills and is proud to direct the gentlemen of the Ludlow Male Voice Choir
Jane Hughes
Accompanist
Jane started playing the piano at a young age and started accompanying her junior school hymns in assemblies and then at church services. She went onto studying piano, piano accompaniment and flute at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
She has accompanied many choirs, singers and soloists and also teaches privately. She has been playing for Ludlow Male Voice Choir for 10 years and regularly puts on charity concerts, last year's concert raising £800 as part of the Ludlow fringe festival.
Amy Evans
Assistant Musical Director
Amy Evans was born and bred in Ludlow. She studied at Ludlow C of E School, Hereford Sixth Form College and at Leeds University where she graduated in Maths with Music, and later she completed her qualification as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
A talented singer and musician, Amy joined the Ludlow-based all-girl singing group Bella Acappella in January 2011 and began directing in September 2011.
She was invited to take over musical directorship of LMVC in September 2016 and, during her time as director, the choir doubled in membership.
In 2021, after leading the choir for five years, Amy felt it was necessary to take a step back due to work and other commitments. In 2023 she returned on a part-time basis as assistant to Darren Clarke.
Amy is currently Company Accountant at Brightwells Ltd in Leominster.