Maria Kesselman
Maria trained at the Arts Educational School, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and The Royal College of Music, studying singing with Marion Studholme, repertoire with Robert Sutherland and Piano with Peter Element, gaining her ARCM and dip. RCM diplomas. Maria maintains a varied performing career spanning musical theatre, theatre, opera, concert, recording, cabaret, and dance.
In musical theatre and theatre, Maria’s credits include numerous lead roles including ‘Christine’ opposite Michael Crawford in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre; ‘Jenny Lind’ in ‘Barnum’,‘Maria Vittoria’, in ‘Which Witch’ at the Piccadilly Theatre; ‘Ruthie’ in The Royal National Theatre production of ‘Lady in the Dark’,‘Laundress’ in ‘Yerma’ at The National Theatre Studio; ‘Dvora’ in ‘Golem’ at The New End Theatre Hampstead; ‘Eliza Doolittle’ in ‘My Fair Lady’, New Zealand tour; ‘Deanna Durbin’ in ‘Two Smart Girls’ at ‘The Queen Elizabeth Hall’; ‘Maria’ in ‘The Sound of Music’ at ‘The Everyman’. Maria also received critical acclaim and a ‘Time Out’ award for her performance as ‘Melinda Coverdale’ in ‘A Judgement in Stone’, with Sheila Hancock at The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith.
In opera, Maria has also performed widely, including: ‘Musetta’ in ‘La Boheme’ and ‘Despina’ in ‘Cosi Fan Tutti’ for Music Theatre London, in London and Amsterdam; ‘Musetta’ in the film version of ‘La Boheme’, for Channel 5, ‘Street Scene’ and ‘Katya Kabanova’ with The English National Opera, ‘Bess’ in ‘Porgy and Bess’ with the Bath Philharmonia Orchestra.
Maria also featured in The Royal Opera House documentary ‘Trouble at the House’ for BBC 2 singing ‘Vissi d’Arte’.
Mike Sterling
"A true entertainer" …. Michael Parkinson.
Mike Sterling is a much-in-demand performer with over 35 years’ experience encompassing West End theatre, television, radio, classical stage and recording. He has worked alongside many superstars in various television programmes and UK tours, including Dame Shirley Bassey, Barry Manilow, Michael Ball and Engelbert Humperdinck. His West End credits include The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera which he performed over 1,000 times at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. His portrayal of both roles has earned him international acclaim. He has also played the roles of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Marius in Les Misérables and Perón in Evita and, in 2008, played the role of Fagin in the Chinese premiere of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the PLA Opera House, Beijing. He took part in both the 10th and 25th Les Misérables Anniversary Concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1995 and O2 Arena in 2010 respectively and has toured his own concert, Mike Sterling in Concert, repeatedly. He has appeared on television extensively, including fronting his own series, Mike Sterling’s Music Forum, for Border Television and released several solo albums. He has performed across the world with many leading orchestras. In 2021 in conjunction and with Worldwide and Pinewood, Mike launched a new concert on CentreStage.tv featuring music from his various West End roles called musicals and more.
