Artistic Team

Stage Director - Alistair Donkin

Alistair Donkin’s first appearance with the Society was the summer of 1982. He’s been back with us every summer since, adding directorial duties since our 1985 Iolanthe. It is difficult to imagine our Society without the infusion of knowledge, skill and talent Alistair shares with us every summer. Alistair was fortunate to be able to leave his career as a solicitor in England to pursue a professional career in theatre with the original D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1979. Whilst with that Company he played as both chorister and principal in all the operas in the D’Oyly Carte repertoire.

That dual capacity gave him a unique insight into the Savoy Operas and has enabled him to create and pursue a career directing and performing those operas in a way in which he hopes W. S. Gilbert would approve - overtly traditional but with modern allusions to allow them to reach a 21st Century audience. Many of his productions have received national and international accolades. His first foray into directing non-G & S was with the UK Northern Amateur Premiere of La Cage aux Folles, but the list now includes The Sound of Music, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, Oklahoma!, The King and I , Brigadoon and Camelot to name but a few. Having been spoilt by Gilbert’s dialogue, Alistair particularly enjoys directing other shows with a good “book” such as My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver.

Music Director - Robert Linder

Robert Linder began his G&S career in the 11th grade of high school singing the Major General in Pirates of Penzance when he did not know who Gilbert & Sullivan were — and had no idea he would spend forty summers with the Houston Society conducting most all of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas. He began his G&S conducting career in 1962 when founding Society conductor, Dr. Merrills Lewis, asked him to be his assistant, and he continued until retiring in 2002 — but has come back this year to be in the pit for his “artistic partner” in G&S for many years, Doyly Carte’s Alistair Donkin. 

During his G&S years, Linder conducted the Society in Buxton, England, winning the Outstanding Music Director Award at the International G&S Festival in both 1995 and again in 1998.  During his career, he also conducted G&S productions for Cleveland Opera and Milwaukee’s Skylight Theatre, as well as the Joseph Papp production of Pirates of Penzance for Theatre Under The Stars. 
   
Away from his G&S life, he was Band Director and Dean of Fine Arts at Houston Baptist University for over 25 years.  He conducted for Theatre Under the Stars for over 20 seasons and was the Maestro for the Houston Civic Symphony for 20 seasons.  Along the way, he found time to conduct three national TV shows for CBS and NBC in Nashville, as well as the Society's Emmy-nominated Princess Ida production for PBS.  He also received multiple Grammy nominations as a conductor and producer. He is very proud of the many special years he has enjoyed working with Alistair Donkin producing the best  “traditional G&S" in America.  He is also proud that he discovered one of G&S’s finest soprano choristers, his wife Diana, who agreed to “sail the ocean blue” with him the last 44 years. 

Chorus Master - Joseph Rawley

Bass-baritone Joseph Rawley enjoys an active performing career, including opera performances, recitals, and choral works.  Some of the venues where Mr. Rawley has performed include Seattle Opera, Portland (OR) Opera, Opera Idaho, and Opera in the Heights here in the Houston area.   He performs locally with various churches and other artistic outlets as a chorus member and soloist.  

He is the Christian Education Director and Children’s Choir Director at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Houston. He also serves the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston as their Artistic Coordinator and Chorus Master, teaches music through Alvin Community College, and teaches voice privately. When not busy with work, Mr. Rawley enjoys reading, golfing, and spending time with his family. 

Mr. Rawley makes his home in Pearland, TX where he lives with his wife, pianist Dr. Sarah Spencer-Rawley, and their daughter Susannah.  [photo credit: Shannon Langman]