Wendy Richardson
Musical Director & Keyboards
Manchester born Wendy Richardson trained with the Northern Royal School of music. She has built a career which spans over 30 years, gaining her a reputation as being a formidable Musical Director, who settles for nothing less than perfection in every performance.
Hailed by her peers and subordinates as an outstanding musician, she is in constant demand as a band leader and Musical Director.
She has travelled the world as a Musical Director and has many national tours to her credit.
Andy Brotherton
Drums
Andy Brotherton graduated from Leeds Conservatoire with a degree in Jazz studies in 2010. Since then he has been extremely busy working on various Theatre shows, touring both at home and abroad and in the West end. These include “The Rat Pack live from Las Vegas’, ‘Northern Live’, ‘Roy G Hemmings’ and many more.
Andy is also a regular with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, The International Film Orchestra and The British Concert Orchestra.
Andy can also be found in various recording studios for various artists. Andy is super excited and happy to be playing drums for ‘The Diana Ross Story’.
Mark Cooper
Bass Guitar
Mark, a professional bass player, quickly gained a reputation as bass player to the stars having worked with hundreds of top acts.
Highlights include The Joe Loss Orchestra, The Howard Keel Orchestra, Alvin Stardust, Don Felder (Eagles) Steve Cropper (Blues Brothers), Rick Wakeman, Howie Casey (Wings) and the Drifters as executive MD responsible for their 2013-14 shows.
Mark is delighted to be working with the talented cast of ‘The Diana Ross Story’.
Mat Cunningham
Guitar
Mat showed an interest in guitar from an early age, and began his musical journey as a self taught musician at the age of 14.
After playing semi-professionally in pubs and clubs for many years, he decided to turn professional in 2018, touring the UK hotels and holiday parks with Popwork Party Band.
Mat joined the show in January 2023, and has also been touring the UK theatre circuit with ‘Maggie May – The Rod Stewart Years’. He will also be performing in the upcoming show, ‘Drag me to the 80’s’.
In his spare time he writes and produces his own music as a keen vocalist.
Gilly Lodge
Saxophone & Flute
Gilly grew up in Lincoln, graduated in Jazz and Contemporary Music from the City of Leeds College of Music and is now based in London.
Gilly has played in a variety of Theatre Shows, Bands and Ensembles in the UK, Europe, Middle East and on Cruise Ships around the world. This includes the European Tours of ‘Footloose the Musical’ and ‘Swinging St Pauli’, the Motown Show ‘Dancing in the Streets’ UK Tours and in the West End, ‘Oliver!’ at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Pantomimes at Lincoln’s Theatre Royal, UK Tour of Hello Dolly, Alice in Wonderland Christmas Show at the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton, Anita Harris, Whitney Queen of the Night, Roy G Hemmings and as a Solo Performer.
Gilly is having a great time performing with ‘The Diana Ross Story’.