Elaine Toman

(Chairperson)

Elaine has been part of the wonderful St Agnes’ family for over 20 years.   She has performed as dancer and chorus member in many St Agnes’ productions, with her favourite shows at the Grand Opera House including The Sound of Music, Hairspray, 9 to 5, 42nd Street, Shrek, Calamity Jane, and Young Frankenstein at The MAC.  

A Mathematics teacher by day, Elaine has served previously on the committee as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer and Chair in previous years. She relishes the opportunity to give back to a society that has created so much joy and entertainment to the community.

Pauline Hughes

(Secretary)

Pauline has been a member of the company since 2011 when she joined the ensemble for Thoroughly Modern Millie (GOH). Since then, she has more often been found backstage than onstage as an integral part of the Props team. 

A previous Head of Drama at St Malachy's College, Belfast, she has had the opportunity to become more involved in the local Amateur scene since leaving full-time teaching. In the last year she has directed Footloose (Theatre at the Mill) for Fortwilliam Musical Society and most recently was the stage manager for the fabulous Irish premiere of Come From Away at the Lyric theatre. 

Pauline is delighted to serve this wonderful company as Secretary and give back to the members who have always been such a great support, and wonderful friends.

Martin McDowell

(Vice Chairperson)

Martin joined St Agnes’ Choral Society for Shrek in 2022 and has since featured as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (GOH, 2023) and the Monster in Young Frankenstein (The MAC, 2024). He has served previously as Music Coordinator to the society since 2023.

Elsewhere, Martin appeared in the recent adult amateur premiere of Les Miserables: Let the People Sing for its 40th anniversary, as well as principal roles in Urinetown and Guys and Dolls with Newcastle Glees. 

Martin works in television and film production but has also fulfilled various freelance creative roles with celebrated theatre companies including Blunt Fringe and TheatreofplucK.

A passionate advocate for theatre and performing arts, Martin serves as National Councillor for Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS), and as Secretary to the organisation’s Northern Region.

Anna Midgley

(Treasurer)
Anna’s first production with St Agnes’ Choral society was as a child in Annie Get Your Gun (GOH, 2009), but she later returned to the society in 2018. Anna’s favourite show with the company was Young Frankenstein (The MAC) where she first tried her hand at tap dancing!

By day, Anna is a data analyst, and she very much welcomes the brain break from the screen to rehearse and perform. Anna loves dancing in the shows and concerts, and the pleasure of doing so alongside her mum in recent years has been particularly special.

Michelle Harkin

(Assistant Secretary)
A primary school teacher and her school’s Music Coordinator, Michelle has all of her grades in singing and piano as well as a DipLCM in Musical Theatre. An avid member of the Grove Theatre group in Derry all her life, she later taught music to the children’s group as well as participating in the annual pantomimes and other productions. As a student, she performed in musicals as well as producing shows and acting as musical director.

Michelle began performing with Belfast companies in  2009 with Ulster Operatic Company, as well as New Lyric Operatic Company. She joined St Agnes’ in 2014, and later joined the committee in 2022 as the Chorus Representative - a natural fit as she has spent most of her life in the chorus and is very passionate about ensemble involvement in shows!

She is pleased to take on the new challenge of Assistant Secretary this year. Her first Aggies show was Hairspray and her favourite show was Shrek as it was so much fun and she loved having the opportunity to play the Wicked Witch! 

Michelle is mum to two boys and is very grateful to her Aggies family for all of their friendship and craic over the years.

Stephen Donnan-Dalzell

(Public Relations Officer)
With a vibrant passion for the stage, Stephen has showcased their talents across several productions. Their performances with St Agnes' include Dracula and the Herald in Young Frankenstein (The MAC, 2024), and contributing to the ensemble of The Addams Family (GOH, 2023). 

Most recently, they took on the engaging role of Loco/Hugo in Bardic Theatre’s much acclaimed production Everybody's Talking About Jamie. As a member of Newcastle Glees, they've featured in Guys and Dolls and Calendar Girls, and took on the flamboyant role of Senator Fipp in Urinetown.

Stephen is also a talented writer and drag performer, known to their fans as Cara Van Parke. They presently balance this artistic life with meaningful work in family services for the Belfast Trust.

Allen Gordon

(Music Coordinator)

Allen joined St. Agnes’ in late 2021 and is now serving as the society’s Music Coordinator.  He has had the great privilege of being their leading man in The Addams Family (GOH, 2023) and Young Frankenstein (The MAC, 2024).

He is also an active performer and committee member with Newcastle Glees, with principal roles in The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, Calendar Girls, and Made in Dagenham.

A full-time piano and voice tutor, he is passionate about nurturing musical talent and sharing a love of performance with others.

Outside the society he is one half of the recording duo “Broken Compass”, alongside fellow committee member Ben Davidson, together they have recently released their debut single, Storm.

Sam Nolan

(Chorus Representative)

Sam joined St Agnes' in 2023 in the Young Frankenstein ensemble and quickly fell in love with the society and performing. He has since played Francis Fryer in our 2024 production of Calamity Jane (GOH) and performed in our 2025 concert, The Magic of Musicals (Ulster Hall). 

Sam works in the health service, and in his spare time has obtained an LLCM in Music Theatre Performance from the University of West London. He is very excited to be on the executive committee and is looking forward to many more shows with Aggies!

Ben Davidson

(Social Secretary)

Ben joined St Agnes' this year to first participate in the Magic of the Musicals concert at the beautiful Ulster Hall in Belfast. 

He has been a performer for many years on stage and in the recording studio, with an extensive writing and recording career. Ben is one half of Broken Compass with partner and fellow co-committee member, Allen Gordon.

After recently relocating to Northern Ireland, Ben was keen to jump into the local performing scene to make friends, and use his years of expertise as a part of this year’s committee. He is excited for his first fully-staged production with Aggies in 2026.

Pat Smyth

HONORARY POSITION (VICE PRESIDENT)
“When I joined St Agnes as a young man aged 17 I could never have foreseen how that decision would shape the years ahead! Meeting my wife Angela and together with our three children we enjoy lifelong friendships, wonderful music and beautiful memories that we hold so dear.”

Pat is a life member of St Agnes’ Choral Society and continues to perform on stage with our company, with his most recent appearance as the Colonel in Calamity Jane alongside his children David and Helen.

He is truly honoured to be President of St Agnes’ Choral Society and is grateful to be able to contribute to the fabric of the company’s legacy in years to come.

Fiona Keegan

HONORARY POSITION (VICE PRESIDENT)
Fiona is the Principal of a large Primary School in Belfast. She is a life member of St Agnes’ Choral Society and has been honoured to serve on the committee for many years in several different capacities, including the prestigious role of Chairperson.

Over the years she has been honoured to play many leading ladies in the glorious surroundings of the Grand Opera House – possibly too many to mention! Fiona also enjoys the annual concerts staged by the company and the many charitable fundraising functions. Fiona is very proud to be a member of this wonderful company, where she has made lifelong friends and been gifted many opportunities both on and off stage.