Get to Know the Judges of SSSSPOTY 2024: ALEX PARKER

Alex Parker to judge at Stephen Sondheim student competition

"I love Sondheim’s work because nobody has managed to write so accurately and honestly about human nature as he. His music and lyrics are peerless in their complement of each other," says Alex.

"I'm delighted to be a judge for SSSSPOTY this year as a long-time Sondheim lover and admirer of his work, and it will be a thrill to see a new generation of talent and explore his work as well as the work of the next generation of new and upcoming writing talent."

Alex graduated from Birmingham University in 2012 with a BMus Honours degree in music. He is also the Musical Director of the Really Useful Group.

His musical director credits include: White Christmas (Sheffield Crucible), My Fair Lady (UK Tour), Gypsy (Alexandra Palace), Sunset Boulevard (Alexandra Palace/Royal Albert Hall), Chicago (Ljubljana Festival), Wonderful Town (Opera Holland Park), Far From Heaven (Turbine Theatre), Am Dram (Curve), A Little Night Music (Holland Park Opera) Mame (Hope Mill Theatre/Tour), The Color Purple (Curve), My Left/Right Foot (National Theatre Of Scotland), Hairspray, Sweet Charity (Pimlico Opera), Barnum, The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (Menier Chocolate Factory), Wonderland (UK Tour), A Little Night Music 40th Anniversary Concert (Palace), South Pacific (Cadogan Hall), Merrily We Roll Along, Sunset Boulevard, Follies (Yvonne Arnaud), The WhatsOnStage Awards 2015 – Present (Prince Of Wales/London Palladium).

His assistant and associate musical director credits include: My Fair Lady (London Coliseum), West Side Story, On The Town (BBC Proms), Les Misérables (Queens and Dubai Opera), Stephen Ward (Aldwych), The Pajama Game (Minerva) and Soho Cinders (Soho).

Alex produced and served as the musical supervisor to the London premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together at the St. James Theatre in 2013. He was also the musical supervisor for the London premiere of Working at the Southwark Playhouse in 2017.

As composer, Alex has written five musicals with Katie Lam. These include AmDram, All Aboard, The Railway Children and After You. After You was filmed at the London Coliseum for streaming. In 2021, they completed their new musical Henrietta, commissioned by National Youth Music Theatre.