Judge Biographies

Simon Crookall
Simon Crookall was born in Cheshire England.  He studied Economics at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a Choral Scholarship.  He went to Scotland in 1983 to take up the post of Academic Assistant at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and was later promoted to Assistant to the Principal and subsequently Front of House Manager. 

In 1989 he was appointed General Manager of The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, a 900-seat concert hall which is the home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Edinburgh International festival morning recitals, as well as host to an eclectic programme of chamber music, folk, jazz and rock.

He was appointed General Manager of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 1995, with particular responsibility for the orchestral department.  In December 1996 he was appointed Acting Chief Executive and subsequently became Chief Executive in May 1997.

He was chairman of the Board of the Association of British Orchestras from 2002-05 as well as a performing musician.

Simon Crookall was appointed to the position of President and CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in January 2005.

Steven Stolen
Steven Stolen enjoys an active and eclectic life as a singing artist, educator, arts administrator and community leader. His singing experiences have included solo appearances with many of the country's finest symphony orchestras including the symphonies of San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore, St Louis, San Antonio, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik of Toronto and many others. Mr. Stolen has appeared many times with the Indianapolis Symphony, most recently as the tenor soloist in Carl Orff's CARMINA BURANA in the 06-07 season under the direction of James Paul. He has sung at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra and made his New York debut as Jonathan in Handel's SAUL at the BAM Festival. His active performing schedule includes a return to New York in early 2007 for a concert at Merkin Hall. He is the founder and Resident Artist of MERIDIAN SONG PROJECT, the only vocal chamber music series of its kind in the Midwest.

Mr. Stolen has enjoyed a long career in academia, serving on the faculties at Central Michigan University, Roanoke College, his alma mater, Simpson College, Bowling Green State University and nearly fifteen years at Butler University where he also served as head of the music department in the Jordan College of Fine Arts and as Executive Director of  Major Gifts and Campaign Programs with Butler's office of University Advancement. After a successful tenure as Executive Director of the Indianapolis Children's Choir, Mr. Stolen was named Managing Director of the Indiana Repertory Theatre where he serves as co-CEO, managing and directing the administrative, financial and overall business affairs of Indiana's largest fully professional theatre company. He was recently included in the Indianapolis Star's People to Watch in '07.

He has also been co-editor of two important song collections published by Hal Leonard Publishing Company and has, for nearly fifteen years, been a recording artist for Hal Leonard, performing on nearly twenty-five different recording/publishing projects. Mr. Stolen was a member of Class XXVII with the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, has served on the Metropolitan Development Commission (appointed by the City County Council) and regularly serves on boards and committees for community organizations of all kinds. In addition to his active professional and performing life, he can be heard weekly as the producer and host of WFYI (90.1 FM) Radio's Opera Matinee throughout Central Indiana.

Jill O'Malia

HONORS:

• FORMER “MISS INDIANA” AND TALENT WINNER “MISS AMERICA”
• FORMER “MISS ANDERSON PRELIMINARY TALENT WINNER
• 500 FESTIVAL PRINCESS WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 MILE RACE
• PERFORMED @ BUTLER UNIVERSITY ANDERSON MAINSTAGE THEATRE, ANDERSON UNIVERSITY, MUNICE CIVIC
• THEATER, ARTISTS THEATER, etc.  
• ATHENA AWARD WINNER FOR OUTSTANDING BUSINESS WOMAN AND COMMUNITY LEADER
  

• “WEST SIDE STORY”  MARIA
• “I DO I DO”  AGNES
• “KISS ME KATE” KATE
• “HELLO DOLLY” DOLLY AND IRENE
• “OLIVER” NANCY
• “ANNIE” GRACE FARRELL
• “FANTASTIKS” LUISA
• “GYPSY” MAMA ROSE
• “OKLAHOMA” LAURIE & ADO ANNIE
• “1776” ABIGAIL ADAMS
• “MAN OF LAMANCHA” ALDONZA
• “ANYTHING GOES” RENO SWEENEY
• “SOUND OF MUSIC” MARIA
• “MAME”  MAME
• “THE KING AND I” ANNA AND TUPTIM
• “WILL ROGERS FOLLIES” BETTY BLAKE
• “AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND” PRINCIPLE SINGER, etc.
• MC AN JUDGE FOR “MISS AMERICA” PRELIMINARY PAGEANTS
• MC AND COORDINATOR FOR FASHION SHOWS
• SOLOIST FOR INDIANA PACERS  (NATIONAL ANTHEM)
• SOLOIST FOR HOOSIER PARK’S INDIANA DERBY (NATIONAL ANTHEM)
• SOLOIST FOR INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS (NATIONAL ANTHEM)
• VOCAL SOLOIST WITH “HEARTLAND BIG BAND” & “ENCOURAGEMENT” TRIO
• DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER FOR COMMUNITY AND CHURCH EVENTS
• PHOTOGRAHPERS MODEL, TELEVISON COMMERCIALS AND VOICE OVERS
• STUDIO SINGER FOR COMMERCIALS AND GOSPEL CD’S