Emer Halpenny began her apprenticeship in amateur musical theatre with Stillorgan Musical Company back in the days when everything was in black and white. After directing a few shows for them and serving her time on the committee (secretaries everywhere have her sympathy) she left for the big world of professional theatre and film, directing for both amateur groups and professional theatre and television companies. Having studied drama with Deirdre Ryan Galassi in Dublin and with the Phoenix Contemporary Theatre Company in London, Emer obtained a Licentiate from Trinity College London. She is also an Associate of the Irish Board of Speech & Drama in Dublin.

Finding her full time job was getting in the way, she eventually left television production to set up her drama school twenty years ago this September. Emer was also one of the founder members of the Stillorgan Festival of Music & Drama, which ran throughout the nineties. Feis adjudication work has taken her around the country, but after having two children with her demanding actor husband, she retreated quietly to her drama school work mainly, taking time out occasionally to write and become an award winning journalist (that news is quite fresh, she is still very excited about it). Emer is honoured to be an AIMS adjudicator and is really enjoying the job so far. She is looking forward to this wonderful way back into the magical world of musical theatre.

Andrea Rea comes from Minneapolis, Minnesota in the USA. She was an active member of the Westwood Players while in America, a musical society specialising in Gilbert and Sullivan and mainstream musical theatre. She has lived in Ireland for 28 years and has been a teacher of music, choral and orchestral conductor and freelance musician. She toured with the Phil Coulter Orchestra and is a member of a professional string quartet. She has worked as MD for the Newcastle Glee Singers, and Newry Musical and Orchestral Society and has also been involved in a production capacity with various theatrical companies. Andrea is currently music, opera and dance critic for the Newsletter and freelance reporter for the BBC in Belfast.

A member of Thurles Musical Society, Noel Dundon is the AIMS Programme Adjudicator again this year, having been the programme editor with Thurles for more than a decade now. A journalist by profession, he has been on stage with Thurles for many years and played a number of roles in various shows, including "Show Boat", "Parade", "Ragtime", "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Crazy For You". Noel also acts as PRO for Thurles Musical Society and was Runner-Up in the Best Programme category of the AIMS Awards in 2003 for the Camelot programme.

Noel really enjoyed the experience of being Programme Adjudicator last year and was lavish in his praise for all those who work so hard to ensure that the programmes are of a high standard, informative and attractive for patrons. Noel is also involved in programme production in Semple Stadium, Thurles through his role as GAA correspondant - he is heavily in involved in GAA at club level and is still playing the native games.

Noel is married to Brid and has two daughters, Cathy and Eve, both of whom are regular attendees at the show.