AS A YOUTH
A keen musician, Forrester began studying classical piano at the age of 7 and went on to study at the London College of Music and London University, specialising in piano, church organ, voice, composition and history of music.  As a child, he joined the Children's Opera group in London, which acted both as a theatre company and an agency.  This experience allowed Forrester to enjoy success in many roles such as the "Shepherd's Boy" in Tosca, "Gherardino" in Gianni Schicchi and "Peaseblossom" in A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, "Mustardseed" in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and "Tiny Tim" in the BBC television production of A Christmas Carol, broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1962.  He also appeared in "The Avengers" on ITV and his voice was used in the Judy Garland film "I Could go on Singing".  At the age of 16, he became organist and choirmaster of St Michael's Parish Church, Wood Green, London until he moved to Scotland.

ON MOVING TO SCOTLAND
On moving to Scotland and gaining his teaching qualifications at Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh, Forrester spent 2 years singing with Scottish Opera and the SNO chorus, doing tours in America, Italy and Israel and performed with the Scottish Theatre Company.  Aside from his teaching posts with Central Region and Clackmannashire    councils, Forrester has undertaken many musical directorships with companies such as the Stirling and Bridge of Allan Operatic Society, the Gilbert and Sullivan Societies of Falkirk and Stirling, Stirling Gang Show and was also the pianist for the Stirling Burns Club for the many years.  Forrester has also had considerable involvement with local churches in the Stirling area as a regular organist for church services and is currently the organist and choirmaster of Bridge of Allan Parish Church where he has been for more than 40 years, taking part in several BBC church broadcasts.  Most memorably, in 1999, Forrester was musical director for the world premiere of the musical "Vincent - The Flame Burns Bright", which has now opened in Brisbane, Australia, and he appeared in the documentary on Channel 4 to mark its release.

SILENT MOVIE PLAYER
As well as his involvement in professional and amateur theatre, Forrester has provided live improvised piano accompaniment for a great variety silent movies at many venues throughout Scotland for the last 35 years, performing at the Filmhouse Edinburgh, the Glasgow Film Theatre and the Edinburgh international Film Festival.  Forrester has also composed music for the Scottish Screen Film Archives, Bo'ness Hippodrome Silent Cinema Festival, Falkirk Town Hall, Summerhall Edinburgh, Eden Court Cinema Inverness, the Macrobert Filmhouse Stirling and the Festival Theatre Edinburgh. "His talent for composition and improvisational technique have wowed audiences and brought screenings of classic films vividly to life for a whole new generation of cinema goers" (Daily Record). 
 

CENTRESCENE HISTORY                                                                                                  Forrester founded Centrescene in 1995, making it the first young persons' musical theatre in the immediate Stirling area.  Since its first performance, Bugsy Malone, in 1995, Forrester was musical director for every show staged by the company.  Centrescene did a plethore of musicals and variety shows, offering young people the opportunity to develop their theatre and musical skills but also their confidence and interactional skills. To go a step further, Forrester opened Centrescene Stage School in 2004, giving young people the further opportunity to get involved in all creative aspects of musical theatre by allowing them to choreograph and have a direct input in shows. He also co-founded Centrescene's affiliated adult company, Scene 2.

 FORRESTER'S RADIO STATIONS                                                                  Forrester is Directer and Owner of two global internet radio stations:-                  Stirling Fm Scotland and Forrester Pyke Radio.                                                        

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