Roger Hewett Music

A few fun facts:

began learning piano at age 6 🎹
accompanied his primary school assembly at 7
first appeared onstage at the Theatre Royal (Norwich) at age 10, singing in Bizet’s ‘Carmen’
‘learned the ropes’ as keyboard player at a Pontins holiday camp.
worked with legendary British entertainers, such as Bob Monkhouse, Ken Dodd, Bradley Walsh 😉
accompanied Kenny Baker (Star Wars R2D2) in cabaret (he was very proficient on vibes/harmonica) ✨

Pontins, Pakefield.
(Third from right, aged 17)

worked on cruise ships as a showband pianist in the Caribbean and Alaska, and has twice circumnavigated South America.
once short-circuited the entire Lido Lounge and aft deck of the M.V. Regent Sea by mistakingly plugging his keyboard into the wong outlet.

played at Montreal’s Bordeaux Prison with a metal band called ‘Kaching - Kachung’
accompanied professional level dance at ESDQ/Les Grands Ballets Canadiens for several years
played cocktail piano at a reception for George Bush(s) Sr, Jr, Brian Mulroney and Jean Chrétien
once arrived early for a Montreal wedding and set up his instruments in the wrong synagogue 😗
was later asked to leave the (correct) synagogue for bringing in a ham sandwich 😇🤫
was scolded at an elegant private garden party for playing soft porn music whilst the hostess's two dogs fornicated in front of the guests 🤭
accompanied Gino Vannelli during a CBC tribute to hockey legend Guy Lafleur
accompanied Bugs Bunny cartoons with a symphony orchestra 🎻
played on the Plains of Abraham, (Quebec City) before a crowd of over 63,000

orchestrated and/or composed for several major films, including ‘The Art Of War’ and ‘Double Jeopardy’
orchestrated and conducted the scores for several prominent Quebec films and tv series
wrote symphonic Pops arrangements for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, for the likes of Lara Fabian, Claude Dubois and Corey Hart
composed and produced two full length CDs of original orchestrated music for intermediate/advanced ballet class
has written arrangements for several Quebec recording artists
arranged music for two Royal visits to Ottawa by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II
received an honorary mention for his contribution towards an Emmy Award winning miniseries

toured the world for 19 years as bandleader for Cirque du Soleil’s flagship production 'Corteo’ performing before audiences totalling over 10 million spectators
improvised an in-context Baroque-style organ solo lasting over 4 minutes during the World Premier of ‘Corteo’ in Montreal, due to a show-stop caused by a technical malfunction
hastily learned accordion for a temporary replacement on ‘Varekai'
composed music for multiple medalists at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (Paris)
composed music for a new ‘Corteo’ handbalancing act which premiered at London’s Royal Albert Hall
acclaimed concert organist Anna Lapwood performed Roger’s ‘Organ Finale’ at the closing of Corteo’s run at the Royal Albert Hall

Courtesy: CBC/Cirque du Soleil