Rev. Charles Ilunga (President)
Charles is a Methodist Minister in the Blackheath and Crystal Palace Circuit, with pastoral oversight on Lewisham, Sunfields and Eltham Park churches. He is married to Josee Ilunga and has 5 children, 2 girls and 3 boys. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he came with his family to the UK as the result of fleeing from war that ravaged millions of Congolese lives in the years 1998 -2000. He ended up in the Republic of Zambia Mwange Refugee Camp, where he and family lived as refugees for almost 10 years. Charles joined the circuit in 2020 during the Covid pandemic having been with the Forest Circuit in Walthamstow, where he served 3 churches for 10 years. His interests are walking, jogging and reading theological and philosophical books. Biblical is his style of preaching. Having attended the PSA Orchestra on Sunday 28 September 2025, Charles fell in strong support of its ministry, as he saw in it a wonderful outreach activity spreading the Christian message to the wider community in Eltham through uplifting hymns singing with the whole orchestra. Martin Cleave (Musical Director)
Martin began piano lessons at the age of seven and went on to study at the Royal College of Music graduating in 1988. Having been Musical Director for many amateur productions in South East London ranging from Guys and Dolls to The Magic Flute, he is in regular demand as an accompanist, and has also created arrangements for the Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra, the award winning female a cappella group Just Voices and his own Palm Court Trio. More recently he has given presentations and performances for the London Light Music Meetings Group. He is currently Pianist and Music Manager at the Royal Academy of Dance, and became conductor of the Eltham Park Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Orchestra in 2016. James Hay (Guest Artists Secretary)
James studied at Trinity College of Music, London and in Vienna, and has worked in opera, musical theatre and on the concert platform. He made his operatic debut in Offenbach's La Perichole for London University. Later appearances included productions of Die Fledermaus, Madam Butterfly, Tales of Hoffman, Fidelio and Cosi Fan Tutte, with principal roles in Kentish Opera’s The Merry Widow, and Orpheus in the Underworld. He also featured in Something Wonderful at The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, and on recordings with the BBC on the occasion of the Queen Mother's 100th Birthday, as well as the CD releases Songs from the Shows and A Talent to Amuse - a tribute to Noel Coward. James has directed both opera and musicals, including Suor Angelica, Dido and Aeneas, The Boyfriend, The Matchgirls, Jack the Ripper, The Sound of Music, Patience, Our Gracie, Cox and Box and The Zoo. As a playwright, he has written Firebird, Swan Song, Understanding Susan, Nightingale, Thy Will Be Done and The General's Daughters. James was a regular soloist with the PSA Orchestra for over twenty years and is a member of The Concert Artistes' Association and The Association of English Singers and Speakers Players Profiles (To be added) |
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