STUDIO RECORDINGS
Please click on the titles to the right to view the videos
Charles as Band Leader
Charles was promoted to Show Band Leader on the MS Magellan and in this exciting and demanding role, he was responsible for conducting the band, with additional responsibilities of organising isolated band rehearsals, motivating, managing and disciplining his band musicians whenever necessary, and achieving and maintaining professionalism and high musical standards.
During his leadership, the Magellan Orchestra consistently achieved ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ passenger satisfaction scores.
Phoebe and Charles as Performance Hosts
Alongside performing, Phoebe and Charles additionally worked as Performance Hosts on their ships including presenting Countdown, Just A Minute, Catchphrase, bingo and various quizzes. Recorded examples of Charles presenting onboard can be found on the 'Charles the Presenter' page.
They also successfully ran passenger choir clubs whilst on-
'Charles has been very friendly at all times. he cares about everything and everyone. He's a great pianist/organist and accompanist. He kept the music going for us dancers too!'
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'Talented young man who led the musicians and dance team to a very high standard'
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Warsaw Concerto -
The Wedding March -
Intermezzo, from ‘Cavalleira Rusticana’ -
I Vow To Thee, My Country -
Saturn, from The Planets Suite -
POPULAR MUSIC EXAMPLES
Charles’s repertoire from memory also includes:
Fame -
Africa -
Bohemian Rhapsody -
All You Need is Love -
Wonderwall -
Stairway to Heaven -
Isn’t She Lovely -
The Winner Takes it All -
Plus many more pop standards and
contemporary songs.
CLASSICAL EXAMPLES
Charles’s repertoire from memory also includes:
Schubert -
Beethoven -
Grieg -
Elgar -
Plus many more well known classical pieces.
SHOW TUNES EXAMPLES
Charles’s repertoire from memory also includes:
Gethsemene (Superstar)
On My Own (Les Miserables)
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning (Oklahoma)
Edelweiss (The Sound of Music), Riverdance and many more.
JAZZ / EASY LISTENING EXAMPLES
Charles’s repertoire from memory also includes I’ve Got You Under My Skin; Moon River; Cheek to Cheek; All of Me; My Way; and many more.
SHOW TUNES EXAMPLES
Charles Baker and Phoebe Richards: Live in Concert in the MS Magellan Show Lounge (Amazon & West Indies cruise, February 2016)
00:24 Pie Jesu, from 'Requiem' -
06:48 Think of Me, from 'Phantom of the Opera' -
17:47 Symphony No. 5 in C Major, 1st movement -
37:51 O mio babbino caro from 'Gianni Schicchi' -
44:34 The Major-
47:42 Poor, Wandering One, from 'The Pirates of Penzance' -
51:04 Time To Say Goodbye (Con te partiró) -
Charles Baker: Live in Concert in the MS Magellan Show Lounge (Caribbean cruise, November 2015)
00:20 In The Mood -
05:21 Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' -
08:38 Fly Me To The Moon (in bossa nova style) -
11:55 Can't Help Falling In Love With You -
20:57 Riverdance -
27:45 Waltz No. 14 in E minor -
30:43 Étude Op.10, No. 5 in G-
33:22 Warsaw Concerto -
42:55 Ode To Joy, from Symphony No. 9 in D Major (Charles' own arrangement) -
Click the video pane to watch the whole show or click on individual musical numbers listed.
Charles’s repertoire from memory also includes:
Gethsemene (Superstar)
On My Own (Les Miserables)
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning (Oklahoma)
Edelweiss (The Sound of Music), Riverdance and many more.
Charles as Composer / Arranger
As well as an experienced performer, Charles is highly skilled and talented in musical composition and arranging for band, orchestra and other ensembles. A variety of his original compositions can be heard on the 'Charles the Composer' page of this website.
Charles as Technician
He further possesses technical skills and experience, including audio and video editing, hosting and operating late-
He developed these skills during his secondary post as the Assistant Sound & Light Technician onboard the MS Marco Polo, alongside actively performing on the vessel.
Additional experience
In addition to performing on ships, they have amassed extensive experience performing on land
at various local concerts and weddings.
Prior to meeting Phoebe, Charles acquired further professional experience performing in duos onboard ships, including a cocktail classical duo with a talented Eastern European violinist and a regular contemporary lounge duo working separately with two female vocalists, which provided him ample opportunity to perform a wide variety of pop music through the decades.
Other Details
Both Charles and Phoebe hold valid STCW sea certificates,
and both possess their own professional instruments.
'A superb evening of entertainment with Charles at the piano -
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'What a fabulous young man: Superb diction, personable, funny and can really play piano! He thoroughly entertained us every day -
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Wide musical repertoire -
Phoebe and Charles welcome any audience requests as they possess a very wide and extensive repertoire of musical pieces across various genres and Charles has the ability to not only improvise in any key on the spot, but also smoothly segue songs together. Some examples are available to view on this site as video recordings. They are happy to perform solo in addition to as a duo -
Phoebe and Charles as Performance Hosts
Alongside performing, Phoebe and Charles additionally worked as Performance Hosts on their ships including presenting Countdown, Just A Minute, Catchphrase, bingo and various quizzes.
They also successfully ran passenger choir clubs whilst on-
Their self-
'Great pianist and singer. Phoebe and Charles made our trip very pleasurable' -
+44 7903 294363 +44 7986 657343
The couple possess an extensive repertoire of many contrasting musical styles and comfortably adapt them to suit their audiences, from popular songs between the 1940s and present day, to pop, jazz, swing and latin. Phoebe and Charles are both classically-
'Very friendly and approachable.
Excellent musicians, and always about'
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VIDEO SHOWREELS
'Brilliant musical arrangements and humour’
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' Very talented -
together an exceptional band.’
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The Starfish Duo are Charles Baker BA, ATCL and Phoebe Richards BA -
Charles is a professional pianist and occasional singer, band leader and presenter, possessing 21 years' professional performance experience, whilst Phoebe is a trained opera singer and plays guitar, alto/tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet to a professional standard.
Phoebe has also starred as 1st female vocalist in diverse cabarets and production shows, including tributes to Broadway shows, global cultures and classic pop acts such as ABBA and Queen. Together they perform strongly both as a variety duo and as solo performers.
'Very good and friendly solo piano session in Kensington Bar with audience participation'
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All site text and performance videos © Copyright 2018 Charles Baker and Phoebe Richards
+44 7903 294363 +44 7986 657343
+44 161 440 8166
Meet The Starfish Duo
Please click the introduction video to the right, or enjoy the varied showreel videos below
Enjoy each showreel on its own viewing page
