AN Abberley music teacher is set to spend even more time making music with children after becoming musical director of a county theatre group.

Jane Whittle has been involved with classical, jazz and popular music throughout her career.

Her past jobs have included performing as a jazz pianist in a Manchester nightclub while waiters created flamb dishes around her around her and she has also been a university lecturer.

She is currently assistant director of music at Abberley Preparatory School.

But of all her musical achievements, her greatest love is directing which is just as well now she has begun wielding the baton for Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society's Youth Section as it starts rehearsing for its next production, Les Miserables (School Edition).

She has also founded and directed a music theatre group in Ross-on-Wye.

"I just love music and conducting," she said.

"It's a great opportunity and I am so lucky to be the musical director."

Mrs Whittle, who has a five-year-old son Jamie, added she loved working with youngsters and was looking forward to her future work with WODYS.

"The show is so exciting and the music tremendous," she added of the school edition of Les Miserables, which will run from July 26 until July 30 at The Swan Theatre in Worcester.

"The youngsters are going to have to work very hard because it's just pure emotion. They can't just stand still and sing, they have got to get inside of the characters."

The play is based on Victor Hugo's novel, which has been specially adapted, and contains all the characters and songs from the epic West End and Broadway productions but is performed entirely by a cast of 70 eight to 18-year-olds.