Helen Browne

Helen studied at the Royal College of Music and was awarded the prestigious Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarship for study in Lisbon. On graduating from the RCM she was engaged by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Subsequently she became principal second violin of the Royal Ballet Orchestra and shortly afterwards became a member of the Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden. Helen’s busy schedule includes teaching and freelance playing with London Orchestras, and adjudicating competitions and festivals.

Penelope Price Jones

Penelope was a scholarship holder at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying with Marjorie Thomas, following a degree in sociology at the L.S.E.. Her performing career was mainly on the concert platform in oratorio and recital work, including BBC broadcasts and an interest in new works for voice. In 1998 Penelope was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

She teaches at her home studio in Devizes. She is a Federation of Festivals Adjudicator. In 2016 she started mentoring for the South West Music School.

She was voice mentor for the Associated Board Certificate of Teaching course mainly at the Bristol centre. She was the Teacher Training Director for the Association of Teachers of Singing before becoming Chairman of AOTOS from July 2014 – July 2016. During which time the Association celebrated its 40th anniversary. In 2015 she inaugurated ‘Pathways’ for the Association, an apprenticeship scheme for aspiring singing teachers, which she continues to administrate.

In semi-retirement she has had tremendous pleasure from long distance walking and since leaving the Chairmanship of AOTOS has undertaken some study on the benefits to health and well-being shared by her two great passions – walking and singing

Christopher Field

Christopher was a Choral Exhibitioner at Trinity College, Cambridge and a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, later winning an Arts Council of Great Britain scholarship for postgraduate vocal studies in Switzerland. He has worked extensively as a baritone soloist with choral societies, as recitalist and teacher, as freelance choral conductor and composer. In addition to being an adjudicator he is also a diploma examiner for the Associated Board.

Ivan Scott

Ivan started to play the guitar at the age of fourteen. He later studied guitar performing under Oliver Hunt at The London College of Music. Ivan became a Fellow of the College, and later gained his Fellowship of Trinity College of Music. Ivan continued his studies in Spain under Emilio Pujol, a pupil of the legendary Francisco Tarrega. In the UK, Ivan has spent much of his time giving talks and recitals in schools and colleges as well as master-classes and workshops.

Anne Harris-Norman

Anne is an examiner for the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and The English Speaking Board. She has taught at all levels from kindergarten to A Level Theatre Studies. In addition to her teaching experience, she has been involved in many productions both as an actress and director. She co-founded the Durham Shakespeare Company and for many years ran a touring group in Cheshire.

James Stretton

James was born in Warwickshire in the '60s and flourished in the county’s music system culminating in a performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 at the age of 17. He went on to study trumpet and piano at Trinity College of Music, London. As a post-graduate, he studied with James Austin at the University of Houston, Texas and Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds. James has been a highly successful 'musical chameleon' professionally in a wide variety of fields, from orchestral work with CBSO, RLPO and the London Concert Orchestra to performing unique, multi-instrumental concerts with pianist Iain Jackson. As a regular member of the Royal Shakespeare Company band he has toured USA, Hong Kong & China, including a return of David Tennant’s Richard 2nd production in New York. Former teaching posts include Head of Instrumental Music (Harrogate Ladies’ College) and Head of Brass (Worksop College, Notts.). He is a former member of both the Grimethorpe Colliery and Black Dyke brass bands. In addition to trumpet work and solo engagements, he is a composer, music examiner, adjudicator, and workshop leader.

Ann Lampard

Ann was born and educated in the North East of England, studying singing with Betty Middleton. At twenty-one she won many National Festival Awards, including the Oxford Festival Professional Recital Award, before moving to London to study singing with Marjorie Thomas. She joined Glyndebourne Festival Opera after winning the Dame Maggie Teyte International Operatic Prize, and went on to sing many leading roles. Ann toured the Far East giving recitals and masterclasses before she decided to concentrate on teaching. She has been Head of Voice at the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London, for sixteen years. Currently, she divides her time between her home on the Isle of Skye, teaching in Sussex and adjudication.

Dave Townsend

Dave is a performer of both traditional and classical music, playing mainly English Concertina, accordion and violin, but these form only a part of a range of activities which include composition and research.
He created the Mellstock Band and founded the West Gallery Music Association, and has also worked as musical director and stage musician at the National Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic.

James Patrick

After training at the Hampshire School of Drama and Trent Park College, James worked in theatre and radio, and taught speech and drama in schools, colleges and privately. For eighteen years he was senior lecturer at Southlands College, Wimbledon, training students for careers in theatre and teaching. He was appointed Chief Examiner in Drama and Theatre Arts for the Associated Examining Board and has examined for universities and colleges, and The English Speaking Board, of which he is also a founder member.

Anthony Williams (President)

Concert pianist, writer, lecturer, ABRSM examiner and moderator, and festival adjudicator, Anthony studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London. and Reading University. Following international competition success he embarked on a career as a concert pianist and quickly established an international reputation as a piano teacher and a passionate educator of pianistic musicianship at all ages and levels, giving piano masterclasses, public lecture-recitals and seminars on performance and the art of teaching. He has given talks on piano performance for Radio 3 and is author and editor of various publications including The Best of Grade and Fingerprints (Faber), Teaching Notes (ABRSM) and the highly-acclaimed Piano Teacher’s Survival Guide (Faber, 2017). Anthony combines his freelance career with a full-time position at Radley College, Oxfordshire as Head of Keyboard & Instrumental Music and is our President.

Vivien Pike

Vivien Pike studied singing, piano and violin at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating with Teaching and Performer’s Diplomas and a Silver Medal. She is a soprano soloist and has sung for many Choral Societies and is a former member of the BBC Northern Singers. She directs Cantores Novae, who were finalists in the 2002 Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year and Choir Champions of the 2002 National Eisteddfod.