Mark Ashford

Mark is a world-renowned performer and teacher, beginning his formal musical training at Chetham's School of Music. He studied with Michael Lewin as a scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), graduating in 1993 with first class honours. Some years followed in Spain with guitarist David Russell, supported by various bursaries including one from the RAM. Early in his performing career he became a laureate of several major national and international competitions including Radio 2’s Young Musician and the Julian Bream Prize. He has performed at many of the UK's most prestigious music venues, and international performances have also taken him to Europe, the Americas and the Far East. He has performed concertos with leading orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra. Mark has ten CDs to his name including the Rodrigo Concerto. His latest CD is ‘Bachianas’ with the Vida Guitar Quartet and features saxophonist Amy Green. He is currently Head of Guitar at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Music.

Nadia Hinson

Nadia Hinson graduated from the Royal Academy of Music afterhaving studied the violin with Manoug Parikian and the pianowith Jean Harvey. She began a career as a freelance violinist andaccompanist and co-founded the Veloce ensemble (clarinetquintet) touring Britain performing specially commissioned worksand her own arrangements and compositions for that genre. Aregular recitalist for music clubs, she also performs with herfamily of musicians in the UK and in Europe. She is currently the owner and Directorof Hinson School of Music in Nottingham, and as well as being a festival adjudicatoris an international examiner for the ABRSM and a member of The Royal Society ofMusicians. Nadia is a Senior Consultant for the Performing Arts to the LEADAcademy Trust in Nottingham. She has set up composition workshops inspiringchildren to explore feelings and ideas through music and is a mentor for the Trust todevelop self-confidence and communication through learning and performance.

Peter Hunt

Peter is an experienced choral trainer and conductor having worked with a wide variety of singers and choral groups for over 40 years. He studied at Dartington and London before a long career in secondary music education, later focusing more broadly on choral education. He was Head of Creative Arts at Chipping Norton School for 10 years and still conducts the local Choral Society after 19 years. Until 2015 he was Head of Voice and Deputy Head of the independent music service Berkshire Maestros. Peter is the inspiration behind the VOICEWORKS publications with Oxford University Press that have transformed singing activities for many people. He has a national reputation as a workshop leader, trainer and adjudicator.

Alan MacLean

After graduating with distinction from the Royal ScottishAcademy of Music and Drama, Alan continued his studies withinternationally-renowned pianists including Karl Schnabel.Although principally a pianist, he also studied 'cello and singing,and trained as a conductor. Alan is much in demand as achamber musician, having played with many of the UK's leadinginstrumentalists. In 2010 he and the violist Carol Hubel-Allen formed the DuoKaradys, the pair enjoying a busy concert schedule. His recordings include EnglishMusic for Piano Duet, which received critical acclaim, followed by British Music forPiano Duet. After 20 years as Head of Keyboard Studies at The Cheltenham Ladies’College Alan left to explore a number of musical projects. Alan travels extensively,speaking and adjudicating regularly at a wide range of music events in the UK andoverseas. Alan has a busy schedule including visits to festivals and masterclasses forpianists and chamber musicians in major cities in the UK.

David Oliver

David, a former High School head teacher, was Folkworks Education Director (1993-2009) and has wide experience of delivering courses, workshops and training in folk music, song and dance. A leading Northumbrian dance band accordionist and caller, he leads The Hedgehog's Skin ceilidh band. and is creator of The Hexham Village Band. In recent years he has led community music projects across the world and in the UK. He is co-author of Folk Voiceworks (2007), author of English Accordion Music (2008), and creator of the best-selling Folkworks Session Collection. A passionate, cheerful, and engaging advocate of traditional music and dance of these islands, he loves to encourage everyone to be happy, confident and enthusiastic about participating in our great musical traditions.

Angela Rowley

Angela is a graduate in German from University College, London and followed a career in teaching before embarking on voice training, working with many eminent teachers including the late Paul Hamburger. Her first experiences of public performance were at school, in choral societies and at Music Festivals. She encourages her pupils to enter festivals for the opportunity to perform, hear peers and receive professional critique. Her hopes are that the experience will be challenging, educational and fun! For several years Angela taught singing in a large comprehensive school and later in a Sixth Form College where she formed a choir, assisted in the production of musicals and initiated the development of music in the curriculum for students with both mild and severe learning difficulties. She is a firm believer that music is an essential life skill from which no one should be excluded on grounds of ability. She has performed widely in the UK and in Germany, France and Romania and performs regularly in recital, concert and oratorio. She especially loves to sing Lieder and 20th century English song and also directs Harmony '96, a large ad hoc choir which performs major oratorios twice a year. Angela teaches privately and regularly runs performance workshops and masterclasses.

Rebecca Thomson

Rebecca read Drama and English at Bristol University followed by a career in radio journalism, working in both drama and documentaries. After which Rebecca moved into teaching where she developed her speech and drama skills, working at schools and colleges in the South West of England. Rebecca continues to work in a variety of educational establishments, running weekly classes, workshops and facilitating training to assist schools implement the constructive Speaking and Listening Criteria. Rebecca is also an adjudicator for The Rose Bowl Amateur Awards, reading and reviewing plays and musicals in seven counties throughout the south west.

Colin Touchin

Colin studied clarinet and recorder (Performer’s Diploma at age16) and earned an Oxford University music degree. Later hisinterests developed into conducting and composition. Heconducts and composes for orchestras, bands, choirs and alllevels of ensembles and has founded a number of groupsincluding Warwick Orchestral Winds and Spires PhilharmonicChorus, Orchestra and Youth Orchestra in Coventry. Composer-in-Residence and Conductor with various UK schools and youthensembles. He has inspired and conducted orchestras, bands andchoirs internationally, leads workshops in performance, conducting andcomposition, and is a festival adjudicator in the UK, Europe and Asia. Colin has woninternational awards with his instrumental and choral ensembles from theUniversity of Warwick.

Keith Allen

Keith Allenstudied at: Royal College of Music, London; Birmingham University, Kingston University, with a Master's Degree from the University of West London.

He worked professionally with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Previous positions include: Clarinet/Saxophone Tutor: Birmingham Conservatoire; Head of Birmingham Music Service.

Current positions include: Music Director: Birmingham Symphonic Winds; Festival Director: National Concert Band Festival (UK); Conductor in Residence: Birmingham University Wind Band; Conductor: Solihull Youth Wind Orchestra; Consultant Editor: Faber Music Ltd, Director: Best-of-British-Music.com – international trade advisory service; Adviser: London International Music Festival. Adjudicating/guest conducting in America, Spain, Latvia, Ireland, Hong Kong, Australia, China and the UK.

Ann Bauer

Ann has spent her working life in education teaching in secondary and primary schools, theatres, university and therapy teams, as well as examining drama and theatre studies. Ann ran her own drama school for many years, and has now returned to mainstream education and research. Ann trained to teach under John Hodgson at Bretton Hall, his major influence was the importance of improvisation. Ann continues to be an enthusiastic teacher of improvisation for developing all performance skills. She strongly believes in the inclusive power of drama, that it offers confidence building, team work, and the discipline of controlling body, voice – and nerves. Combining that with her love of the written word she counts herself lucky to spend her life talking about what she loves. Currently, Ann combines her teaching with doctoral research into teaching maths to young people with complex special needs – drama skills are never far away in her teaching strategies.

Liz Childs

Liz studied Flute with Gareth Morris and Piano with Graeme Humphrey at the RAM and has performed all over the world both as a soloist and orchestral/chamber musician. Her varied career includes performing with many orchestras, Quintessimo, adjudicating both abroad and in the UK where she is very busy as well as an extensive teaching schedule. A founder and Musical Director of the Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy she is also flute teacher at Beechwood Park School in Markyate, Hertfordshire and St Francis College in Letchworth. Liz founded alongside the BWA a Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy Flute Ensemble which goes from strength to strength and which has made in 2019 its 3rd European Concert Tour with a proposed tour to Slovenia and Austria in 2021. Liz thoroughly enjoys her work as an Adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, regarding it a real privilege to be able to encourage and inspire performers. She believes that a positive experience at a Federation Festival can change a performer’s life forever. It did hers!

Eva Maria Doroszkowska

Eva Maria Doroszkowska is an international pianist whose dramatic and colourful interpretation of the piano repertoire has earned her high acclaim. She enjoys a busy soloist and chamber performing career which takes her round the world and she has appeared on BBC and Polish television and radio. A keen interest in contemporary music has led her to work with two of the 20th Century’s finest composers, Gorecki and Per Nørgård leading to her giving the UK premier of Nørgård’s Cantica for Cello and Piano. Eva Maria won a scholarship to study piano at the Royal Northern College of Music. With awards from the Countess of Munster and government scholarships she also studied under the renowned Jasinski in Poland and took soloist diplomas in Amsterdam and Copenhagen winning many prizes and bursaries. Alongside her performing career, she is an adjudicator, gives masterclasses and workshops, teaches piano and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, and is passionate about working with young musicians.

Donal McCrisken

Donal is a Belfast-based pianist, accompanist, conductor, examiner, and adjudicator. He read music at Queen's University, Belfast and later read a Masters at the University of Ulster. Since 1999 Donal has been conductor of Cappella Caeciliana, one of Ireland's most exciting chamber choirs. Under his direction they have given concerts in Northern Ireland, Europe, and the USA. The choir has recorded four highly-successful CDs and has broadcast frequently on BBC Radio 4, Radio Ulster and RTE. Donal leads classes in performance at Queen's University, Belfast and workshops in the art of choral singing and direction. He works extensively with Northern Ireland Opera as vocal coach and repetiteur. He has adjudicated festivals throughout Northern Ireland, Eire and the UK. In 2013 he founded Cavehill Community Choir, a non-auditioned choir that currently numbers 160. He was the choral director/repetiteur for the exciting Belfast Opera project in June 2016, for which he was awarded the Classic FM/Musicians' Union Inspiration Award.

Luise Horrocks

Luise has held teaching positions in both the Junior and Senior departments of Birmingham Conservatoire and as a visiting lecturer at Birmingham University. She runs an extensive private teaching practice and regularly gives masterclasses, choral workshops, presentations and teacher sessions both at home and abroad. She has worked as a mentor on the CT ABRSM panel and as a vocal coach on residential courses for singers. She has also trained and conducted the Wyre Forest Young Voices Choir.

For many years as Associate Chief Examiner in music for Trinity College London, Luise has worked on syllabus setting and leading projects for diplomas, examiner training and teacher support. Publications include a series of books on Musical Theatre repertoire and graded songbooks.

Luise is an experienced adjudicating member of the British and International Federation of Festivals.

Fiona McLean-Buechel

Fiona studied at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy of Music and has a passion for music in all forms. She combines a busy performing career with writing creative and collaborative national and international performance projects. She is Lead Tutor for Strings at Trinity Laban Junior Conservatoire and a specialist strings adjudicator and examiner, including syllabus development for the Guildhall Examinations Board. Teaching posts have included the Junior Guildhall School of Music, Goldsmith’s, and the National Children’s Orchestra. She has been visiting professor of violin at Dartington and Cardiff University. In 2005 Fiona co-founded and was course director of the Youth Strings Programme at the Dartington International Summer School. She subsequently founded and is Creative Director of South-West Camerata whose work was nominated for a Royal Philharmonic Society for Education. Fiona has delivered sessions on 'Mindfulness for Musicians' at the 2016 Music Education Expo in Olympia, a Federation conference in Edinburgh, Musicians Union, and at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.

Gary Ryan

Gary studied as a junior at the Guildhall School of Music, where he won the Director’s Prize, and later was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM). In 1991 he graduated with first class honours and many awards including the Julian Bream Prize. Post-graduate studies followed at the RAM with an award from the Fleming Trust and was made an Associate of the RAM in 1997. Gary's London recital debut at the Purcell Room in 1994 was highly acclaimed by the critics. He subsequently performed a series of recitals for the Kirckman Concert Society at the South Bank Centre. In 1996, aged 27, he became Professor of Guitar at the Royal College of Music (RCM); he currently combines his role there as Assistant Head of Strings with a varied international career as a performer and composer. In 2013, he was awarded a Fellowship of the RCM becoming the first guitarist to be given this accolade since John Williams in 1983. Gary has also collaborated with John Williams and jazz guitarist John Etheridge to form 6 Hands. The guitar trio has since toured the UK extensively and has a new recording; further performances are scheduled for 2018. His celebrated compositions are often broadcast on Classic FM and have broadened the instrument’s appeal, combining traditional classical techniques and contemporary styles with a rich variety of musical influences from around the world.

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.

Vivienne Redford

Vivienne has studied Speech and Drama since the age of four and has been teaching the subject since 1980. She is Head of Speech and Drama at a large independent girl’s school in Bedford. She is also the Principal of the Redford School of Speech and Drama, established in 1982, training children and adults of all ages in all aspects of the performing arts and communication. Many of her former students perform in TV, film and theatre around the world and in major West End productions, the Globe, the RSC and the National Theatre. Others are pursuing careers as teachers of Speech and Drama, Theatre Directors and Technicians.

Vivienne has produced and directed a diverse range of musical and theatrical productions and particularly enjoys writing and devising original and creative theatre with her senior students. For the past nineteen years, she has organised and directed a widely-acclaimed summer school for students aged 7 to 21, which culminates in a commissioned play written for, and performed by, the students who attend.

Vivienne is an examiner for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, a member of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama and an Adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals travelling extensively throughout the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. She is a former secretary and now a Vice-President of the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama which has given her a clear understanding and insight into the work, energy and commitment that Festival organisers, teachers and pupils put into making their Festivals a success.

Lorraine Deacon

At the Royal Academy of Music Lorraine studied the ’cello with Douglas Cummings and chamber music with Sidney Griller, and whilst there was awarded the Manson Prize for the Performance of Contemporary Music by Sir Michael Tippett. She subsequently undertook further studies with David Smith of the Alberni Quartet.

Her performing career ranges from West End theatre to the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, whilst recordings range from the haunting cello solo on Katie Melua’s cover of “Turn to Tell” to the string chamber works of David Osbon with the Anglo American duo for Albany Records

She is now principal ’cellist with the Chameleon Arts Orchestra and gives regular chamber music recitals at South Hill Park. Concerto performances include Bernstein’s Three Meditations and the concertos of Elgar and Walton under conductor Philip Ellis.

Based in Berkshire she teaches ’cello at Wellington College and is passionate about passing on her joy of music-making to the next generation. Many former and existing pupils have been awarded music scholarships to prestigious public schools including Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington, and Charterhouse, or have gained places at specialist centres such as Chethams and The Purcell School, and many have gone on to further study at the country’s leading conservatoires.

Rosie Whitfield

As an experienced adjudicator member of The British and International Federation of Festivals, Rosanna is regularly called upon to adjudicate in the UK and abroad and has forged long-standing links with specialist music schools in Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Her positive, interactive adjudicating style inducing young musicians to participate, year on year.
Rosanna’s vast experience as a performer, teacher and presenter, teamed with an innate love of music, underpins her unstoppable drive as a dedicated campaigner for music in education. Her natural ability to both captivate audiences and inspire young musicians to achieve their dreams stems from an unquestionable belief that music can change lives.

As Director of Music at Whitgift School, Rosanna has devised educational projects for all levels of musician from beginner to advanced, and regularly presents interactive concerts and masterclasses to thousands of primary school pupils. A keen conductor and composer, she directed the world première of her work, ‘The Gift’, at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls in November 2012, involving over 300 performers.

Instrumental in developing the Whitgift International Music Competition in 2013, Rosanna continues to promote the outstanding benefits of the many musical projects offered by the school and supported by the Whitgift Foundation.
Rosanna has recently been appointed as Head of Junior Guildhall Conservatoire from January 2020.

Joseph Tong

Joseph Tong enjoys a busy and varied career as soloist, duo pianist, chamber musician, writer, teacher and adjudicator. Joseph made his Wigmore Hall debut in 1997 as winner of the Maisie Lewis Young Artists Award and gives regular recitals throughout the UK and abroad. He has been a visiting teacher at Wells Cathedral School since 2008 and holds teaching posts at Hampton School and Trinity School, Croydon.

Joseph Tong studied at Wells Cathedral School and Christ’s College, Cambridge before completing postgraduate studies at the RAM with Christopher Elton.

He has given recitals in Japan, USA, Singapore, Italy, Germany and Spain both as a soloist and in a piano duo with Waka Hasegawa. Over recent years, concerts in Finland have included invitations to perform at Sibelius’s home Ainola, the Sibelius Museum in Turku and Helsinki Music Centre. Other solo recitals have included St John’s, Smith Square in London, St George’s Bristol, St David’s Hall, Cardiff and the Presteigne Festival.

In 2018, Joseph recorded a CD of Schumann at the Sendesaal in Bremen, for release this summer on the Quartz label.

His ongoing Sibelius recording project has received widespread critical acclaim and a further disc with violinist Fenella Humphreys is in preparation. A keen chamber musician, Joseph is a regular visitor to the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival, frequently performing with his brother Daniel and in various ensembles. He has also commissioned and premiered piano duets by composers including Dai Fujikura, Daniel Kidane, Nicola LeFanu, David Matthews and Edwin Roxburgh.

Joseph Tong was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2008. He is Co-ordinator of the Wells International Piano Summer School and will be joining the teaching faculty of the 2019 Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for Pianists.

Joseph is also happy to adjudicate online/virtual sessions instead of a live festival.

Murray McLachlan

Murray McLachlan has been adjudicating for nearly 30 years and is based in Manchester. He is chair of the European Piano Teachers' Association. He has made over 40 commercial recordings which have consistently received outstanding reviews, including ‘key recording’ and ‘rosette’ status in the Penguin Guide to CDs.

He has performed on all five continents and is Head of Keyboard at Chetham’s school of Music, Tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music and Founder/Artistic Director of the Chetham’s International Summer school and festival for Pianists, Europe’s largest summer school devoted exclusively to the piano.

In 2007 McLachlan launched the first Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists an event that was held for the sixth time in 2019.

Alongside his work as an Adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals, he is Editor of ‘Piano Professional’ and 'Paino Journal' Magazines, as well as a regular columnist for 'International Piano. , His three Faber Music books on Piano Technique have received wide international acclaim and have been reprinted several times.

Steven Roberts

Steven has been a music adjudicator since 2001; has sat on the Adjudicators Council and in 2020 was re-elected for his third term of office to the Board of Trustees. He is a busy professional; conducting, teaching and lecturing. He brings with him experience as a manager, knowledge of quality systems, business acumen and many years of leading change.

He has successfully combined a career in education with his work as a conductor, musical director and adjudicator, working both in this country and in Europe and as far a field as Peru and Bahrain.

Steven has conducted numerous concerts throughout this country and throughout Europe with a variety of Choirs, ensembles and orchestras, winds bands and brass bands.

He studied piano, brass and voice and has worked in a variety of musical settings. He has worked alongside actors and dancers on many projects and is keen to support the work of the Federation to maximise opportunities for performance within all disciplines. He enjoys working with his colleagues on the Board, Councils and the wider community of volunteers that help to keep our Festivals vibrant.

Having previously held the post of Director of External Relations at Barnsley College he has excellent communication skills and enjoys collaborative working.

He his happy to adjudicate virtual/on-line Festivals.

Craig Ogden

Craig was born in Australia and is one of the most exciting guitarists of his generation. He studied guitar from the age of seven and percussion from the age of thirteen. In 2004, he became the youngest instrumentalist to receive a Fellowship from the Royal Northern College of Music in recognition of his achievements. Craig’s recordings for Virgin/EMI, Chandos, Nimbus, Hyperion and Sony have received wide acclaim, and BBC Music Magazine dubbed him "a worthy successor to Julian Bream". His debut solo CD for Nimbus Records of '20th Century Classics by British composers' was nominated for a Grammy Award. Craig has performed concertos with all of the major UK orchestras and also internationally. Craig regularly appears as soloist and chamber musician at the major London venues and collaborates with many of the UK’s top artists and ensembles. He has released a number of CDs and is Principal Lecturer in Guitar at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Jane Wilkinson

Jane trained as a soprano at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and then at the Royal College of Music where she won many competitions and awards. She performs solo art song recitals across the country and has toured South Africa, Europe and America. She is Head of Singing at Chelsea Academy and singing tutor at Imperial College, London. A former member of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain she now conducts New Malden Voices and New Malden Youth Choir. Jane has premiered many contemporary operas and frequently works alongside composers on new works for the stage and for recordings. She has performed oratorios and concerts at Edinburgh Festival, Royal Albert Hall and many other distinguished venues. Jane leads vocal masterclasses and workshops internationally and often runs ‘audition technique’ days for aspiring singers. Her voice has featured on a wide variety of albums and recordings from children’s repertoire to contemporary folk rock.