Robert Bailey

Robert studied at the Guildhall School of Music with Christopher Bunting and Stefan Popov. He has held principal positions at English National Opera, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and for four years was cellist in the Delme Quartet with whom he broadcast many times on BBC Radio 3 and made several CD recordings.

In addition to a busy performing schedule, Robert is increasingly in demand as a conductor, appearing regularly with the Locrian Chamber Orchestra at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He has also introduced and conducted several concerts with the English National Orchestra and recently conducted two concerts with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in Australia. Robert also teaches cello and conducts at London’s Centre for Young Musicians and examines for the Associated Board.

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.

Gaynor Keeble

Gaynor Keeble gained scholarships to the University of Warwick and the Royal Academy of Music. She combines a busy performing career with teaching both privately and at Warwick University, and adjudicating at many festivals. She has also worked extensively with English Touring Opera’s Education Programme and is vocal consultant to several choirs. She was a member of Welsh National Opera for three years and has worked for the Royal Opera, English National Opera, Opera North, D’Oyly Carte, Mid-Wales Opera, and English Touring Opera. Major roles have included Carmen, Delilah (Samson & Delilah), Orpheus (Orpheus & Eurydice), Tisbe (Cenerentola), and Azucena (Il Trovatore). Concert appearances include the London Mozart Players, London Bach Orchestra, CBSO, Royal Philharmonic and The Philharmonia. She maintains a busy operatic career with recent engagements including Katisha (Mikado), 'Auntie' in the highly-acclaimed Peter Grimes on the Beach for the Aldeburgh Festival, Mistress Quickly (Falstaff), and Annina (La Traviata). In 2017 she will be making her debut as Kostelnicka (Jenufa) for Longborough Festival Opera.

John Kirkpatrick

Born in Chiswick, West London, in 1947 a deep love of music was instilled from birth, and family gatherings always included a hearty sing-song. He joined the Hammersmith Morris Men at the age of 12, got ‘hooked’ and began playing the melodeon, then the button accordion, then the Anglo concertina for the dancing. He quickly became in demand as a musician for country dance evenings, courses, and folk camps and went on to play in numerous dance bands as a teenager. A professional career followed with groups such as The Albion Country Band, Steeleye Span, Band of Hope and with the Albion Band at the National Theatre. These days John is most often seen as a soloist in his natural habitat as a champion of traditional English folk music, in festivals, clubs, and village halls. By way of rewarding his efforts over the years, he was made an honorary lifetime member of The International Concertina Association in 2002, awarded The Gold Badge of The English Folk Dance & Song Society in 2003, and named Musician of the Year in BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards in 2010.

Priscilla Morris

Priscilla was a member of the National Youth Theatre appearing in Zigger Zagger and Fuzz. She then trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. In 1972 she founded her own drama school in the Midlands where she continues to teach children and adults at all levels.

Priscilla joined the LAMDA board of examiners in 1986 and has examined throughout the UK, Spain, Singapore, USA and Malta. She has been an adjudicator in Speech & Drama for the British & International Federation of Festivals since 1991 and has adjudicated in Bermuda, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.
She is a registered Tutor for the Voicecare Network. Priscilla is also a professional speaker and holds full Equity membership. Over the last 35 years she has directed and acted in over 40 plays, musicals and pantomimes.

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.

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.

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.

Christina Willett

Christina is a Year 6 primary teacher currently working in Bradford, West Yorkshire. She is a music specialist, teaching singing, drums/percussion and guitar. Christina is passionate about children’s development in music, actively promoting and encouraging singing and learning of instruments. Prior to becoming a teacher in 1998, Christina was a professional musician for seven years playing an eclectic range of music including rock/pop, rhythm’n’blues and jazz. While studying to become a teacher, she also learned to play the piano and wrote children’s songs which led to her involvement with visual arts projects in local schools, churches and museums. Christina later taught drama, dance and performance skills at the ‘Scala’ School of Performing Arts.