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.

×

Ben Costello

Ben is a freelance musical director, adjudicator, singing coach and accompanist, working internationally. Born and based in London, Ben initially trained as a flautist, with subsequent studies in piano, singing and conducting. Starting out as a jazz pianist singing and playing in hotels and bars, he later turned to the 'dark side' to become répétiteur for opera companies and the London Symphony Orchestra. He is Chorus Master for the Leith Hill Musical Festival, accompanist for Thames Philharmonic Choir, and Founding Director of Kingston Chamber Singers. Ben has been a musical director for numerous productions across the U.K., is guest conductor with various choirs, and as an accompanist collaborates with countless singers and instrumentalists. As a specialist in musical theatre, he has worked for a variety of organisations including the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art and the Royal Academy of Music. He is a member of the Court of the Royal Society of Musicians. ×

Malcom Green

Malcolm was educated at the Royal Academy of Music, where he gained a first-class degree and the prize for the best student on the course, together with the award of the Recital Diploma on clarinet (the Academy's highest performance award). He has played in the English National Opera and Ulster Orchestras and given recitals in the Purcell Room and at the Harrogate Festival, in addition to performing at many Music clubs. He was appointed Head of Woodwind at Bedford School in 1986 and has also taught at the Royal Academy of Music and Anglia University, as well as schools in Cambridge. Malcolm is a former chairman of Bedfordshire Orchestral Society and is currently a Vice President and Life Fellow of the Bedfordshire Music Festival. He has worked as an adjudicator throughout the country. Former pupils include Alastair Cook (England cricket captain) and Al Murray (the pub landlord).

×

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.

×

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.

×

Bryan Husband

Bryan studied singing and piano accompaniment at the Royal College of Music, London, and singing at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff. After some years abroad working in continental opera houses, Bryan lived for some years in Southern Ireland and now lives in Worcester. He teaches at Trinity Laban, runs a private practice, gives workshops, performs, examines, adjudicates in the UK and across the world, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago. He is a Music and Rock & Pop examiner for one of the major music examining boards with most recent examining work in India and Malaysia in both syllabi. Performances include television and radio broadcasts, opera roles, oratorio and recital. Workshops given are on a variety of subjects – from 'belting' to audition techniques. ×

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.

×

Andrew Sherwood

Andrew has performed in many parts of the world as conductor and violinist. Born and educated in Africa, he then studied violin and composition at the Royal College of Music in London where his teachers were Antonio Brosa, Sascha Lasserson and Sylvia Rosenberg. As a violinist, solo performances of recitals and concertos ranged from the Wigmore Hall in London and he has recently performed in Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and, next year, India.

Since 1991, he has been Professor of Violin at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London (formerly Trinity College of Music). Many of his former students are now professional musicians. Andrew is also well known as a conductor and is currently principal conductor and musical director of several British orchestras, specialising in youth music and also conducts as far afield as Chile and Sri Lanka. At Trinity Laban he conducts the Sinfonia string orchestra.

×

Jenny Thornton

Jenny trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, gaining awards for Character Acting and Most Promising Teacher. Jenny has led the Performing Arts Teams in a large comprehensive school, been an Assistant Principal for Edexcel, LAMDA examiner and now enjoys running her own Performance Centre with ages from 4 years to adults delivering drama, dance and musical theatre and also writing. Her play called “Gone” gained a Commended when performed at The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond as did her most recent play “Young Love”. She was delighted when LAMDA chose two of her pieces for their new acting anthology. Her most recent teaching experience is working in a state school as a peripatetic teacher as part of her “Outreach” programme extending the work of the Richmond Festival for which she is the secretary. “Drama is a life skill that changed me from a stuttering introvert to a confident individual. We can give our children no better opportunity."

×