Posts in 2023
Adjudicator Spotlight: Timothy Barratt ARAM, GRSM, LRAM, ARCM, Lmus (TCL)

Timothy Barratt studied on a Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, winning many major awards, and completed his studies with Vlado Perlemuter in Paris and Geoffrey Parsons. He has toured and broadcast extensively in the UK and abroad as soloist, accompanist and chamber music player. Whilst still a student he developed a special interest in song accompaniment through playing for Masterclasses at Aldeburgh, subsequently partnering such artists as…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Kay Tucker AGSM, ARCM, LTCL, PGCA, PGCE

Kay Tucker was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire and began studies on the cello at the age of 12, continuing studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She combines teaching with performing in a piano trio and string quartet and is in much demand as an Adjudicator throughout the UK, having worked at well over 100 festivals including the National Festival of Music for Youth. Her teaching experience has covered all age ranges and abilities and her particular…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Adrian Goss ARAM, GRSM, FTCL, LRAM, LGSM, ARCO(CHM), FRSA

Tenor soloist, vocal coach and teacher, pianist, organist and choral director, Adrian studied piano and clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music & singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He subsequently studied organ and composition with Dr Arthur Wills OBE gaining a degree in compositional techniques from the University of Durham, and also diplomas from the Royal College of Organists. He continued his organ studies with Professor Douglas…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Steve Tanner

Steve was born and educated in Portsmouth.  He joined the Royal Marines Band Service in Deal in 1967 where he specialised in flute and saxophone.  In the over 24 years he subsequently spent in the RM, highlights included 12 years serving on the Royal Yacht Britannia involving two royal honeymoons and visiting Islands in the South Pacific. During his time in the Royal Marines, Steve took the opportunity to widen his experience in conducting whenever…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Paul Gregory

Paul Gregory started playing guitar at the age of 10. Later he also studied cello and composition in London and is an ARCM. He made further guitar studies with Baltazar Benitez in Holland and Carlos Bonell. He gave his Wigmore Hall debut when 19 to high critical acclaim. Paul won notable student awards being nominated as one of 'Tomorrow's Musicians' and offered a concert at the Fairfield Hall Croydon. As a winner of the Park Lane Awards, he gave a recital…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Gail Mortley LRAM, ARCM, DipRAM

Gail is a professional singer, actress and teacher.  She studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was awarded numerous prizes and scholarships, one of which took her to the Mozarteum in Salzburg, to study with the international singing coach, Rita Streich. Early in her professional career Gail performed with numerous opera companies, including Sadler’s Wells and Kent Opera. Throughout her career she has combined classical…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Judith Vardy RAD RTS & Examiner, FISTD, ALAM, ABT NTC

Judith is a fully registered teaching member of the Royal Academy of Dance (Ballet), and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (Tap, Modern & National branches). She also holds the LAMDA Acting Diploma and the RADA Certificate in Shakespeare. She is an examiner with The Royal Academy of Dance, and holds Fellowship Status with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She is also an affiliated adjudicator for the British and International…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Karen Blackburn AIDTA, RAD RTS

Karen received her formative training at Phyllis & Hilda Skins’ Ballet School (Hull), where she also studied Classical Greek and National Dance. She has been involved in the festival competition scene since a child when at the age of twelve she held the title of IDTA British Junior Ballet Champion and Silver Medallist at the All-England Dance Finals (Sunshine Festival). She was also 1st runner-up at the IDTA Miss Dance of Great Britain. In…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Chris King BMUS (HONS), MBA, LRSM, ATCL

Chris King started his interest in music while playing the cornet with various brass bands in Lincolnshire. His musical career began at the Army Junior School of Music, Pirbright, where he trained as a Junior Musician between 1987 and 1989, winning the Musician of the Year award upon graduation. On completion of his junior training, he attended the one-year Pupil's course at Kneller Hall, Twickenham, where he won the prestigious Frank Wright Silver Medal…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Eva Maria Doroszkowska BMUS (HONS), DIPRNCM, PG DIP C.V.AMSTERDAM

Eva Maria Doroszkowska is an international pianist whose dramatic and colourful interpretation of the piano repertoire has earned her high acclaim. Eva Maria won a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music winning many prizes and was generously funded by the Countess of Munster Trust to complete her postgraduate study there. She later won a government scholarship to study under Professor Jasinkski at the…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Bryan Husband GRSM (HONS), ADWCMD

Life as a singer, actor, teacher, adjudicator and ski instructor is what keeps Bryan challenged, solvent, and amused. He has performed in opera houses and musicals around the UK and abroad, has appeared on TV and radio, and has made many recordings. He is a tenor amongst tenors, having sung with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Roberto Alagna and Josh Groban, to name a few. Bryan trained at the Royal College of Music…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Jean-Marc Perret

Jean-Marc trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Main Theatre credits include Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Rep, Derby Playhouse and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Numerous TV & Film appearances including playing Prince Caspian in the successful BBC Bafta-nominated series The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Revelation (Romulus Films) with Terence Stamp and Ron Moody. Jean-Marc made appearances…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Anne Hodgson BA, FTCL, LTCL

Anne Hodgson was a Junior Exhibitioner at the RCM and went on to study with Ann Cherry and Averil Williams. She is passionate about music education and teaches flute at Lancing College, Brighton College and Hurstpierpoint College. Anne enjoys a wide variety of music making, from orchestral performing to working with patients in care homes and hospices and playing in a folk band. Anne is also a founder member and bass flute…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Sarah Freestone

Sarah is a member of the BBC Concert Orchestra. She began her musical career aged 7 playing and singing in folk clubs and by the age of 11 she was gigging regularly on guitar with her junior school jazz combo "The Average Height Band"... She went on to study guitar and violin as joint principal studies at the Royal Academy of Music, winning several prizes and awards on the way including the Julian Bream Prize, Queensland Conservatorium…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Christopher Field MA, ARAM, LRAM, ARCM

Christopher has enjoyed a widely varied musical career. As a schoolboy, he sang at the coronation service of HM Queen in Westminster Abbey and played double bass in the London Schools Symphony Orchestra. While a choral scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, he conducted the College Madrigal Group and played in the University Orchestra. He continued his studies as a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music and in Switzerland…

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Adjudicator Spotlight: Mark Ashford ARAM, GRSM (HONS), LRAM

Born in Northampton, England, Mark began his formal musical training at Chetham’s School of Music with Gordon Crosskey. He then went on to study with Michael Lewin as a scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music, from where he graduated in 1993 with first class honours and awards from the Principal. During the following few years, Mark completed his studies in Spain with guitarist David Russell, thanks to bursaries awarded to him…

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