Adjudicators
Find out about the adjudicators for the 2026 festival.
John Foster - Piano
John studied piano with Kendall Taylor and Dennis Matthews (masterclasses). He has worked extensively as accompanist for singers and instrumentalists and in chamber groups, including the Lydian Trio. He has performed in UK, Jersey, France, Germany and Hong Kong, (including radio broadcasts). John taught for 16 years at RNCM Junior College and is a former Director of St Cecilia Chamber Music Trust. Currently, he performs, teaches/coaches pianists and singers, is an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals and is an ABRSM grade and diploma examiner, trainer and moderator, nationally and internationally.
Andrew Padmore - Vocal
Andrew Padmore is a popular
conductor with choirs and
orchestras internationally and
is a leading figure in the choral
world. He has been the resident
conductor and artistic director of
Yorkshire Voices (300 voices), the
Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir and Harrogate Choral Society, but has worked with diverse forces ranging from small chamber choirs at the BBC to the largest symphony orchestras and choirs like the famous "Huddersfield Choral Society”. He is in demand as a guest conductor for the major choral repertoire with choral societies throughout the U.K. and abroad.
Before launching himself as a freelance conductor, Andrew Padmore had acquired an impressive list of academic qualifications and performance diplomas, studied conducting under Sir Adrian Boult and undertaken a variety of musical activities. He has been Director of Music in an old-established Grammar School and has had a successful period as Cathedral Organist & Master of Choristers at Cork and Belfast Cathedrals.
He is a highly respected singing teacher with pupils regularly travelling from all over this country and even from abroad. He regularly coaches professional singers from the major opera houses. His younger pupils regularly achieve high Distinction marks in diplomas while still in their teens, and several go on to obtain scholarships to Conservatoires and Universities. He has adjudicated at many festivals throughout the UK and Eire. More details of his work can be found at: www.drapadmore.co.uk
Joan Foster - Instrumental
For 13 years, Joan was ‘cello teacher and lecturer in String Teaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She has been a seminar/workshop leader for several LEAs and for the European String Teachers’ Association in UK and Europe. Joan is a former Director of the St Cecilia Chamber Music Trust and was the cellist in the Lydian Trio. She currently teaches strings and piano and is Director of the Alverton Singers. As well as being an Adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals, she is a grade/diploma examiner and trainer for ABRSM, nationally and internationally.
Rebecca Vines - Speech & Drama
Rebecca trained as a journalist at Cardiff University, during
which time she wrote a weekly column for The Guardian
newspaper before moving to London to study with
The Actors’ Company. Appointed Head of Speech &
Drama at an Independent School in Cheltenham in
2003, her pupils have been offered training places at all the
major UK acting schools – working for the BBC, Channel 4, RSC and
the film production company – Working Title. She is the Founder of Close Up Theatre, which has won the elite Sell-Out Status for nine years at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Artistic Director for No Prophet Theatre.
Vanessa Buckley - Speech & Drama
Vanessa has been a performer in speech, drama, music and
dance from a very early age. She first gained a passion for
the spoken word through taking LAMDA examinations, later
gaining her LAMDA teaching diploma. As a teacher, she has
owned her own theatre school with students ranging from
nursery to adults where youth theatre is an integral part of
her school programme. She also tutors professional interview technique and conducts master classes and workshops as well as individual teaching for those with speech difficulties and special needs. As a director, producer and actress, Vanessa ‘trod the boards’ performing as the Fairy in Pantomime for eight seasons. She has worked on TV productions including – HOLLYOAKS, COURTROOM DRAMA, EMMERDALE, RIVER STEEL BLUES, HEARTBEAT, THE ROYAL, and DEAD MAN WEDS. More recently Vanessa has filmed a Christmas advert for Cuffe and Taylors Lytham Festival. Vanessa currently directs for ‘Walk On’ Touring Theatre Company and owns her own production company, ‘High Flying Theatre Productions.’
Vanessa is also a LAMDA examiner, and is extremely proud to be working with this prestigious organisation.
Vanessa promotes an anti- bullying campaign, she provides assemblies and workshops to schools on anti-bullying. She also runs courses on internet safe guarding. Since 2009 she has spoken regularly at the palace of Westminster to politicians.
Vanessa has presented on Teachers TV and given seminars at the Education shows.
Vanessa’s passion is adjudicating at Stage festivals, she enjoys encouraging the performers of the future.
