Adjudicators' Details
Music in the Vale has been very fortunate to have had the support from the Adjudicators listed below in 2013.
We are looking for new Adjudicators each year and would welcome anyone who may be interested to contact us.
We are looking for new Adjudicators each year and would welcome anyone who may be interested to contact us.
Helen Knight was born in Ashford , Kent and after initial tutelage from Janice Chapman graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Nicholas Powell. She began her professional career at Glyndebourne Festival Opera before joining Welsh National Opera, where she has performed many roles, including Olga, Eugene Onegin and Flora in La Traviata. On the concert platform , Helen has given numerous recitals both in the UK and across Europe. As well as teaching at Cardiff University and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Helen is a member of the examining panel of the Associated Board of the Royal,Schools of Music and works both at home and internationally. She is also a member of the Board's Professional Development Panel.
2013
Sean O’Neill, educated in the Scottish Borders and at the RNCM where he was awarded the Hiles Medal, he is the former Principal Tuba of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, a post he held for 25 years. With WNO he performed and recorded with many world famous voices and conductors such as Joan Sutherland, Jose Carrerras and Luciano Pavarotti as well as Pierre Boulez, Nello Santi and Sir Charles Mackerras and was the first player to successfully introduce the “Cimbasso” into British orchestras in 1985.
In 2002 Sean embarked on a freelance career that saw him perform
throughout the UK and abroad with many leading Orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Throughout his 30 year playing career he has developed a paralle career in music education. He has founded wind and brass bands in Monmouth School and Caerleon Comprehensive and directed them to national recognition
From 2001-2012 he was Director of the Cardiff County & Vale of Glamorgan Youth Wind Band and conducted them twice in Carnegie Hall, including the Gala concert of the New York Wind Band Festival in 2010. In 2012, he was guest Director of the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales.
Sean has given master classes on tuba and cimbasso at RNCM, RWCMD, Chethams and Wells Cathedral School where he was also tuba tutor for 5 years.
Sean presently holds posts as Tuba Tutor at Cardiff University and RWCMD, guest tutor to the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and is Senior Brass Tutor with Gwent Music Support Service.
Dr Keith Ellerington is an experienced adjudicator and examiner, whose career has encompassed that of professional musician, music teacher and advisor.
He studied violin and piano from an early age and holds postgraduate degrees (PhD, MSc) and Fellowship diplomas (FTCL, FLCM). As a violinist and conductor, he has worked with a number of orchestras, including The Welsh Sinfonia and Welsh Concert Orchestra.
A qualified teacher, he has taught music at all levels. Students under his tutelage have performed at the Urdd Eisteddfod, National Festival of Music for Youth and Schools Prom, and on radio and television. Many have gone on to study music at leading universities and conservatoires.
He studied violin and piano from an early age and holds postgraduate degrees (PhD, MSc) and Fellowship diplomas (FTCL, FLCM). As a violinist and conductor, he has worked with a number of orchestras, including The Welsh Sinfonia and Welsh Concert Orchestra.
A qualified teacher, he has taught music at all levels. Students under his tutelage have performed at the Urdd Eisteddfod, National Festival of Music for Youth and Schools Prom, and on radio and television. Many have gone on to study music at leading universities and conservatoires.
A Chartered Manager, he has held senior posts in Kirklees and Gwent, and has recently retired from Caerphilly Borough, where, under his leadership, the Music & Arts Service gained an enviable reputation and UK wide recognition for its successes and achievements from the National Music Council.
He was a member of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Music Policy Review Group in 2010, and has represented Wales on the National Executive of both the Federation of Music Services and the Music Education Council.
Dr Ellerington now pursues a free-lance career.
Mary Davies won an Associated Board of Music Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, London with Ruth Packer. She won further awards to study at the Opera Studio in Zurich, where she sang Pamina and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas.
Mary joined Welsh National Opera where her roles have included Emmy in Albert Herring, Bella in Midsummer Marriage, Susanna and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Krista in Makropoulos Case, Frasquita in Carmen, Karolka in Jenufa, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Masha, The Queen of Spades, 1st Squire in Parsifal ( also recorded) and the Mother in Madam Butterfly.
She has been a soloist at the London Promenade Concerts, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and a recitalist at the London Wigmore Hall.
She now teaches singing at Rougemont School.
Mary joined Welsh National Opera where her roles have included Emmy in Albert Herring, Bella in Midsummer Marriage, Susanna and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Krista in Makropoulos Case, Frasquita in Carmen, Karolka in Jenufa, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Masha, The Queen of Spades, 1st Squire in Parsifal ( also recorded) and the Mother in Madam Butterfly.
She has been a soloist at the London Promenade Concerts, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and a recitalist at the London Wigmore Hall.
She now teaches singing at Rougemont School.