75^th ANNIVERSARY CONCERTO COMPETITION ADJUDICATORS

	Dona Lee Croft MMus, HonRCM – Strings. Dona has performed and broadcast on the international concert circuit since her debut at the age of fourteen. She was influenced by the great Hungarian pedagogue, Leopold Auer, through study with Ivan Galamian and Benno Rabinof in New York, and in Europe with Nathan Milstein and Professor Bela Katona of the Franz Liszt Academy. Her career has encompassed performances as soloist and chamber musician in concerts throughout Europe, Great Britain, Mexico and the United States including Carnegie Hall and London's Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. John's Smith Square. Her two CDs feature romantic as well as contemporary sonatas and shorter pieces. She is a Professor of Violin at the Royal College of Music.
	Paul Harris ARAM, GRSM, LRAM, ARCM, Hon TCL, MTC (Lond) – Winds. Since studying at the Royal Academy of Music and London University, Paul has established an international reputation as one of Britain’s leading music educationalists. He has taught, examined and performed across the world. With some 550 publications to his name, including The Music Teacher’s Companion, and the Improve Your Scales, Improve Your Sight-Reading and Improve Your Practice series, he has assisted countless players worldwide to develop their vital musical skills. Alongside his educational pieces he has composed seven concertos, chamber music, a ballet and a children’s opera, besides writing frequent articles for all the major music magazines. Current research into specialist musical education for gifted young musicians and demand as a workshop and seminar leader have taken him to musical institutions all over the world.
	Vanessa Latarche Hon ARAM, FTCL, ARCM, LRAM – Piano. Having studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and also in Paris and the USA, Vanessa was a prize-winner in several international piano competitions. She has performed with many international orchestras, has broadcast numerous recitals for BBC Radio 3, and taken part in festivals as both soloist and chamber musician, where she has partnered some of Britain’s leading soloists. She is now Head of Keyboard at the Royal College of Music, having previously been a professor at the Royal Academy of Music from 1992 until 2005. As a moderator, trainer and diploma examiner for the Associated Board, she has travelled worldwide She has adjudicated for the BBC Young Musician and the BBC Classical Music Star, amongst other international piano competitions.
	Carole Presland B Mus, GRNCM, PPRNCM - Piano. Carole’s career as a pianist has taken her all over the world, whilst in the UK she has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, on the South Bank and at major international festivals such as Aldeburgh, Bath and Harrogate. A regular broadcaster for BBC Radio 3 and for numerous other American and European networks, she has also recorded CDs for labels such as EMI Classics, Pavane and Meridian to wide critical acclaim. Carole is passionate about chamber music and has collaborated with many distinguished artists and ensembles. She is currently on the keyboard faculty of The Purcell School and is Senior Tutor in Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she has taught since 1996. She is frequently invited to examine, adjudicate and give masterclasses at leading conservatoires and specialist music schools.
	Adrian Brown – Conductor. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, Adrian studied with Sir Adrian Boult. He remains the only British conductor to have reached the finals of the Karajan Conductors’ Competition, the Berlin Philharmonic being the first professional orchestra he conducted. He has since conducted the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Camerata Salzburg, in addition to working regularly both at home and abroad with numerous national and regional British orchestras. Adrian’s special contribution to the orchestral life of young musicians not only in this country, but also in Europe, Japan and the Philippines, was recognised by the Novello Award for Youth Orchestras in 1989. In addition to thirty-five years as Musical Director of the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra, he has appeared with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and National Youth Wind Orchestra. He has adjudicated various national music awards and conducting competitions. In 2002 he was presented with a prestigious Classic FM Award at their Tenth Birthday Honours Celebration.