The Torbay Music Festival
MUSIC SECTION 2026
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS CURRENTLY CLOSED
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DATES
• School Group Classes and Choirs Evening:
Friday 13th March 2026, Central Church – Torquay
• Instrumental and Vocal Classes: Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March 2026
The committee reserves the right to change any of the dates.
VENUE
School Group Classes and Choir Classes:
Central Church, Tor Hill Rd, Torquay TQ2 5RF
Instrumental and Vocal Classes:
Torquay Girls Grammar School, 30 Shiphay Lane, Torquay, TQ2 7DY
OPENING AND CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES
Entries to open on Monday 15th December 2025 and close at Midnight on Sunday 18th January 2026.
Music Festival Committee
Music Chair:
Christopher Blurton
Catherine Serjeant
T. 07875297321
Trophy Secretary:
Torquay TQ2 8PH
Committee:
Christopher Blurton, Carolyne Clark, Polly Ferguson, Margaret Fieldhouse, Corinne Guntrip, Kate Linden, Dianne Martin, Catherine Serjeant, Ekaterina Shetliffe, Susan Norcott, Pat Serjeant, Rosie Davies and Joanna Walling
Entries can only be made through our online entries system
ENTRY FEES
| Solos | 10 years & under | £7.00 |
| 11 years & over | £7.50 | |
| Duets | £12.00 | |
| Trios/quartets | £16.00 | |
| Groups | £20.00 |
VENUE ADMISSION TICKETS AND PROGRAMMES 2026
The Committee reserve the right to refuse entry.
| Session Ticket | £6.50 | Concessions (Seniors) | £5.50 |
| Daily Ticket | £13.00 | Concessions (Seniors) | £11.00 |
This Festival does not charge children for entry to the venue. Children must be accompanied at all times and parents/guardians/carers are reminded of their responsibility under our Safeguarding Policy in this respect.
SUPPLEMENTARY RULES FOR MUSIC
Supplementary rules for Music November 2025
M1 Entries in own choice classes will not be accepted without a photocopy of the music for the adjudicator to be given at the time of performing. When an own choice work is selected from a publication containing several different works and which is not published separately, one copy may be made for the use of the adjudicator provided that the competitor has already purchased his/her own copy. The copy thus made will be retained by the Festival and destroyed immediately after the event to comply with copyright laws. Single items may not be photocopied without the prior permission of the copyright holder. Please name any single copies given to the adjudicator so that they can be returned. If accompanist is required, one copy needs to be sent directly to the accompanist, and another one brought on the day for the adjudicator.
M2 No competitor may enter more than once in a solo class or enter the same piece in another class. In duet and trio classes, competitors may enter more than once provided they partner a different person with a different piece.
M3 Performers may enter any classes for a higher age group in solo classes provided they have entered an own age group class as well. The entry fee for these classes applies, not the age of the performer. Vocal performers under 18 may not enter adult vocal classes
M4 Once entered no changes or omissions will be accepted.
M5 Pieces in all OPEN instrumental classes must be at Grade 6 ABRSM or Trinity standard or above. Open Vocal Classes are for Adults only (18 years or over) and are expected to be of a high standard.
M6 In Piano Set Piece Classes any good edition is acceptable but a copy must be provided for the adjudicator if a different edition is used than the one(s) specified.
M7 No amplification is allowed for solo instrumentalists or vocalists – EXCEPT in Rock and Pop classes specifically specified. Backing tracks are allowed in all classes requiring accompaniment.
M8 Performers, including groups, must not repeat a winning item unless three Festivals have passed since the winning performance.
M9 Items must not exceed the time limit which must include the introduction. Any items over time will be penalised by marks being deducted. Repeat marks are optional provided time limits are not exceeded but all ‘da capo’ and ‘dal segno’ signs should be observed.
M10 Trophies and medals will be presented by the Adjudicator at the end of each class/section. All winners of Special Trophies will be expected to perform in the Gala Concert when the awards will be presented. Medals will be given in every class for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
M11 Certificates and Adjudication sheets will be available from the certificate table shortly after the class has finished.
M12 Programmes will be for sale at the venue.
M13 Free entrance is granted to performers only during the sessions in which they are performing. Teachers, parents and other interested parties are NOT entitled to be admitted without a valid ticket. Free passes will be given for accompanists for the sessions when they are accompanying, for teachers who enter pupils for 10 classes or more and school group escorts at the ratio of 1 per 10 pupils under 16 years who must remain with the pupils in the hall.
MUSIC FESTIVAL NEWS
Adjudicator Profile:
Paul Harris
Paul Harris is one of the UK’s most influential music educationalists. He studied the clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music, where he won the August Manns Prize for outstanding performance in clarinet playing and where he now teaches. He is in great demand as a teacher, composer, and writer (he has written over 600 books); and his inspirational masterclasses and workshops continue to influence thousands of young musicians and teachers all over the world in both the principles and practice of musical performance and education.
Adjudicator Profile:
Fiona McLean-Beuchel
Fiona is a specialist strings adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals and has recently been Co Opted onto the Board of Trustees representing Music Adjudicators. She is also the Representative for Scotland on Festivals Council.
Fiona is a founder member of NYOS, an alumnus of St Mary’s Music School, RSAMD (now RCS) and the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Fiona returned to Scotland in 2020 stepping down from her role as Lead Tutor for Strings at Trinity Laban Junior Conservatoire in London in 2022.
She combines a busy career as a performer and educator; writing creative and collaborative national and international performance projects & delivering Masterclasses and Professional Development sessions for UK and International Students and Teachers.
Performances include solo and chamber music performances at the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Concerto engagements across Europe and Piano Trio performances for the British Arts
Council with tours to Russia and Ukraine.
Her teaching portfolio includes Junior Guildhall School of Music, Goldsmith’s College, Dartington College of Arts, Cardiff University and Head of Strings for Bexley Music Services.
In 2005 Fiona co-founded and was course director for Dartington’s International Summer School Summer Youth Strings Programme. She subsequently founded South West Camerata who were nominated for a Royal Philharmonic Society for Education Award.
Adjudicator Profile:
Mark Tanner
Mark is a concert pianist, composer, writer and teacher, who has premièred, recorded and broadcast many works by prominent British composers. He has published 75 volumes of compositions and editions for Edition Peters, Faber Music, Spartan Press and Europa Edition. 50 of his pieces have been selected for the exam syllabuses of ABRSM, TCL and LCM. He has various pieces within the popular ABRSM series, Piano Star, and co-authored ABRSM’s Teaching Notes for the previous piano syllabus.
His book, The Mindful Pianist, is published by Faber, translated into Chinese along with 2 co-authored books called The Advanced Pianist and 2 volumes of piano repertoire pieces entitled Teachers’ Choice. Also published by Faber, is The Piano in Black and White, an in-depth guide for the adult learner and returner.
Mark’s PhD featured Liszt, a topic on which he has published articles in the UK and USA, and he has written hundreds of reviews for the prominent musical press, including International Record Review, Classical Music, Piano Professional, Musical Opinion and International Piano. He has written over 50 Masterclass articles for Pianist Magazine.
Mark has given 300 recitals on cruise ships and appeared in the UK’s top venues, including five appearances at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and St John’s Smith Square. He has performed on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.
Mark is an ABRSM examiner for grades and diplomas, also a reviewer, trainer and international coordinator, having undertaken 47 tours to all continents. Mark was a piano judge for the 2019 BBC Young Musician Competition. He teaches and has given masterclasses in the UK, China and Hong Kong.
Adjudicator Profile:
Yvonne Patrick
Born in South Derbyshire, Yvonne began her professional career with D’Oyly Carte Opera Company before joining Glyndebourne Festival Opera. She made her debut with the Touring Company as Despina Cosi fan tutte. In The Bartered Bride she sang the role of Esmeralda which included training to be a trapeze artist! She sang Musetta La Boheme for Opera North & understudied Violetta La Traviata and Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte.
Yvonne has also worked for WNO, Garsington Opera, Kentish Opera, Opera Brava, Garden Opera, Swansea City Opera & Carl Rosa Opera Company.
Roles include Micaela Carmen, Pamina & First Lady The Magic Flute, title role of Madame Butterfly, Mimi La Boheme, Rosalinda & Adele Die Fledermaus, Donna Elvira Don Giovanni, Clorinda La Cenerentola, Adina L’Elisir d’Amore, Violetta La Traviata and Alice Ford The Merry Wives of Windsor. She was soprano soloist in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem in Nairobi Cathedral.
Yvonne appeared as soloist for the Philadelphia Savoy Company, the oldest G & S society in America. She is a regular guest performer on cruises, has appeared on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night.
Yvonne moved to Devon in the summer of 2024 but still teaches at Chichester University and is an adjudicator with The British and International Federation of Festivals.