INSTRUMENTAL

SUNDAY, 16 MARCH 2025

CLOSING DATE:  31 JANUARY 2025

Performing Arts Centre, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AW


INSTRUMENTAL SECTION INFORMATION

JOHN REYNOLDS
GRSM, ARCM, LRAM, FISM

John is a clarinettist, conductor, composer, and pianist, who also plays the organ and saxophone. After being a member of the National Youth Orchestra, he gained a Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, gaining prizes for clarinet, theory of music, and chamber music.

As a soloist, he has performed the concertos by Mozart, Weber, Spohr, Finzi and Nielsen. He has played on BBC Radio 3 and at the Purcell Room in London. He was also a first prize winner for the Royal Overseas League Competition at the Wigmore Hall. A successful playing career followed, culminating in ten years as Principal Clarinet with Kent Opera under Sir Roger Norrington.

As a teacher, he worked at the Guildhall School of Music of Drama, before taking up his post at the Royal Northern College of Music, eventually becoming Head of Woodwind, whilst also teaching at Chethams School of Music. John joined the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to be Head of Woodwind there in 2000.

He has examined for 45 years, firstly for the ABRSM, and then latterly for Trinity College, London. In this capacity, he has visited over 35 different countries in the world. As a clarinetist, he has recorded for the ABRSM, the BBC, and for Morten Laurisden. He has given over a dozen first performances as a conductor of wind orchestras, and his two books of clarinet studies were set for examinations with both the ABRSM and the London College of Music. John has adjudicated at many local Music Festivals and Eisteddfods around UK, the Texaco Young Musician, and the BBC Young Musician Competitions.

He lives in the Vale of Glamorgan where he plays the organ in his local church, and currently visits Atlantic College twice a week as their Woodwind Tutor. His interests include Asian cookery, Limerick writing, and vegetable gardening.

  1. Teachers, parents and performers are advised to read the Festival Rules and the following Instrumental Rules carefully.
  2. All classes are own choice.

  3. All time limits must be strictly adhered to, otherwise the performer may be penalised. See Festival Rule 7.

  4. All music for the Official Accompanist must be submitted to the Instrumental Section Secretary by 1 March of the Festival Year. See Festival Rules 13-14.

  5. Copies of all music performed must be provided for the Adjudicator. See Festival Rule 15.

  6. Substitutions for duet and ensemble classes will be at the discretion of the Instrumental Section Secretary.

  7. Only one piece may be played in a class.

  8. A performer may only enter a class once unless otherwise stated. However, a performer may enter with a different partner or group. See Festival Rule 8.

  9. Performers should not have passed any exams higher than the grade of class entered unless with a different instrument and piece of music. See Festival Rule 9.

  10. Performers may enter classes non-competitively. Prior notification to the Instrumental Section Secretary must be given. Prior to the start of the class, performers should inform the Adjudicator's Steward. The Adjudicator will only make comments and no trophy will be awarded.
MARIA PARFITT

1 Back Stoke Lane
Briar Cottage
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS9 3QT

[t] 07718 797273
[e] instrumental@bristolfestival.co.uk