SATURDAY, 15 MARCH 2025 (JUNIOR)
SATURDAY, 22 MARCH 2025 (ADULT)
CLOSING DATE: 31 JANUARY 2025
Performing Arts Centre, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AW (JUNIOR)
Redmaids’ High Junior School, Grange Court Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 4DP (ADULT)
VOCAL SECTION INFORMATION
JENNA BROWN (JUNIOR & ADULT VOCAL)
Jenna Brown is an experienced and highly regarded classical mezzo-soprano soloist, choral singer and vocal health specialist teacher and researcher.
Throughout her performance career she has worked across the UK and Internationally with a variety of groups on projects for concert, stage, radio, film and TV. Jenna has been most sought after for her work as a Baroque soloist on the concert stage, with a reputation for precision coloratura and clarity of tone. Recognised by reviewers as 'a powerful vocal force' and an artist who engages the listener and 'communicates the text with vocal clarity and truthful emotion', she has built a reputation for uniquely engaging performances.
Jenna began singing as a cathedral chorister in Bristol and was a choral scholar at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, where she studied as an undergraduate. She was awarded a scholarship to study at Birmingham conservatoire and has an MSc in education from Oxford. Jenna is currently a doctoral researcher at University College London’s Institute of Education, where her research explores aspects of vocal and choral pedagogy and vocal rehabilitation of singers. She is a trained teacher, voice rehabilitation specialist and vocal massage therapist and runs Bristol Voice Care (www.bristolvoicecare.co.uk), providing rehabilitation and coaching for professional and amateur individuals and groups. She is in demand as a choral vocal coach, working with choirs across the UK. She is currently assistant conductor and vocal coach at Bristol Youth Choir and works with Bristol Beacon delivering vocal education training and vocal health consultancy for their practitioners.
Jenna continues to be recognised as an outstanding leader in music education and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts. She has published articles in leading journals in the field as well as writing for music teacher magazine on choral and vocal singing.
BRYAN HUSBAND (JUNIOR VOCAL)
Bryan studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He has homes in London and Worcester, having spent some years abroad, performing in continental opera houses. He is a Vocal Professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, runs a private practice, gives workshops (‘belting’ to audition techniques), performs, adjudicates, and works as a ski instructor! Performances include tv and radio broadcasts, opera, oratorio and recital.
In 2005, Bryan was selected to become an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals. Adjudication has since taken him to many Festivals around the UK and Ireland, and also to Hong Kong, Gibraltar and Trinidad & Tobago. In 2012, Bryan was invited to become a music examiner; his most recent examining work was in Malaysia for classical music, and Thailand for Rock and Pop.
Bryan is very happy to consider adjudication online, and in fact is very much enjoying seeing and hearing performers again!
His hobbies include all theatre, gardening, skiing and walking.
Jenna Brown is an experienced and highly regarded classical mezzo-soprano soloist, choral singer and vocal health specialist teacher and researcher.
Throughout her performance career she has worked across the UK and Internationally with a variety of groups on projects for concert, stage, radio, film and TV. Jenna has been most sought after for her work as a Baroque soloist on the concert stage, with a reputation for precision coloratura and clarity of tone. Recognised by reviewers as 'a powerful vocal force' and an artist who engages the listener and 'communicates the text with vocal clarity and truthful emotion', she has built a reputation for uniquely engaging performances.
Jenna began singing as a cathedral chorister in Bristol and was a choral scholar at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, where she studied as an undergraduate. She was awarded a scholarship to study at Birmingham conservatoire and has an MSc in education from Oxford. Jenna is currently a doctoral researcher at University College London’s Institute of Education, where her research explores aspects of vocal and choral pedagogy and vocal rehabilitation of singers. She is a trained teacher, voice rehabilitation specialist and vocal massage therapist and runs Bristol Voice Care (www.bristolvoicecare.co.uk), providing rehabilitation and coaching for professional and amateur individuals and groups. She is in demand as a choral vocal coach, working with choirs across the UK. She is currently assistant conductor and vocal coach at Bristol Youth Choir and works with Bristol Beacon delivering vocal education training and vocal health consultancy for their practitioners.
Jenna continues to be recognised as an outstanding leader in music education and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts. She has published articles in leading journals in the field as well as writing for music teacher magazine on choral and vocal singing.
BRYAN HUSBAND (JUNIOR VOCAL)
Bryan studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He has homes in London and Worcester, having spent some years abroad, performing in continental opera houses. He is a Vocal Professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, runs a private practice, gives workshops (‘belting’ to audition techniques), performs, adjudicates, and works as a ski instructor! Performances include tv and radio broadcasts, opera, oratorio and recital.
In 2005, Bryan was selected to become an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals. Adjudication has since taken him to many Festivals around the UK and Ireland, and also to Hong Kong, Gibraltar and Trinidad & Tobago. In 2012, Bryan was invited to become a music examiner; his most recent examining work was in Malaysia for classical music, and Thailand for Rock and Pop.
Bryan is very happy to consider adjudication online, and in fact is very much enjoying seeing and hearing performers again!
His hobbies include all theatre, gardening, skiing and walking.
- Teachers, parents and performers are advised to read the Festival Rules and the following Vocal Rules carefully.
- Age of performers in the Vocal Section is as at 1 March of the Festival Year. Adults are those who are 19 on or before 1 March of the Festival Year. Performers must strictly observe the conditions regarding age.
- Where a performer has requested the services of the Official Accompanist, a copy of own choice music must be sent to: Jane Walton, 36 Copley Gardens, Lockleaze, Bristol BS7 9YE. Copies must arrive no later than 1 March of the Festival Year. See Festival Rules 12-14. If there are any difficulties, please contact the Vocal Section Secretary.
- Titles of own choice songs must be submitted with entries but changes can be made up to and including 1 March of the Festival Year. Performers will not be allowed to sing any other song than that notified.
- A second copy of own choice music must be available for the Adjudicator on the day of the Festival. Compliance is the performer's own responsibility and neither the Vocal Section Secretary nor the Vocal Section Committee are able to help in this matter.
- When the directive 'any standard edition' is given, this must be treated in the same way as own choice music. A copy must be supplied for the Adjudicator. A copy must also be supplied for the Official Accompanist if the official accompanist is used by the performer.
- Unless otherwise stated in individual classes, performers must sing from memory.
- Time limits as stated must be strictly adhered to. With regards to da capo arias, the whole aria, including the repeat, must fall within the time limit. See Festival Rule 6.
- After the closing date for entries, no substitutions nor change of pairings in ensemble classes can be made.
- Where classes specify a test piece, the performer must use the edition or copy supplied. Performers may, however, sing the set piece in any key.
- Unless otherwise stated in individual classes, a performer may not sing any song more than once in the Festival.
- A performer may only make one entry in each solo class.
- A performer may enter more than once in the duet, ensemble or recital classes with a different partner.
- Fees for vocal classes include the services of the Official Accompanist. A performer may use their own accompanist but there can be no refund of any fees.
- A performer can choose to enter classes on a non-competitive basis. The fee remains the same and the Official Accompanist will still be available. Please state at the beginning of the performance if you wish to perform non-competitively. You will only receive adjudication for a non-competitive entry.
- The Festival accepts the entries for Music Theatre on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been sought from all relevant parties. Performers are reminded that they are solely responsible for ensuring they have the permission of the copyright holder to use costumes, props or movement for songs that are not in the public domain.
Performers or teachers with queries on how to deal with this are referred to The British and International Federation of Festivals (BIFF) of which Bristol Festival is a member. Telephone: 01625 428297 or 01625 611578. Email: info@federationoffestivals.org.uk. Website: www.federationoffestivals.org.uk/copyright/.
JANE ENGLISH
36 Copley Gardens
Lockleaze
Bristol
BS7 9YE
[t] 07752 332278
[e] vocal@bristolfestival.co.uk
36 Copley Gardens
Lockleaze
Bristol
BS7 9YE
[t] 07752 332278
[e] vocal@bristolfestival.co.uk